Gyeongui Line train service, which had been suspended due to the collapse of the Seosomun overpass in Seoul, resumed Tuesday, four days after the accident. The Gangneung and Jungang Line KTX-Eum service on the Seoul-Cheongnyangni section also began normal operations, marking a phased restoration of railway services.
According to Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail), KTX No. 405, which departed from Haengsin Station in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province at 6 a.m., carried passengers through the Seosomun section. It was the first train to pass through the section since rail services were disrupted by the Seosomun overpass collapse on the 26th. The train safely passed the accident site at around 6:18 a.m. and arrived at Seoul Station two minutes later.
The first Gyeongui Line electric train departing from Munsan also left on schedule at 5:37 a.m., heading to Seoul Station via Paju, Ilsan, Haengsin and Sinchon.
Railway authorities carried out overnight restoration work — including the removal and installation of electric poles, overhead wire construction, cable laying and signal equipment installation — after the Seoul Metropolitan Government completed demolition work. Track and rail safety inspections, as well as test runs of work vehicles and trains, were also completed, finalizing the procedures necessary for the resumption of service.
The Gangneung and Jungang Line KTX-Eum service on the Seoul-Cheongnyangni section also began normal operations the same day. Korail expects most train operations to be normalized starting Wednesday as trains that have completed inspection and maintenance are sequentially put into service.
However, the number of train operations remains below normal levels. The total number of train operations on the day was 643, down 115 from the usual 758, for an operating rate of 84.8%. High-speed trains, including KTX and KTX-Eum, ran 341 out of 397 scheduled services, recording an operating rate of 85.9%. General trains including ITX-Saemaeul, ITX-Maum and Mugunghwa-ho ran 302 out of 361 services, for an operating rate of 83.7%.
Korail said that KTX trains, which had been making temporary stops at all stations, will resume stopping according to the normal operating plan starting that day. The company also urged passengers to check operating conditions in advance through the Korail Talk app, its website, or the railway customer center.
Tickets that were changed or canceled due to the service adjustments can be refunded without penalty, and tickets paid for by credit card will be refunded automatically.
