Korail Conducts Special Inspections Across Nationwide Railway Sites... Strengthening Accident Prevention During Thaw Season

by Choi Seoyoon

Published 25 Feb.2025 15:22(KST)

Intensive Management for Facilities, Vehicles, and Power Sectors

KORAIL announced on the 25th that it will conduct a special safety inspection to prevent safety accidents during the spring thaw period. The plan is to focus on construction sites around the tracks, railway vehicles, and facilities to prevent accidents.

In this inspection, special attention will be given to ▲construction sites around the tracks with risks of falling rocks or ground subsidence ▲frequent vehicle breakdowns in spring ▲sections where overhead line power supply failures are a concern.

A total of 545 construction sites nationwide will be inspected at least once a week, and new construction companies will be educated on safety rules and work approval procedures.

Korail employees are inspecting parts under the KTX-Cheongryong in preparation for the spring thaw at the Seoul Metropolitan Vehicle Maintenance Unit on the morning of the 24th. Photo by Korail

Additionally, 2,630 electric train cars, which often experience electronic device failures due to yellow dust and fine dust, will be inspected, and steam cleaning of air conditioning units will be carried out. During March and April, when the bird nesting season begins, 15,877 bird prevention devices on overhead lines will be reinforced to prevent power supply disruptions.

As the number of railway passengers is expected to increase during the holiday and busy farming seasons, measures to prevent accidents at railroad crossings and passenger safety accidents will also be strengthened. Warning lights and barrier operations will be checked at 730 railroad crossings nationwide, and safety signs will be maintained. Areas with frequent accidents and 19 specially managed crossings will be inspected together with related agencies.

Sensors at 321 platform screen door (PSD) locations will be inspected, and the normal operation of 1,535 elevators and 2,817 escalators will be simultaneously checked.

Hong Seung-pyo, Head of KORAIL Safety Technology Headquarters, said, "We will manage facilities more thoroughly to prevent safety accidents during the spring thaw period," adding, "We will establish a safety system that can detect risk factors in real time and respond immediately by utilizing digital technologies such as intelligent CCTV."