Andy Tebay

Despite pushing back the opening date of the Ui Line, the latest addition to its metro from July until September, Seoul is on course to expand its 327km network by 89km by 2025. Andy Tebay reflects on recent developments in the Korean capital, including a shift to light metro and light rail projects from traditional heavy metro lines.

KOREA’s national train operator Korail has be awarded a Won 5bn ($US 4.3m) consultancy contract for Manila metro Line MRT-7 from San Miguel Holdings’ subsidiary Universal LRT, which is implementing the project.

SEOUL metro operators, Korea, Seoul Metro and Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (SMRT) merged on May 31 following a majority vote from the unions of both corporations in November 2016.

SOUTH Korea’s national train operator Korail unveiled a full-size mock-up of a driving vehicle from its forthcoming EMU-250 high-speed train at Yongsan station in Seoul on May 24.

KOREAN national train operator Korail successfully tested a 1.2km-long 80-wagon freight train between Busan New Port and Jillye station on May 18.

THE Korean city of Busan expanded its metro network on April 20 with the opening of the southern extension of Line 1, which connects the previous south-western terminus at Sinpyeong with Dadaepo Beach.

Soon-man Hong was appointed CEO of Korail in May 2016, and is currently overseeing the expansion of services ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics and in response to a new direct competitor. Hong is also committed to introducing new technologies across all areas of operation, as he reveals to Andy Tebay in Seoul.

KOREA’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Molit) announced on April 4 that it is moving ahead with plans to build Seoul's next generation city-wide urban rail network, the Great Train eXpress (GTX).

THE Korean Ministry for Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Molit) announced on January 6 that non-stop trains between Seoul and Busan would be making a comeback in June or July this year.

THE Donghae Line in Busan, Korea, opened on January 3, bringing the total number of lines on Busan’s metro network to six.