KTX-SRT Integration Draws 213,000 Passengers on First Day, Up 7.9% Year on Year

[Financial News] With KTX and SRT integrated, 213,000 passengers used high-speed rail on the 1st, the first day of integrated operations, marking a year-on-year increase.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) announced the figures on the 2nd.
MOLIT had conducted the integration of high-speed rail operations by KORAIL and SR Corporation the previous day. Existing KTX fares were reduced by an average of 10% to SRT levels, and the services were unified under the KTX name. The integration was completed 10 years after SR was launched in 2016.
MOLIT emphasized that the Suseo-corridor high-speed rail line had seen particularly significant improvements. It assessed that the chronic shortage of seats relative to demand had been alleviated to some extent. According to MOLIT, the Suseo-corridor line had more than 64,000 passengers on the 1st, up 11.3% from the previous year. The number of available seats also rose to 65,000, an increase of 30.5% year on year, improving ticket-booking conditions, it explained.
No accidents or disruptions related to high-speed rail occurred on the first day of integrated operations. A MOLIT official explained, "We are making every effort to stabilize initial operations by running a 24-hour emergency response team and providing safety experts at the sites."

[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter