SOUTH KOREA: Woojin Industrial Systems has started the production of 108 cars of a new design of electric multiple-unit for use by Korea Railroad Corp.
The 110 km/h trainsets are due to be introduced gradually from July 2027, and will run in four, six and eight-car formations, the national operator told Railway Gazette on February 18.
Eight-car trains with capacity for 1 262 passengers are being supplied to replace older rolling stock on Seoul’s cross-city Line 1, which is jointly operated by Korail and Seoul Metro.
Six-car formations with space for 942 passengers will be deployed on the capital’s Suin-Bundang Line, which was created in 2020 through the merger of the Suin and Bundang suburban lines.
Four-car trains carrying up to 622 passengers are to be deployed on the Donghae Line of the expanding Busan – Ulsan suburban network in the south of the country. A 9·7 km line between Taehwagang and Bukulsan in Ulsan is currently being upgraded to support the introduction of an intensive suburban service.
PMS and DAS
The EMUs will be powered by permanent magnet synchronous motors, which Korail says will be quieter and more efficient than conventional induction motors. They will be fed by a three-level power converter and a main transformer relying on natural cooling.
The trains are to be equipped with a driver advisory system, helping to optimise speed and improve timekeeping. The new traction package, lighter bodies and DAS are together expected to reduce overall energy consumption by an estimated 30%.
A condition-based maintenance system will see sensors be attached to 12 main devices to collect data in real time. These will be transmitted to a ground server for analysis, supporting predictive maintenance; this is expected to improve the efficiency of maintenance and increase the average component life.
The EMUs will have a thicker floor structure around the bogies and improved shock absorption to reduce noise and vibration and improve ride quality. Digital route maps and information displays are to be installed, along with emergency and fire alarms.
