SRT (train)

SRT
SRT train in Suseo station
Overview
Service type
StatusOperating
LocaleSouth Korea
First service9 December 2016; 9 years ago (2016-12-09)
Last service31 August 2026; 51 days ago (2026-08-31)
SuccessorKTX (by merger)
Route
Service frequency
  • Suseo–Busan (40x daily)
  • Suseo–Mokpo (20x daily)
Train numbers
  • 3xx (Suseo–Busan)
  • 6xx (Suseo–Mokpo)
Lines used
On-board services
Classes
  • First class
  • Standard class
Disabled accessFully accessible
Catering facilitiesTrolley service
Entertainment facilitiesYes
Baggage facilitiesYes
Technical
Rolling stock
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV/60 Hz overhead catenary
Operating speedUp to 305 km/h (190 mph)
Route map
SRT
Hangul
수서고속철도
Hanja
水西高速鐵道
RRSuseo gosok cheoldo
MRSusŏ kosok ch'ŏlto

The SRT was a high-speed rail service in South Korea operated by SR Corporation. The service starts at Suseo station in southeast Seoul and terminates at either Busan station or Mokpo station.

Around 86% of the train service runs 50 meters underground between Suseo and Cheonan-Asan stations. Dongtan station, the first station after departing from Suseo, is the first underground high-speed railway station in Korea. The SRT runs the Seoul–Busan route 8 minutes faster than KTX as it travels exclusively on dedicated Suseo–Pyeongtaek, Gyeongbu and Honam HSR lines. The Suseo-Pyeongtaek HSR line was built exclusively for this service.

Branding

Before the official announcement by SR, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport used the tentative term Suseo High-speed Railway (수서고속철도).

On October 12, 2015, SR proposed three candidate names for the new high-speed rail service – SRT (Super Rapid Train), HSR (High-speed train of SR), and SRH (SR High-speed train). SRT (Super Rapid Train) was chosen.

Merger

On 1 September 2026, the SRT was merged into the main KTX rail network, including operations, ticketing, and rolling stock.

Electrification

The SRT operates 25 kV AC on the entire line and interconnection with Korail is 1.5 kV DC. At Suseo Station, the power comes from rigid overhead lines before transitioning to a 1500mm overhead catenary wire after leaving the station.

Route

Legend

● All trains stop
○ Some trains stop
△ Few trains stop

Suseo–Busan

Station Distance (from Suseo) Stopping
km mi
Suseo 0.0 0.0 ●
Dongtan 32.6 20.2 ○
PyeongtaekJije 53.6 33.3 △
Cheonan–Asan 78.7 48.9 ○
Osong 107.3 66.6 ○
Daejeon 142.5 88.5 ●
Gimcheon (Gumi) 216.3 134.4 △
Dongdaegu 269.4 167.3 ●
Gyeongju 318.4 197.8 ○
Ulsan 348.4 216.4 ○
Busan 400.1 248.6 ●

Suseo–Mokpo

Station Distance (from Suseo) Stopping
km mi
Suseo 0.0 0.0 ●
Dongtan 32.6 20.2 ○
PyeongtaekJije 53.6 33.3 △
Cheonan–Asan 78.7 48.9 ○
Osong 107.3 66.6 ○
Gongju 151.1 93.8 △
Iksan 197.1 122.4 ●
Jeongeup 239.2 148.6 △
GwangjuSongjeong 289.7 189.0 ●
Naju 305.5 189.8 △
Mokpo 356.5 221.5 △

Rolling stock

KTX-Sancheon

The train service is operated using 22 KTX-Sancheon Class 120000 train sets and 10 KTX-Sancheon Class 130000 train sets. Class 120000 train sets was originally operated by Korail's KTX service before it was transferred to SR at the end of 2016, while Class 130000 train sets are new builds.

KTX-Cheongryong

Extension beyond HSRs

Since Super Rapid Train only had two routes, there are many local cities that only KTX serves. In November 2016, Jeonju and Yeosu urged the SR Corporation to run trains on the Jeolla Line. In December 2016, the mayor of Pohang proposed running SRT service to Pohang station using the Donghae Line. In January 2021, the mayor of Changwon urged the SR Corporation to run SRT service to Changwon station using the Gyeongjeon Line.

On September 1, 2023, SRT services using Jeolla Line, Donghae Line and Gyeongjeon Line were launched.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tebay, Andy (December 9, 2016). "Korea opens Suseo high-speed line". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  2. ↑ "SRT Train Korea | Suseo High Speed Railway - Korea Trains". www.koreatrains.com. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  3. ↑ "SRT to start operation next month". The Korea Times. November 2, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  4. ↑ "2016.12.9, 드디어 「수서고속철도」가 개통됩니다". Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ Seunghyeon, Kim (October 12, 2015). "SR "새 고속열차명 'SRT·HSR·SRH' 중 골라주세요"" [SR says "Please choose name of the new high-speed railway - between SRT, HSR, SRH]. NewsPim (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ Kim, Jeonghoon (September 1, 2026). "KTX and SRT Merge Into One High-Speed Rail System". Seoul Economic Daily. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
  7. ↑ Andy Tebay (December 9, 2016). "Korea opens Suseo high-speed line". Rail Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  8. ↑ Jeonghwan, Lim (November 16, 2016). "SRT 전라선도 운행하라… 전주·여수 등 7개 시군 한 목소리" [SRT should also be operated on Jella Line]. Newdaily Economics (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  9. ↑ Jeongno, Park (December 23, 2016). "이강덕 포항시장, KTX 증편과 SRT 노선 건의" [Mayor of Pohang proposed increasing KTX service and introducing SRT service in Pohang]. No Cut News (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  10. ↑ Wonjun, Ahn (January 12, 2017). "경남 창원시, 수서발 고속철도 및 KTX 연장 운행과 증편 요구" [Changwon urged extension of Suseo High-speed Rail and increase of KTX service]. Segye Ilbo (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  11. ↑ 경남→서울 강남까지 직행…경전선 SRT 9월 1일 개통 [Gyeongnam → Direct to Seoul Gangnam… Gyeongjeon Line SRT opens on September 1]. No Cut News (in Korean). August 4, 2023. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2025.