A new advisory committee has been established to discuss long-term challenges in the rail industry, including safety and service specifications for the next-generation high-speed train (EMU-320), carbon neutrality, and regional revitalization.
On September 30, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) announced that the first meeting of the 'Future Rail Advisory Committee' was held at its headquarters in Seoul, featuring external experts in transportation, safety, artificial intelligence, management, and business development.
During the inaugural meeting, discussions focused on developing revitalization models for depopulated areas, the introduction of the next-generation high-speed train (EMU-320), enhancing worker safety management, implementing carbon neutrality (K-RE100), and improving financial health through increased revenue.
It was suggested that safety and service specifications for the next-generation high-speed train should incorporate insights from international rail examples, as well as feedback from field staff and experts in various fields. There was a consensus on the need to select long-term projects and create a feasible roadmap rather than limiting discussions to short-term issues.
The project to introduce the next-generation high-speed train passed a preliminary feasibility study for public institutions in July. KORAIL plans to acquire 49 sets of the EMU-320, which can travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h, totaling approximately 5 trillion won. The first batch of 28 sets will be ordered next year, with deliveries starting in 2032.
KORAIL established this advisory committee to continuously monitor the rapidly changing rail industry and incorporate external expert opinions into its management. Regular meetings will be held quarterly to discuss key management policies, including regional balanced development, modal shift, and carbon neutrality.
Yoon Wan-cheol, an emeritus professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the newly elected chair of the Future Rail Advisory Committee, stated, “The rail industry must swiftly respond to the rapidly changing management environment, including safety and service as fundamental values, AI, eco-friendly technologies, and new transportation demands. We will materialize innovations that resonate with the public and future growth projects based on KORAIL's operational experience and data.”
KORAIL President Kim Tae-seung remarked, “We will actively incorporate expert recommendations into our management to achieve tangible results on the ground and pave the way for sustainable railways.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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