Korea Rail Network Authority (KR) said Korea’s railroad network extended for 4,171.9 km as of 2017, out of which 3,086 km have been electrified. That’s 1.07 percent more than in 201. Over 73 percent of the entire railroad system is electrified. Of the railroads in operation, the electrification of the double tracks has been completed at 97.58 percent, the highest among the five advanced nations with the longest railroad networks in the world.
Chairman Kim Sang-gyun said KR will go ahead with its railroad electrification project, taking advantage of its rail electrification technology as safety of the railroad can never be substituted for anything.
The goal remains for the railroad electrification project to win the public’s trust for by providing a safe railroad transportation service. KR said it won the SIL 4 Certificate, the highest-level certificate for its KRTCS-2 using LTE-R. It was developed at its own R&D Dep’t from the International Safe Evaluation Institution, TUV-SUD of Germany.
KR said when the Korean-type Koreas Railroad Transport Control System-2 (KRTCS-2) using LTE-R is completed, 1.8 trillion won in construction costs and maintenance and repair costs will be saved annually. They expect to see 1.3 trillion won in import substitution savings, while the trains will be able to load 16 percent more cargo.
KR is a government-owned agency established in January 2004 for construction and management of railways including high speed, conventional and urban rail infrastructures.
Seeing a successful opening of Gyeongbu HSR in April 2004, Honam HSR in April 2015, and Suseo HSR in December 2016, KR has been adding new milestones to Korea’s history of transportation. Aside from the HSR projects, KR has been putting its capabilities to work in expanding capital region’s urban rail network, in upgrading conventional rail lines such as Honam, Jeolla and Gyeongchun Lines.
“In this way, we have been making all out efforts for success of diverse railway projects with aim to achieving KR’s mission: Realize social values by connecting the world with railways,” they said. “Later this year, we look forward to opening of Wonju-Gangneung HSR together with speed-up of existing railways in support of flourishing PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
“We will launch LTE-R, wireless railway communication network, for commercial service for the first time in the world and will stay on track to continue with development of the most advanced rail technologies such as train control system based on the wireless network all as part of our efforts to enhance global competitiveness of Korean railways.”
As an organization specializing in railways, KR has taken the knowhow and advanced technologies accumulated through HSR construction experience in Korea to international railway markets and has been achieving significant successes.
KR will take the lead in expanding Korea’s rail territories beyond the Korean Peninsula to the world.
Everyone at Korea Rail Network Authority promises to do our very best to build Faster, Safer and More Convenient Rail Network thereby contributing to promoting public value and realizing social values, according to the organization.
Nokia Corporation recently inked a deal with Korea Rail Network Authority to provide LTE-R mobile broadband network to the latter. Notably, this is the first time that such a technology will be deployed.
KR maintains and develops railway infrastructure in South Korea as well as several other countries.
Its railway operations and employee services would, therefore, be highly benefited by the new broadband network technology.
The LTE-R service will be initially introduced on a railway line between Wonju and Gangneung in South Korea as the country is gearing up to host a major international sporting event in 2018.
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Details of New Technology
The LTE-R technology is a version of the popular 4G LTE technology. The new technology is currently being developed to cater to the various requirements of railway operators. KR’s communication network will utilize the LTE-R technology for operational and maintenance purposes.
The company’s high speed commercial railway line can reach speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and the LTE-R technology should ensure a secure, trustworthy and high-speed connection among trains, stations and other facilities.
