Rail Comprehensive Test Track Usage Fee Reduced by 90% to "Enhance Global Competitiveness"

Status of Railway Comprehensive Test Track Facilities and Operations.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] The government is taking steps to support the development of the railway industry and strengthen global competitiveness by reducing the usage fee of the comprehensive railway test track by 90% and introducing vouchers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Railroad Research Institute announced on the 17th that the daily usage fee of the comprehensive railway test track, which was 14.27 million KRW at the beginning of operation, was reduced to 9.21 million KRW in October last year, and from this month, the fee will be lowered to 2.95 million KRW for large and medium-sized enterprises and to a minimum of 900,000 KRW for SMEs.

The approximately 13 km comprehensive railway test track located in Cheongju, Chungbuk, is the first dedicated test track in Korea for railway testing and research and development. Since May 2019, it has been operated by the Korea Railroad Research Institute, but the daily usage fee was set high at 14.27 million KRW, which posed an economic burden on the railway vehicle and parts industry composed of SMEs.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a railway industry development meeting (December 2020) to contribute to the economic development of the railway industry, which was stagnated due to COVID-19, and discussed measures to revitalize the test track. Since January last year, a consultative body including the Korea Rail Network Authority and the Korea Railroad Research Institute has been formed to establish plans to reduce the usage fee, coordinating with related organizations.

The test track usage fee is calculated considering the operating costs of the test track, with more than 80% of the fee consisting of basic electricity charges and maintenance costs.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute plans to continuously pursue consultations to provide a safe testing environment and advance the testing system through wireless communication-based test equipment (KTCS) and the establishment of an online testing system in preparation for increased demand due to the reduction of the test track usage fee.

Kang Hee-up, Director of Railway Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, “The revitalization of the test track is expected to play a key role in the development of the railway industry, including enhancing the export competitiveness of the domestic railway industry,” adding, “We plan to gradually increase the utilization of the test track by establishing a circular line and installing a light rail test base.”

Han Seok-yoon, President of the Korea Railroad Research Institute, stated, “We will contribute to the development of the domestic railway industry by establishing a stable and efficient testing base and operating a world-class smart comprehensive railway test center.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.