Passenger numbers on Korea's high-speed rail increased by 350,000 compared to last year, just ten days after the integration of services.
On September 11, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) reported that the total number of high-speed rail passengers during the first ten days following the integration (September 1-10) rose by 13.1% to 3.057 million, compared to 2.704 million during the same period last year.
KORAIL and SR, which previously operated separately, officially merged on September 1. The SRT service has been transferred to KORAIL, and train names and operations have been unified under the KTX brand.
Passengers using trains departing from Suseo Station increased from 649,000 last year to 806,000 this year, a rise of 24.2% (157,000 passengers).
Meanwhile, KTX passengers from Seoul, Yongsan, and Haengsin stations grew from 1.876 million to 2.032 million, an increase of 8.3% (156,000 passengers).
Regular pass holders also saw an increase, rising from 179,000 to 219,000, a 22.3% increase (40,000 passengers).
The number of available seats has increased, particularly on the Suseo line, which saw a rise from 521,000 to 682,000 seats, a 30.8% increase (161,000 seats). The number of seats on the Seoul line remained stable, increasing slightly from 1.972 million to 1.976 million.
Train operations have also expanded, with weekday services increasing from 379 to 402 trains per day, and weekend services rising from 437 to 457 trains per day.
Lee Min-seong, head of KORAIL's passenger business division, stated, "The integration of high-speed rail has allowed us to operate trains more efficiently and increase seat availability. We will continue to analyze passenger demand and travel patterns to create a more convenient rail service that customers can feel."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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