S. Korea unveils new highspeed train system

CHANGWON, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday unveiled a new
indigenously-built highspeed train system that can operate at over 300 kilometers per hour.

The train developed by Hyundai Rotem Co. makes extensive use of aluminium
composite materials to reduce weight and has excellent aerodynamic properties to
minimize drag that can hurt performance, the Ministry of Land, Transport and
Maritime Affairs said.
The tentatively named KTX-2, to be operated by Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail),
makes South Korea the fourth country in the world after Japan, France and Germany
to manufacture a train with a top speed exceeding 300 kilometers per hour.
"The development of the train highlights advances in local technology in this
field," said Korail acting president Sim Hyeong-yun said in a ceremony in this
industrial city, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul.
The state-run railway operator said 10 or 20 coaches can be attached to the new
trains, giving the operator greater flexibility in operation.
All seats in the KTX-2 also rotate and are spaced further apart than those on the
existing models. The footspace of each seat has been increased to 980mm from
930mm while the rotating feature is expected to do away with complaints of half
the passengers facing the back of the train as it moves forward.
The first KTX trains introduced in April 2004 were imported from France or
assembled in the country using foreign parts and have fixed seats.
Korail said that the first KTX-2 trains are to be used on the Seoul-Gwangju line
starting late next year, followed by services in the Gyeongbu line connecting the
capital city with Busan the country's main sea port.
(END)