On April 1, 2004 Korea entered the era of super-high speed train travel as the country introduced the new Korea Train eXpress (KTX) service. Effectively cutting cross-country travel time in half, the new trains can travel at a maximum speed of 185 miles per hour, enabling travelers to reach anywhere in the country in under three hours.

The first phase of the new KTX system includes two lines. The first travels between Seoul and the country’s major port city of Busan, with a maximum travel time of 2 hours and 40 minutes. In comparison, an average drive to Busan along the expressway normally takes about six hours. The other line, which extends from Seoul to the southwestern city of Mokpo, has a top travel time of 2 hors and 58 minutes. Trains between Seoul and Busan run every half hour during peak hours, and the fare between the cities is 45,500 won (~USD $40), while fares between Seoul and Mokpo are just 43,500 won (~USD $38).

Korail, the governing body of Korea’s railway system anticipates that by traveling at twice the speed of the slower Saemaeulho train system (which currently has a top speed of 85 miles per hour), the new KTX service will increase passenger capacity by 340 percent while simultaneously increasing cargo capacity by nearly 800 percent. These numbers are especially significant because Korea has recently reduced its official work week from six days to five, and government officials expect to see a dramatic rise in weekend travel throughout the country.

The KTX was built using French TGV technology, and each train takes just six minutes and eight seconds to accelerate to its top speed of 185 miles per hour. The KTX trains consist of 4 motorized cars and 16 passenger trains, with each passenger car accommodating up to 935 passengers. For more information about the KTX system, contact the Korea National Tourism Organization at 800/868-7567 or visit the Korail website at www.korail.go.kr.