Trains are considered a popular means of transport in South Korea. The length of the railway network is 6240 km. Transport communications in the country are represented by roads and railways, sea and air routes. South Korea's railways are operated by a single carrier, KORAIL (Korea National Railways).
Features of railway transport
The main settlements are connected by rail. The capital is connected to the largest city, Busan, via the Gyeongbu railway line. The Seoul - Busan route is operated by Korea Train Express. A one-way trip takes no more than three hours. Suburban trains run around the capital. In the field of railway transport, TGV technology is used, borrowed from the French. The trains can accelerate up to 300 km / h, moving along special tracks. The railway components are slightly different from those in France.
In Korea, train tickets are more expensive than in many other countries in Asia, but not as expensive as in Japan. Purchasing tickets is a simple step, as terminals are located throughout the country.
The South Korean railway system is comfortable and affordable. The staff at the train stations speaks English. Nearly all stations are equipped with up-to-date signage in English and Korean. To read information about South Korea's rail system, visit Seat61.
South Korea's railways are under heavy load due to increased traffic. The main sales markets are European countries and Russia. The emphasis is on the transportation of coal, cement and container shipping. In recent years, no new routes have been laid in the country. Trains are gradually being replaced by vehicles.
Main routes and trains
Even before the division of the Korean people, the Gyeongwon and Kyoni routes were laid along the northern part of the state. Seoul was connected with Pyongyang, Kaesong, Sinuiju by the Kyoni line, Wonsan was served by the Kyongwon line. Sightseeing tours take place on the Köwe route every week. Sleeper trains run between Busan, Yeosu and Seoul.
There are three types of trains used in the country:
- the fastest - KHT, moving at a speed of 300 km / h;
- 1st class trains, which make a small number of stops - Samail;
- 2nd class trains, stopping at all stations - Thonyil-ho.
Foreign tourists can use the KR PASS, which is available on the Korean Railways website, korail.com.
