With KTX and SRT set to be integrated in September, on a trial basis starting in the middle of next month the two trains will be coupled to run as one on certain routes. As a result, high-speed rail seat supply will increase and fares for some trains will be discounted by about 10%.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), and SR announced on the 14th that from the 15th of next month they will begin a ‘pilot multiple-unit operation’ that connects KTX and SRT for service. Ticket reservations will be available from 7 a.m. on the 15th.

Multiple-unit operation is a method of running by coupling two trains as one, characterized by the ability to expand seat supply without increasing the number of runs.

The pilot operation will take place on parts of the Honam Line and the Gyeongbu Line. On the Honam Line, it will apply to some trains on the Suseo~Gwangju Songjeong section on Saturday·Sunday. By coupling a KTX-Sancheon (410 seats) to an existing SRT (410 seats), seat supply increases to 820 seats.

On the Gyeongbu Line, from Friday to Sunday, some trains on the Busan·Pohang~Seoul (upbound) and Seoul~Busan·Masan (downbound) sections will be operated by coupling KTX and SRT.

KTX fares on multiple-unit trains will be discounted by about 10% to match SRT levels. The discount applies equally to KTX services that depart·arrive at Suseo Station, and in this case mileage accrual is excluded.

This pilot operation is a preparatory step to verify the effects of expanding seat supply and improving service ahead of the integration of KTX and SRT in September. At present, integration discussions are being accelerated in the ‘labor-management-government consultative body’ composed of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korail and SR labor·management representatives, and outside experts.

Jeong Wang-guk, CEO of SR, said at a press conference held in Sejong City that “In the labor-management-government consultative body, integration discussions are under way by dividing into four subcommittees for organization, operations, and service,” and that “Given the current trend, integration in September will not be very difficult.”

Jeong predicted that expanding available seats through high-speed rail integration would to some extent ease the high-speed rail ‘reservation crunch’. He said, “Even the KTX-SRT pilot cross-operation launched earlier has increased the number of high-speed train seats that depart·arrive at Suseo Station by about 1,000 per day, and when this multiple-unit operation is implemented, there will be an effect of a 2,870-seat increase per week,” adding, “After integration, booking will also become easier.”

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is reviewing plans to discount KTX fares to SRT levels after integration and to introduce a mileage program for SRT. On this, Jeong said, “If KTX fares are reduced, an inversion could occur in which they become cheaper than SRT,” adding, “Supplementary measures such as introducing SRT mileage are being discussed.”