The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a roadmap to merge the high-speed rail system, which is split between the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) and SR, into a single system. The move aims to resolve the chronic seat shortage on the Suseo-originating SRT and raise high-speed rail safety levels. The government plans to begin "cross-operation" between KTX and SRT in March next year, shifting to a structure that allows trains to move freely between Suseo Station and Seoul Station. The reservation system will be integrated into a single app, and user benefits such as transfer discounts and fee waivers will be significantly expanded.
On the 8th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said it had drawn up a high-speed rail integration roadmap with these details. The plan is the first official proposal to implement President Lee Jae-myung's pledge to integrate the dualized high-speed rail, and it will be finalized after deliberation by the Public Institution Management Committee.
◇ KTX-SRT cross-operation… easing Suseo's seat shortage first
To ease the seat shortage at Suseo Station, where SRT tickets sell out repeatedly, the government will cross-operate Seoul Station KTX and Suseo Station SRT starting in March next year. Specifically, some Seoul-originating KTX services with lower utilization during off-peak hours will be shifted to Suseo Station to improve scheduling efficiency. To that end, it plans to proceed with preparation procedures such as standby runs for drivers, obtaining section licenses, and safety verification before deployment.
It also plans to rapidly expand supply in the short term by deploying larger-capacity trains, such as KTX-1 (20 cars, 955 seats), on Suseo-originating routes.
As the next step in operational integration, the government will also push a plan to mix fleets without distinguishing between KTX and SRT. For example, it envisions expanding the current round-trip structure of Seoul→Busan→Seoul into Seoul→Busan→Suseo→Pohang→Seoul to maximize rolling stock utilization.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "After mixed formations, KORAIL reviewed that it can expand daily seat supply by 16,000 and offer a 10% fare discount," and added, "After safety verification, we will run a pilot next year before expanding."
◇ Issue KTX and SRT tickets in one app
The reservation system will also undergo a major overhaul. Starting next year, payment and ticketing will both be possible in a single app without needing to distinguish between KTX and SRT. Convenience will also improve with searches showing Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, and Suseo Station simultaneously when "Seoul" is entered. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) proposed introducing transfer discounts between conventional trains such as ITX-Maum and high-speed rail, and waiving cancellation fees when changing trains between KTX and SRT.
Separately from operational integration, the government will also push to merge KORAIL and SR as institutions by the end of next year. However, it said the schedule could change because labor-management coordination and legal procedures are required. Institutional integration must go through ▲ service adjustments such as fares and mileage ▲ organizational, personnel, and financial design ▲ IT system integration ▲ approval of the railway safety management system (Railway Safety Act) ▲ corporate merger review (Fair Trade Act). To that end, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will form a "high-speed rail integration task force" and begin a basic plan research project for integration.
Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "This integration is not KORAIL absorbing SR but a restructuring to strengthen the domestic and international competitiveness of Korea's rail industry," and added, "The government will take special care to ensure SR employees face no disadvantages in personnel or pay."