South Korea's high-speed rail ushered in a big upgrade! The KTCS-2 wireless control system will be f

KOREA National Railway (KNR) announced that the Korean Train Control System Type 2 (KTCS-2), jointly developed by it and Hyundai Rotem, is ready to be fully introduced on the national high-speed rail network.

"KTCS-2 is the world's first train control system based on LTE-R wireless communication, which was launched in 2018 as a national R&D project," said KNR. "The system has successfully completed commercial operation on the Hunan Line (Osong - Mokpo) in 2022."

The introduction of KTCS-2 into the Gyeongbu Expressway line connecting Seoul and Busan is currently being designed, with installation expected to begin next year as a first step in the deployment of the nationwide high-speed rail network, KNR said. KR also plans to install KTCS-2 on the Honam Line and the Seoul Suseo-Gyeongbu High-Speed Rail Line by 2028.

According to Hyundai Rotem, KTCS-2 enables real-time two-way wireless communication between trains and control centers, which will reduce the frequency of shifts on regular and high-speed rail lines by up to 23%, increasing transportation capacity and improving safety and operational efficiency.

KTCS-2 is expected to reduce installation, operation, and maintenance costs by eliminating the need for orbital beacons (balise). KNR estimates that installing KTCS-2 on the Gyeongbu high-speed rail will save at least 1.2 trillion won (about $865,000) compared to existing foreign systems and can support infrastructure at speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour.

"The KTCS-2 complies with the European Train Control System (ETCS) standard and is compatible with overseas signaling systems, making it advantageous for export to overseas markets," KNR noted. "With the rapid growth of global demand for rail infrastructure, including high-speed rail, South Korean rail technology is expected to be a 'game-changer' for access to global markets such as Europe."

"KTCS-2 is a unique railway technology developed through a national R&D project that can play a key role in ensuring the safety, efficiency and economy of railways," said Mr. Lee Sung-hae, Chairman of Korea Railways. "We will provide comprehensive support to strengthen the autonomy of South Korea's railway technology and enable it to enter the global rail market."

Hyundai Rotem expects to complete the development of the KTCS-3 on-board unit by the end of this year. KTCS-3 will realize train positioning without the need for track circuits.

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