Derailment Accident of Gyeongbu High-Speed Line KTX-Sancheon Bound for Busan at Yeongdong Tunnel, Chungbuk (Update 2)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A KTX-Sancheon train traveling from Seoul Station to Busan Station derailed.

According to Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) on the 5th, at around 11:58 a.m., one carriage (car No. 4) of KTX-Sancheon train No. 23, which departed from Seoul Station heading to Busan Station, derailed near the Yeongdong Tunnel between Yeongdong and Gimcheon-Gumi. This train had departed Seoul Station at 10:30 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Busan Station at 1:13 p.m.

The accident occurred when the track wheels went off the rails during work to move the up-line track and compact gravel for tunnel construction. It was reported that a steel structure inside the tunnel fell and collided with the train.

Due to the accident, some passengers sustained minor injuries from glass shards that flew out when the train windows shattered. The number of injured passengers has not yet been confirmed. The accident has caused delays of over an hour on both the up and down lines of the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway.

After the accident, train passengers are scheduled to transfer to an emergency standby train. Some trains are being rerouted via conventional tracks, while others are waiting on both up and down lines to ensure train operation safety.

Korail is currently investigating the cause of the accident and confirming the number of injured.

Korail stated, "An emergency response team was immediately deployed to carry out recovery work, but it is expected to take considerable time to complete. Customers using the high-speed KTX line are advised to use alternative transportation."

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