 The KTX-Sancheon has been involved in dozens of operational malfunctions, igniting concerns over passenger safety. The Sancheon, also known as the KTX-II, is the first commercial high-speed train developed in Korea. / Korea Times file |
Public concern mounts over bullet train
By Lee Hyo-sik
Korail, the state-run railroad operator, has asked Hyundai Rotem, the manufacturer of the problem-ridden KTX-Sancheon, to recall Korea’s indigenous bullet train after a series of breakdowns over the past year.
The latest move is expected to further deepen public concern over the safety of the nation’s bullet train system, as well as negatively affect Korea’s efforts to win multi-billion-dollar projects in Brazil, the United States and other countries.
Korail officials had previously maintained that the KTX-Sancheon had no fundamental problems, insisting the train’s frequent malfunctioning in recent months was part of self-correction procedures, and that it had fewer glitches compared to other bullet trains manufactured in other countries.
But with the Sancheon breakdowns making headlines over the past several weeks, the railroad operator had no other choice but to stop operating the train and ask Hyundai to investigate the causes.
Korail said Wednesday it had requested Hyundai to recall all 19 Sancheon trains in operation after detecting a faulty anchor band in a braking motor decelerator installed in one of the trains.
It said cracks were discovered on two of the anchor bands, which could cause the decelerator to detach from the train. The motor decelerator weighs 0.5 ton and controls the power output of the train’s engine.
The Korail union said that if the decelerator fell off while the KTX was in motion, it would result in a deadly accident. It blamed the company’s manpower reductions operations for slashing the frequency of maintenance checkups.
“A series of glitches dogging the KTX-Sancheon and the latest recall are attributed to a combination of technical problems, improper maintenance and poor personal management. Korail management should drastically overhaul itself,” a union official said.
Korail officials said it decided to suspend operation of the troubled train and 18 others immediately after the discovery.
“It is unfortunate that the KTX-Sancheon, a model developed and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem using domestic technology, is plagued with repeated breakdowns. It is hard for us to comment on our decision to have them recalled,” a Korail spokesman said.
But he said the company will introduce a more stringent safety management system for bullet trains and make more efforts to ensure passenger safety.
The Sancheon was put into operation in March last year, operating on a dedicated line linking Seoul and Busan. Alstom-manufactured KTX trains traveling to Mokpo from Daejeon operate on conventional tracks, which the Sancheon cannot run on at full speed.
Korail has been replacing aging KTX trains manufactured by France-based Alstom with the Sancheon, claiming the new train operates more efficiently and provides passengers with a more comfortable ride.
But it has been involved in dozens of operational malfunctions, raising concerns regarding its capability and passenger safety.
According to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, KTX trains recorded a total of 53 operational problems last year, up sharply from 23 in 2009. There have already been over 30 KTX malfunctions reported this year.
A KTX-Sancheon train derailed near Gwangmyeong Station in Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 11 while traveling to Seoul from Busan, the first derailment since bullet trains were introduced into Korea in February 2004.
KTX-산천 잦은 고장으로 리콜
코레일이 잦은 고장을 일으키고 있는 'KTX-산천'에 대해 처음으로 사실상 '리콜'을 요청했다.
이번 리콜로 KTX에 대한 국민의 불안감은 더할 것으로 예상되며 또한 브라질 등에 KTX 차랑 및 운영 기술을 수출하려는 계획에도 큰 차질을 입게 될 전망이다.
11일 코레일은 지난 7일 새벽 고속철도 고양차량기지에서 운전에 앞서 이뤄진 사전 검수도중 지난해 3월 도입된 KTX-산천 2호차의 '모터감속기' 고정대에서 결함이 발견됐다고 말했다 KTX 차체 하부에 모터감속기를 단단히 고정시켜야 할 고정대 두 곳에서 육안으로 확인될 정도의 균열이 발생, 모터감속기가 탈락 직전이었던 것으로 알려졌다. 나머지 한 곳도 심한 균열 현상이 발견됐다. '모터감속기'는 KTX의 엔진이라 할 수 있는 모터블록의 동력을 제어하는 주요 구성장치로 무게만 0.5t에 이른다.
철도노조 한 관계자는 시속 300km의 고속 주행 상황에서 차량 하부의 모터감속기가 선로로 탈락한다면 탈선 등 상상할 수 없는 대형 사고로 이어질 수 있다고 말했다.
