KTX offers easiest trip to PyeongChang Winter Olympics

By Yoon Ja-young

As the world counts down to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, International Olympics Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach arrived in Korea last week. Upon arrival at Incheon International Airport, he took the Gyeonggang Line KTX, the bullet train linking Seoul to Gangneung in Gangwon Province where the Olympics will take place.

The new line built for the Olympics got the spotlight as it shortened travel time from Seoul to Gangneung to 100 minutes from the previous six hours. It has been successfully operating, with over 500,000 having traveled on the train as of Jan. 27, only 37 days since it was put in service.

For those heading to the Olympics venues as well as key tourist destinations of Gangwon Province, this KTX line will be the best means of transportation.

According to Korail, which operates the KTX, the bullet train will operate 51 times a day on the Seoul-Gangneung line throughout February. Between March 1 and March 22 when the Paralympics are held, it will run 22 times a day during the weekdays and 30 times a day on the weekends. The line has also been extended to the second terminal of Incheon International Airport from Jan. 26 for the convenience of foreign travelers. The KTX trains to Gangneung also depart from Seoul, Cheongnyangni and Sangbong stations. Olympics venues are close to PyeongChang, Jinbu and Gangneung stations.

Korail expanded the Wi-Fi capacity in its KTX trains by 40 percent so that travelers can watch the Olympic Games with their smart devices on the train.

It also introduced diverse tour packages in cooperation with the tourism ministry as well as local governments. It includes the Seoul-Gangneung KTX package traveling around Gangwon Province, Rail City Tour package providing trips to the five cities of Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Iksan and Yeosu, as well as a one-day city tour for foreigners where they can enjoy Korea’s diverse traditions and cultures.

Korail dispatched dozens of employees fluent in foreign languages to major stations including Incheon International Airport, Seoul, PyeongChang, Jinbu and Gangneung stations, to provide information that foreign tourists need. It also increased English language information service at stations and on trains. Korail runs a call center for foreigners at 1599-7777, where they can get help in English, Chinese and Japanese.

For the PyeongChang Paralympics, the number of seats for the disabled will be increased to 75 per train, up from five during normal operations. There will also be assistants for disabled travelers and senior citizens to help them get on and off the train

“All Korail staff are preparing to serve travelers coming to the international festival. We promise to do our best for safe trips so that our guests can go back home with wonderful winter experiences in Korea,” a Korail spokesman said.