Korea Train eXpress Research Articles

Particulate Matter in the Korea Train eXpress (KTX) Cabin and its Exposure

This study aims to assess the particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) and black carbon (BC) in the Korea Train eXpress (KTX) cabin during train running, and the personal exposure of PM2.5 for the female/male passengers who use the KTX 20 days a month to commute. Intensive measurements were made on the day when the outside ambient PM concentration was much higher than usual. To compare with the PM concentration in the subway cabin, a measurement was also performed in some sections of the Seoul Metro subway (from Namyoung Station (hereafter referred to as the “Sta.”) to Jonggak Sta.). The amount of PM2.5 exposure was calculated for the male/female passengers who regularly board the KTX. The , which is the amount of PM2.5 exposure when moving by car in the same section, was also calculated. The PM concentration in the KTX cabin elevated and fallen off at train staying and train running, respectively. The PM2.5 concentrations inside KTX cabin at the stop station exhibited a remarkable positive correlation with those of outdoor. Compared to the PM concentration measured in the cabin of Seoul Metro subway, PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 in the KTX passenger cabin were 74.9%, 73.3%, and 62.7% of those in the cabin of Seoul Metro subway, respectively. The PM2.5 exposure amount (exposure PM2.5 (μg)) when moving the same section using the KTX and passenger cars was calculated, and as a result, the exposure PM2.5 (μg) for both male and female were 5.7 times lower in the KTX than that in car. The mapping result of BC concentration drawn on the KTX line from Iksan Sta. to Gwang-myeong Sta. shows that it fluctuated greatly for each service section or stop station.

The impact of improved passenger transport system on manufacturing plant productivity

In this paper, we examine the effect of transportation infrastructure on the productivity of manufacturing plants. In particular, we analyze whether improved passenger transportation connections to metropolitan cities positively affect manufacturing plant productivity in peripheral regions. The introduction of the Korea Train eXpress (KTX) high-speed train in 2004 allows us to examine the impact of improved passenger transport. Applying a difference-in-differences framework to plant-level data, we examine whether the productivity of manufacturing plants in counties with high-speed train stations improves more than that in counties without high-speed train stations after the KTX introduction. The results suggest an increase of approximately 5 percent in the productivity of manufacturing plants due to the introduction of the high-speed rail.

Estimating the Benefits of Korea’s Intercity Rail Speed Increase Project: An Agent-Based Model Approach

In the cost–benefit analysis of urban transportation investment, a logsum-based benefit calculation is widely used. However, it is rarely applied to inter-regional transportation. In this study, we applied a logsum-based approach to the calculation of benefits for high-speed projects for inter-regional railways in Korea’s long-term transportation plan. Moreover, we applied a behavioral model in which an agent travels beyond the zones assumed by an aggregate model. In the case of South Korea, such a model is important for determining transportation priorities: whether to specialize in mobility improvement by investing in a high-speed railway project, such as the 300 km/h Korea Train eXpress (KTX), or to improve existing facilities, such as by building a relatively slower railroad (150–250 km/h) to enhance existing mobility and accessibility. In this context, if a new, relatively slow railroad were constructed adjacent to a high-speed railroad, the benefits would be negligible since the reduction in travel time would not sufficiently reflect accessibility improvements. Therefore, this study proposes the use of aggregate and agent-based models to evaluate projects to improve intercity railway service and conduct a case study with the proposed new methodology. A logsum was selected to account for the benefits of passenger cars on semi-high-speed and high-speed railroads simultaneously since it has been widely used to estimate the benefits of new modes or relatively slow modes. To calculate the logsum, this study used input data from both the aggregate and individual agent-based models, and found that an analysis of the feasibility of inter-regional railroad investment was possible. Moreover, the agent-based model can also be applied to inter-regional analysis. The proposed methods are expected to enable a more comprehensive evaluation of the transport system. In the case of the agent-based model, it is suggested that further studies undertake more detailed scenario analysis and travel time estimation.

Effect of Increasing Lateral Resistance of Ballastless Bridge Sliding Track Panel System by Installation of Reinforcement Plate

Recently, train speeds have been increased in Korea owing to the expansion of Korea Train eXpress (KTX) operations and development of next-generation high-speed trains. Hence, continuous welded rails (CWRs) that affect the running stability and ride comfort of trains have become essential elements. However, it is difficult to install CWRs on most of the non-ballast bridges constructed since the 1900s owing to the rail additional stress that occurs during installation. As a solution to this problem, the sliding track panel (STP) system that allows longitudinal sliding is proposed. In the application of STP systems, securing the lateral buckling strength is an essential condition. Hence, a finite element analysis model considering the STP system is presented, and the necessity for reinforcement plates is investigated through a pure skeleton-track analysis. The minimum requirements and effects of increasing the stiffness of the reinforcement plates are derived by analyzing the lateral reinforcement plates.

Train Wheel Force Analysis by Dynamic Analysis of High-speed Train Bridge

A dynamic numerical analysis of the wheel forces of a Korea Train express (KTX) vehicle is conducted to investigate the traffic safety of railway bridge. It is carried out to solve the structural responses which is especially focused on either the dynamic amplification factor (DAF; vertical deflections, stresses, moments, and accelerations) of the bridge or the differences of wheel forces (DWF) and three directions rotations of the train while travelling between on the ground and on the pre-stressed concrete (PSC) box bridge with an analysed range of running speeds from 100 km/h to 600 km/h by 10 km/h increments. The numerical finite element method (FEM) with fourth order Runge−Kutta method is used to analyse the traffic safety of the bridge considering wheel-track forces between a 38 degree-of -freedom vehicle model and a track irregularity generated by the power spectral density (PSD) function. It will be proposed as indies of evaluation method (DAF, DWF, and KTX rotations) are recommended as the enforced traffic safety of the existing PSC box bridges due to the increasing speed of next generation KTX.

Analysis of the Railway Accident-Related Damages in South Korea

Railway accidents are critical issues characterized by a large number of injuries and fatalities per accident due to massive public transport systems. This study proposes a new approach for evaluating the damages resulting from railway accidents using the two-part models (TPMs) such as the zero-inflated Poisson regression model (ZIP model) and the zero-inflated negative-binomial regression model (ZINB model) for the non-negative count measurements and the zero-inflated gamma regression model (ZIG model) and the zero-inflated log-normal regression model (ZILN model) for the semi-continuous measurements. The models are employed for the evaluation of the railway accidents on Korea Railroad, considering the accident damages, such as the train delay time, the number of trains delayed and the cost of considering the accident count responses, for the period 2008 to 2016. From the results obtained, we found that the human-related factors, the high-speed railway system or the Korea Train Express (KTX) and the number of casualties, are the main cost-escalating factors. The number of trains delayed and the amount of delay time tend to increase both the probability of incurring costs and the amount of cost. For better evaluation, the railway accident data should contain accurate information with less recurrence of zeros.

The Feasibility of Adapting Air Compressor to a High-Speed Train to Attenuate the Aerodynamic Problems in Tunnel

An air compressor has been adapted to a high-speed train to reduce the aerodynamic problems when passing through a tunnel. To evaluate the feasibility of the air compressor to attenuate the aerodynamic drag, pressure transient and the micro-pressure wave, the flow around the high-speed train has been simulated using the unsteady axisymmetric compressible Navier–Stokes equation. The simulation results by the dedicated CFD program for the train-tunnel aerodynamics named C-STA™ showed good agreements with the field test result of Korea Train eXpress train running through the Bok-An tunnel. By adapting a compressor with 20% of the train cross-sectional area, the simulation results showed 9% reduced average aerodynamic drag, 54% reduced peak pressure rise in tunnel, and 20% reduced micro-pressure wave, which prove that adapting a compressor can be a good measure to attenuate the tunnel aerodynamic problems for high-speed train.

A Study on Depth Sizing for Surface Cracks in KTX Brake Disc Using Rayleigh Wave

Korea Train eXpress (KTX), high-speed railway system, provides an important platform for public transportation and connects major metropolitans in Korea. KTX aiming towards next-generation transportation system has plans to increase the operation times. However, with increasing operation times, safety and reliability of the railways especially inspection of brakes systems becomes important. Therefore, in this study, a KTX brake disc inspection system using the Rayleigh wave is developed to characterize the cracks in the discs. The performance of the inspection system is evaluated on the KTX brake discs specimen having fabricated cracks as well as natural cracks. The result shows that the proposed algorithm successfully characterizes the crack types and estimated the length, width, depths and gap between cracks with good accuracy.

Experimental Study on Track‐Bridge Interactions for Direct Fixation Track on Long‐Span Railway Bridge

The rail and track girder of the direct fixation track (DFT) system on the Yeongjong Grand Bridge (YGB) in Korea exhibit integrated behavior. Therefore, unlike the DFT system in general concrete tracks, the track support stiffness (TSS) of the DFT system on the YGB cannot be evaluated with only the displacement of the rail. The actual TSS of the DFT system supported by the flexible track girders was lower than that of the DFT system supported by the general substructure. For this reason, field measurements and a finite element analysis that reflects the actual operating speed of railroad vehicles on the YGB (i.e., Airport Railroad Express (AREX), nonstop Airport Railroad Express (AREX Express), and Korea Train Express (KTX)) were conducted in this study to determine the interactions between the rail and the track girder. The results indicated that the DFT system on the YGB is supported by track girders that exhibit relatively flexible behavior. As a result, the TSS is directly influenced by the bending stiffness of the track girder.

A Study on the Passengers’ Satisfaction of KTX(Korea Train eXpress)

A Study on the Passengers’ Satisfaction of KTX(Korea Train eXpress)

Longitudinal assessment of high-speed rail service delivery, satisfaction and operations: A study of Taiwan and Korea systems

This article compares Taiwan and Korea high speed rail systems to identify service factors that affect their long-term development. Data were collected by questionnaires and interviews administered over several years to study passenger travel behavior and perceptions of service quality. Analysis results indicate that improving operational effectiveness requires enhanced service quality and that Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) passengers are very concerned about facility of infrastructure services. In contrast, the main concern of Korea Train eXpress (KTX) passengers is frontline staff interaction. Notably, the data show that THSR passenger satisfaction increased steadily to levels superior to those expressed by KTX passengers. Another finding is that, in terms of resource allocation, both Taiwan and Korea should improve the handling of passenger complaints, provide improved scheduling information, and strive to improve arrival and departure punctuality. The contribution of this study is the development of a systematic method of assessing the long-term performance of high-speed rail transport services, by which management units can adjust operating strategies to continuously improve services. The analysis results can facilitate the THSR and KTX to formulating planning and operational strategies that can achieve the goal of sustainable operations.

Performance Characteristics of Motor Block Resistor for KTX

Objectives: It was confirmed in this study, after subjecting the system to a braking characteristic test, that the motor block braking resistor for the Korea Train express (KTX) train can be commercialized. Methods/Statistical Analysis: A braking characteristic test was performed using a motor block for the KTX with technical specifications similar to those found in the current rolling stocks, to analyze its temperature rising characteristics observed when a consistent braking current is sent to a braking resistor, followed by an analysis of the natural convection transient thermal transfer, and the results were compared and analyzed. Findings: The analysis of the thermal analysis and temperature rising curve in the test of the braking resistor as well as the temperature distribution of the thermal analysis, the temperature distribution measured in the test, showed that a minor error occurred owing to the differences between the natural convection thermal transfer coefficient and the onsite condition during the thermal analysis and test, but its average temperature rise was similar to that of the existing system, thereby confirming the validity of the interpretation. Improvements/Applications: This paper is believed to provide reliable data that are useful in analyzing the temperature rising trend of the braking resistor for highspeed trains.

확산효과를 통한 고속철도의 여객수요 증가현상에 관한 연구

본 연구에서는 개통 12년을 맞는 한국고속철도(KTX, Korea Train eXpress)를 대상으로 여객수요 증가 에 대해 새로운 시각에서 검증하고 이에 바탕하여 장래 KTX의 지속가능 운영방안을 고찰하고자 한다. 지속적으로 증가되고 있는 KTX 여객수요의 영향요인으로는 노선의 확대와 녹색성장을 통한 대중교통의 인식 전환 등이 될 수 있겠으나, 현재까지 KTX 관련연구는 이러한 점을 고려하지 못한 채 주로 여객수요 예측에 집중되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 통행시간 감소로 인한 이용객의 사회적, 심리적 영향에 초점을 맞춘 요인을 고찰하였으며 이를 위해 확산이론 개념을 적용하여 여객수요 증가현상을 설명하였다. 소비자가 가지고 있는 정보가 다양한 네트워크를 통해 전파되는 현상인 확산효과는 제품선택과 구매태도에 영향을 미치는 마케팅학적 개념으로 이 영향이 KTX 이용에도 적용되어 여객수요 확산을 촉진시켰다는 가설을 설정하고 분석을 진행하였다. KTX 경부선을 대상으로 여객수요 증가에 기인하는 이용자의 사회적, 심리적 영향을 Bass의 확산모형(Diffusion Model)을 통해 분석하고 그 결과를 토대로 장래 KTX의 지속가능한 운영에 있어서 여객수요 향상을 위한 교통서비스의 마케팅적 정책추진이 가능하다는 시사점에 대해 고찰해본다. It is over 12 years since the launch of Korea Train eXpress (KTX) services. Demand for the KTX has been on the increase continuously but few studies have been produced related to this phenomenon. KTX passenger demand has been constantly increasing due to influencing factors such as the expansion of network, rise of oil prices, etc. In this study, our main focus is to verify that there are other types of elements that are causing an increase in KTX demand; our approach looks at changes in social and psychological aspect that have occurred due to the reduction of travel time and cost, as well as the imposition of a five-day workweek. In other words, we considered diffusion theory in the marketing area, which affects product selection and purchasing attitudes, as a key factor that is causing passenger demand to increase. That is to say that it is hypothesized that the demand for travel on the KTX has increased due to the train's utility, which is spread by the diffusion effect Therefore, the Bass diffusion model was applied to explain the dramatic increase in KTX passenger demand. Based on this foundation, it was also discussed how certain marketing strategies that incorporate the diffusion effect should be considered variously for sustainable management of rail transportation, while considering a steady passenger demand.

공항철도연계 구간의 고속열차(KTX)와 전동열차(AREX) 혼용운용에 따른 ATP지상설비간 상호간섭 영향에 관한 연구

공항 철도 연계 시설 확충 사업에 따라 수색역구내에서 공항 철도로 연결선(L=2.2km)을 건설하고 신호 시스템 및 정거장을 개량하여 경의선 수색역에서 공항 철도로 경부선 및 호남선 고속열차(KTX)를 직결 운행 할 수 있도록 하였다. KTX/AREX 열차의 혼용 운행에 따른 AREX 전동 열차의 신호 시스템은 기존과 동일한 ATC /ATO 방식으로 운행하고 KTX 고속 열차는 ERTMS/ETCS L1 ATP 방식을 신설하여 운행하기로 하였으나 "고속 열차(KTX)와 공항 철도의 지상 신호 설비" 간 및 "공항 철도 차량(AREX)과 고속 열차용 ATP 시스템 지상 설비간 상호 간섭 등의 문제점으로 인하여 고속 열차 운행이 불가능하게 되었다. 이에 공항 철도 비콘과 KTX 열차용 발리스의 특성을 비교 분석한 결과 상호 간섭에 대한 기술적 보완이 필요함을 확인하게 되었다. 따라서 이러한 복합적인 문제의 해결과 기술적 타당성을 확인하기 위해 3가지 유형의 시험 모듈로 실제의 열차를 이용하여 시험을 함으로서 "고속열차(KTX)와 공항 철도 지상 신호 설비간" 및 "공항 철도 전동차(AREX)와 고속 열차용 ATP시스템 지상 설비" 간 상호 간섭 등의 문제점을 해소하고자 한다. ccording to the airport railroad linkage facility expansion project constructing a connecting line to the airport railway and improving the signal system and Gyeongui Susaek Station, a high-speed train is able to run directly from Gyeongbu and Honam to the airport railway. According to mixed operation of high-speed Korea Train Express (KTX) and Airport Railroad Express (AREX) trains, to establish ERTMS/ETCS L1 ATP to operate the KTX train, the signaling system of the AREX train is the same as the existing ATC/ATO, but its operation became impossible because the high-speed train causes mutual interference between the "high-speed train (KTX) and AREX ground signaling equipment" and between the "AREX train and KTX (high-speed train) ATP ground equipment." Thus, it was necessary to have a supplemental technical interference analysis comparing the characteristics of the AREX beacon and the KTX balise. So, we resolve the problems of mutual interference between the "high-speed train (KTX) and AREX ground signaling equipment" and between the "AREX train and KTX (high-speed train) ATP ground equipment" with a test using an actual train, and we confirm the technical validity with three types of test module.

The Impact of Improved Passenger Transport System on Manufacturing Plant Productivity

In this paper, we examine the effect of transportation infrastructure on the productivity of manufacturing plants. In particular, we analyze whether improved passenger transportation connections to metropolitan cities positively affects manufacturing plant productivity in non-metropolitan counties. The recent introduction of the Korea Train eXpress(KTX) high-speed train allows us to study the causal impact of improved passenger transport. We apply a difference-in-differences framework to plant-level data, by exploiting the exogenous timing of high-speed train introduction and the location of the new KTX stations which have not been altered endogenously. Specifically, we compare the plants in counties without high-speed train stations with those in the counties with high-speed train stations. The empirical results suggest an increase of approximately 4.6 percent in the productivity of manufacturing plants due to the introduction of the high-speed train. Our analysis suggests this might have resulted from increased ability to recruit highly skilled younger workers to the manufacturing plants connected by the KTX high-speed train.

The impacts of high-speed rail extensions on accessibility and spatial equity changes in South Korea from 2004 to 2018

The construction of South Korean High-Speed Rail (HSR) or Korea Train eXpress (KTX) has been evolving in phases since its first operation in 2004. This development raises concerns whether the benefits from the extended HSR network would again be limited to the initial HSR corridors and will deepen the inequalities in accessibility with the rising issue of uneven regional development of the country. This paper measures the accessibility of each stage of HSR network extension and evaluates its spatial distribution, variation, and changes using weighted averaged travel time and potential accessibility indicators. The results of this study find different accessibility impacts from each stage of HSR extension. Although travel-time reduction and increased attractions have been widened in more cities by each HSR extension, the spatial equity is degenerated by the extension in 2010/2011 as the improvement of accessibility has been concentrated in cities along the primary HSR corridor near the already-advantageous Seoul capital area. In contrast, the future HSR extension in 2018 will enhance equitable accessibility to the isolated regions such as the northeast and the southwest regions of the country. However, the relative degree of accessibility improvement will not be large enough for increasing the spatial equity of accessibility without more extended HSR networks between provinces.

Prediction of CO2 Concentration in Korea Train Express (KTX) Cabins

The forced ventilation in high-speed trains makes air quality control in railway cabins of importance. Ventilation is used for controlling various contaminants, along with the temperature and the humidity, keeping them at comfortable levels for passengers. Express trains travel to their destinations at high speeds, and given Korea’s mountainous terrain, must go through many tunnels along the way. Korea’s tunnel rate is in fact much higher than other countries. Because the HVAC system blocks off outdoor air when entering a tunnel, a high tunnel rate has a negative impact on railway cabin ventilation. To meet the air quality standards for public transportations, CO2 concentration in high speed railway cabins should be strictly managed. In this study, changes in CO2 concentration in railway cabins were predicted through a simulation on a route that has not yet in service.

Dynamic responses of a continuous beam railway bridge under moving high speed train with random track irregularity

This paper addresses the dynamic response of a continuous beam bridge with different levels of track irregularities under a single, moving high-speed train. The train is modeled as one-foot sprung masses. The bridge is described as an Euler-Bernoulli beam supported by several hinged supports. Rayleigh damping coefficients of the bridge are calculated by using the modal damping ratio. Random track irregularities are generated by power spectrum density functions. The interaction equation of motion is derived and then solved by using the Newmark-beta method combined with the Newton-Raphson method. The dynamic impact factors of a single-span simply supported bridge and a five-span continuous beam bridge under the same train are calculated and compared for verification. Additionally, a three-span continuous beam bridge with various damping ratios and track irregularities under a Korea Train Express (KTX) train is used as an example to investigate the dynamic impact factors at the midpoints of different bridge spans in both downward and upward directions, the deck rotations at the bridge supports, and the average maximum acceleration of the train bodies under different conditions.

기존선을 통과하는 고속차량의 적절한 주행속도에 관한 연구

KTX (Korea Train eXpress) is the first high-speed train operated in Korea and its highest speed reaches 300 km/h. Korean high-speed trains are mostly operated on the railroads exclusively designed for high-speed trains, but the sections of Seoul~Gwangmyeong, nearby of Daejeon station and Dongdaegu are operated on the existing tracks having the speed less than 150 km/h. With this paper, we’d like to analyze the lateral force that occurs between the wheels and the rail when high-speed trains were operated on the existing track section to suggest an appropriate driving speed for high-speed trains. As the rigid wheel base of the high-speed train is 3m which is about 50% longer than normal vehicles, it works as an advantage for high-speed driving. However, as the lateral force becomes higher than normal vehicles when driving on curves, plans to reduce wear-outs on the wheels are required.

The impacts of high speed rail on regional economy and balanced development : Focused on Gyeongbu and Gyeongjeon lines of Korea Train eXpress(KTX)

The opening of KTX(Korea Train eXpress), Korean high-speed rail, has shortened the travel time from Seoul to Busan to 2 hours and 18 minutes compared to 4 hours and 10 minutes before the existence of KTX. It has been expected that KTX contributes to increasing the diverse individual activity, the choice of residence and jobs, the choice of location of firms, which in turn contributes to the balanced development at the national level. On the other hand, it has been argued that KTX would increase the concentration of population and economic activity in large urban areas absorbing the resources of lagged regions. This paper aims to empirically analyze the influence of KTX on regional economy to test the above two hypotheses. Three Beta-convergence models with GRDP, population, and employment are applied for communities along the Gyeongbu-line. The results show that the region is moving to regional divergence in terms of GRDP and population distribution, while there exists beta-convergence in terms of employment. It is argued that KTX contributes to the divergence of GRDP and population.