Train use in Korea topped 42 million people in the first quarter of this year. It is the highest level for a first quarter. The increase is attributed to expanded KTX and SRT service and higher demand for trains due to high oil prices.
On the 12th, according to the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) and the SRT operator, a total of 42.11 million passengers used KTX, SRT, KTX-Eum, ITX-Saemaeul, and Mugunghwa trains in the first quarter of this year. That is up 2.1% from the previous record high in the first quarter of last year (41.25 million).
KTX passengers in the first quarter of this year totaled 20.39 million, surpassing 20 million for a first quarter for the first time. That is an increase of 2.8% from a year earlier. During the same period, SRT passengers reached 6.16 million, up 0.6%.
Passengers on KTX-Eum, a quasi-high-speed train, totaled 2.8 million, up 23.5% from a year earlier.
KORAIL said the expansion of stopping stations and the increase in the number of runs led to more passengers. KTX and KTX-Eum stopping stations increased from 69 in 2023 to 86 now. KTX-Eum began service on the Donghae Line between Gangneung and Bujeon at the end of last year, and the number of runs on the Jungang Line was expanded from 6 to 18.
However, passengers on conventional trains showed a decline. In the first quarter of this year, passengers on conventional trains totaled 12.76 million, down 2% from a year earlier.
Passengers on conventional trains reached 16.68 million in the first quarter of 2019 but have been gradually decreasing. The trend is attributed to the start of KTX-Eum service in 2021 and the retirement of aging trains.
The increase in total train passengers in the first quarter of this year also appears to reflect the impact of high oil prices. As oil prices rose due to the Middle East war, public transportation use increased. In fact, train passengers last month after the war broke out (14.62 million) rose 2.4% from a year earlier and 7.3% from the previous month.