Hyundai Rotem Company, a heavy industries company affiliated with the Hyundai Motor Group, revealed to the public its first set of the new Korean high speed trains, KTX-II, which was made with independent Korean technology. The Chairman of the Committee of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of the National Assembly of Korea Lee Byung-suk, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Lee Jae-kyun, foreign Ambassadors, representatives of KORAIL, and 500 guests were present at the ceremony held on November 25, at the company's plant in Changwon.
Hyundai Rotem was able to commercialize the KTX-II based on the national project for the first Korean high speed train, HRS-350X, which was first initiated when the new Gyeongbu high speed train line was constructed. The project was administered by the government including the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, along with 129 organizations including private companies such as Hyundai Rotem and research institutes.
Since 1996, a total of 255.8 billion won was invested into this project involving over 6,600 researchers.
The successful development of the new high speed trains has brought innovations to the level of basic technology and analytical technology of high speed trains. At once this noticeable progress has now placed Korea as an advanced country in railway technology.
According to The Korea Transport Institute, the independent development of the high speed trains is expected to bring benefits in import costs worth 7.5 trillion won and reduce the Korean railway budget by 840 billion won.
In the process of developing the required technology for high speed trains, Korea has acquired independent technology for total railway systems such as IT, machinery, signaling and communication. By applying these technologies to railway systems, urban railway systems and light rail vehicles, the Korean railway industry is expected to make great advancements in technology.
The KTX-II was designed to minimize air resistance with a streamlined design and maximize energy efficiency with an aluminum alloy car body. Its safety and reliability has also been increased with equipment such as high power motors, inverters and brake systems, traction motors and supervisory control units, which were developed with Korea's independent technology.
The new high speed train is also expected to bring flexibility and efficiency in operation. It can be adjusted and operated as 10 cars or 20 cars in one train set according to the number of passengers, as opposed to KTX, which is fixed at 20 cars in one train set.
Moreover, the new trains have been upgraded with convenient facilities to meet the needs of passengers. All of the seats are more spacious and rotatable. New facilities such as family compartments, handicapped restrooms and snack bars are available. Also, more services such as wireless internet and DMB reception are provided to bring more comfort to passengers.
The KTX-II will go through test runs for 6 months, conducted by KORAIL. Its actual revenue service will start with the Honam line. In the second phase of the project, it will run through the Jeolla line, Gyeongjeon line and Gyeongbu line.
Hyundai Rotem has proven its technology to the world railway market with the release of the KTX-II and is aggressively seeking opportunities in new markets that have the demand for high speed trains, such as Turkey, Brazil and Australia.
Along with the Hyundai Rotem, many other companies that have participated in developing the KTX-II have been acknowledged by the world and are expected to advance into overseas markets as well.
