KORAIL Cites "Insufficient Space" for Excluding Uiwang Station from Wireless System

[Financial News] Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) explained that Uiwang Station, where an accident occurred during shunting operations, was excluded from the wireless system because there was insufficient space for installation.
KORAIL issued a press release on the 4th explaining the matter.
Earlier, some media outlets reported that KORAIL had not introduced a wireless control system to enhance safety at Uiwang Station, where an accident occurred last year.
KORAIL stated, "When we first established the plan to introduce a wireless-controlled shunting system in October 2020, the target stations included major freight-handling stations operating shunting locomotives, including Uiwang Station. When we established a revised introduction plan in March 2023, we adjusted the target stations to reflect changes in the shunting environment."
It added, "Wireless-controlled shunting technology remotely operates medium-sized locomotives dedicated to operations within a station. However, the shunting locomotive at Uiwang Station is a large locomotive that runs daily between Suwon and Obong, in addition to performing shunting work. On-site application was impossible because there was insufficient space to install the wireless control system."
KORAIL emphasized, "The certification process, including approval for vehicle modifications and authorization for wireless frequencies required to meet the legal requirements for on-site application, took considerable time. We plan to expand wireless-controlled shunting to other shunting stations, including Uiwang Station, by developing wireless-controlled shunting technology for large locomotives."

[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter