Korail "KTX Track Derailment Accident Recovered... Normal Operation from First Train"

The derailment accident of the KTX Sancheon train running from Dongdaegu Station to Gyeongju Station was resolved within a day.

On the 18th, Dongdaegu Station is bustling with citizens waiting for trains. / Photo by Yonhap News

Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) announced that recovery work was completed and normal operation resumed from the first KTX train on both directions of the Gyeongbu Line on the morning of the 19th.

At around 4:38 PM the previous day, a Seoul-bound to Busan KTX Sancheon train derailed one wheel while traveling from Dongdaegu Station to Gyeongju Station and stopped near Gomo Station in Suseong-gu, Daegu. The 384 passengers on board were guided by KORAIL to transfer to subsequent trains at the site.

Immediately after the accident, KORAIL activated an accident response headquarters led directly by the president, mobilizing about 70 recovery personnel and equipment such as cranes to carry out recovery operations. There were no injuries from the accident, but 153 trains (108 KTX, 45 SRT) experienced delays ranging from 20 to 277 minutes consecutively. Accordingly, KORAIL adjusted operations by rerouting some sections (between Dongdaegu and Gyeongju Station) via conventional lines. They also deployed 34 connecting buses and operated 3 additional temporary commuter trains in the metropolitan area.

KORAIL will provide additional compensation related to the KTX delays, including taxi fares. Details on compensation and application methods will be announced on the Let's KORAIL website.

A KORAIL official said, "We deeply apologize to the public for the inconvenience caused in using the trains. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident in cooperation with related agencies and establish measures to prevent recurrence, ensuring even stricter safety."

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