KORAIL: "West Sea Line Component Failure Caused by 'Fatigue Fracture'... Six Months Until Normalization"

The cause of the component failure in the West Sea Line electric trains, which have been operating at reduced speeds due to a series of suspected component defects, has been identified as "fatigue fracture" caused by the accumulation of sudden shocks. It is expected that it will take another six months to complete repairs, including component replacements, meaning prolonged inconvenience for citizens.

KORAIL announced these findings on December 9, disclosing the results of an expert advisory meeting held on December 4. The advisory committee, consisting of eight experts from academia, rolling stock, and technology fields, concluded that the component failed due to fatigue fracture resulting from repeated sudden shocks such as rapid acceleration and deceleration. Fatigue fracture refers to the phenomenon where repeated loads or impacts weaken a material until it breaks.

Accordingly, the National Railroad Authority, which ordered the trains, plans to conduct defect repairs over the next six months, including the complete replacement of the intermediate couplers on 10 trains that use the same type of component.

West Sea Line train. Goyang City

Since a suspected component defect was detected on October 22, KORAIL has implemented safety measures such as train schedule adjustments, operating at speeds below 40 kilometers per hour, installing safety ropes underneath the trains, deploying staff for passenger guidance, and restricting movement through certain cabin doors. These measures will remain in place until defect repairs are completed.

The number of daily operations on the Wonsi-Daegok section remains unchanged at 172, but reduced service continues on the Daegok-Ilsan section. KORAIL has requested that passengers traveling between Daegok and Ilsan use the existing Gyeongui-Jungang Line.

A KORAIL official stated, "As a railway operator, we will work closely with relevant agencies in a responsible manner," adding, "We will prioritize passenger safety and establish fundamental measures to minimize inconvenience."

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