Hyundai Rotem Commercializes World's First LTE Train Control System... Supporting Safe Operation

Preceding Train Location Tracking and Train Interval Adjustment
Track Condition Monitoring... Train-Control Center Wireless Communication
Safety Improved 5.8 Times and Transport Capacity Increased 1.2 Times After Commercialization

Hyundai Rotem has succeeded in commercializing the world's first 4th generation wireless communication (LTE)-based train control system.

On the 30th, Hyundai Rotem announced that it began the first commercial operation of the Jeolla Line Korean Train Control System (KTCS-2) on the 180km section from Iksan to Yeosu Expo Station. KTCS-2 is a real-time train control system based on the railway-dedicated wireless communication network (LTE-R, Long Term Evolution-Railway).

The role of KTCS-2 is to check the position information of the preceding train and adjust the train intervals. After checking the track status, it switches tracks and supports speed control and emergency braking to operate trains safely. It is an essential device for operating high-speed trains such as KTX and SRT.

Hyundai Rotem participated in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's train control system standardization research and development (R&D) project in 2012. In 2018, it succeeded in domestic production of KTCS-2. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport selected the Jeolla Line as a pilot route and has been conducting verification procedures for KTCS-2 since December 2020. Among these, Hyundai Rotem has entered the final stage of commercial operation for KTCS-2 commercialization.

Through KTCS-2, operational information such as speed limits can be checked in real time via LTE-R, enabling safe and efficient train control. By utilizing the two-way wireless communication function between trains and the control center, the operating interval with the preceding train can be narrowed. As a result, operational efficiency and train transport capacity are expected to increase.

Previously, train operation information could only be confirmed through balises installed on the tracks, not by wireless communication. Real-time confirmation was difficult. Balises are ground devices installed at regular intervals in the center of the track that transmit train location, speed limits, operational information, and track information.

KTX1 train in commercial operation applying the KTCS-2 train control system. [Photo by Hyundai Rotem]

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's investigation, with KTCS-2 commercialization, train operation intervals can be widened by up to 23%, and train transport capacity can improve by 1.2 times. Based on the European Railway International Standard safety evaluation criteria, the safety of KTCS-2 was assessed to be approximately 5.81 times higher than that of existing railway signaling systems.

After KTCS-2 commercialization, it is expected that domestic railway signaling systems can be standardized. Currently, signaling systems applied to domestic high-speed and metropolitan railways are from different foreign companies depending on the route, making interoperability difficult. Standardizing with KTCS-2 will allow trains to be deployed on various routes without signaling system restrictions. Replacing foreign signaling systems applied to domestic railways with KTCS-2 is also expected to reduce maintenance costs.

Hyundai Rotem plans to expand KTCS-2 to nationwide routes based on commercial operation performance. It also plans to pursue exports to Europe. KTCS-2 applies European standard specifications and meets the European Union (EU) train control system (ETCS, European Train Control System) standards. Additionally, Hyundai Rotem plans to complete the development of the KTCS-3 onboard signaling device by the end of next year. KTCS-3 is a system that automatically controls train location and operational information solely through wireless communication without track circuits.

A Hyundai Rotem official said, "Based on the stable KTCS-2 operation performance, we will strive to expand the Korean Train Control System to nationwide railway lines," adding, "We will continue to do our best in developing the KTCS-3 onboard signaling device to become a leading railway vehicle company recognized not only domestically but also in overseas markets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.