Suseo High-Speed Railway
Overview
The Suseo High-Speed Railway (SRT, Suseo High-Speed Railway) is South Korea's second high-speed railway system, officially opened on December 9, 2016. It is operated by SR Co., Ltd., established to introduce private competition into the high-speed rail market previously monopolized by KTX operated by Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail). Starting from Suseo Station, it connects major cities such as Busan, Mokpo, Iksan, and Gwangju Songjeong via the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line and Honam High-Speed Line, boasting a maximum operating speed of 305 km/h. SRT is evaluated as an innovative transportation means that dramatically improved accessibility in the southeastern part of the Seoul metropolitan area and sparked fare competition in high-speed rail, enhancing passenger convenience.
Main Content
History and Background
The introduction of SRT originated from the government's policy to introduce a railway competition system in the late 2000s. In 2010, the Korea Rail Network Authority promoted the construction of the Suseo–Pyeongtaek high-speed railway, and SR Co., Ltd. was established in 2013. After trial runs in 2015, it officially opened on December 9, 2016. This was the first new high-speed rail service in 12 years since the opening of KTX (2004), with the primary goal of introducing competition to the railway market to induce fare reductions and service improvements.
Route and Operation System
SRT departs from Suseo Station, passes through Dongtan Station and Jije Station (Pyeongtaek Jije), and then branches into the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line and Honam High-Speed Line. The Gyeongbu Line operates to Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan, while the Honam Line operates to Iksan, Gwangju Songjeong, and Mokpo. Major stations include Suseo, Dongtan, Pyeongtaek Jije, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, Iksan, Gwangju Songjeong, and Mokpo. As of 2024, it operates approximately 120 trips per day, covering the Suseo–Busan section in about 2 hours 30 minutes and the Suseo–Mokpo section in about 2 hours 50 minutes.
Technical Features
Although SRT shares the same Gyeongbu High-Speed Line and Honam High-Speed Line as KTX, it uses SRT-dedicated trains based on the KTX-Sancheon (EMU-260). Each train consists of 10 cars with a 2+2 seat arrangement, and all seats are equipped with power outlets and Wi-Fi. The maximum speed is 305 km/h, same as KTX, but the Suseo–Pyeongtaek section (61.1 km) is built as a new line, allowing speeds over 300 km/h. The signaling system uses TVM430, prioritizing safety.
Operator: SR Co., Ltd.
SR Co., Ltd. is a public corporation under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, established in 2013. Initially, the Korea Rail Network Authority held 100% of its shares, but privatization discussions have been ongoing since the government sold its stake in 2021. SR led competition with an average fare 10–15% lower than KTX, prompting Korail to respond with fare reductions and service improvements. As of 2023, annual ridership reached approximately 45 million.
Social and Economic Impact
The opening of SRT significantly improved transportation accessibility in the southeastern Seoul metropolitan area (Gangnam, Bundang, Pangyo). Suseo Station, through its connection to the Gangnam area, dispersed passengers from KTX Seoul Station, alleviating congestion. Additionally, fare competition increased high-speed rail ridership, with the combined modal share of SRT and KTX rising by over 5% from 2017 to 2023. In terms of regional economy, it sparked competition with existing KTX station areas in Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan, contributing to commercial revitalization.
Latest Trends
As of 2024, SRT is pursuing continuous service expansion. Plans include additional track capacity expansion for the Suseo–Pyeongtaek high-speed line by 2025, and construction to improve transfer convenience at Dongtan Station and Jije Station is underway. Since March 2024, SRT has accelerated digital transformation by introducing mobile boarding passes and an automatic refund system through the SRT app. Additionally, SR announced the addition of four daily round trips on the Suseo–Busan section in the first half of 2025, and plans to introduce 10 additional train sets by 2026. On the environmental front, in July 2024, SRT launched the 'Green SRT' project, using 100% renewable energy for all SRT trains. Meanwhile, the SR privatization discussions initiated in 2023 remain pending in the National Assembly as of late 2024, and despite opposition from unions and civic groups, the government aims to complete the sale by 2025. As of January 2025, SRT's on-time rate is 98.2%, higher than KTX's 97.5%, and it has ranked first in customer satisfaction surveys for five consecutive years.
Related Topics
- [[KTX]]
- [[Korea Railroad Corporation]]
- [[High-speed rail]]
- [[Suseo Station]]
- [[SR (company)]]
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