On March 15, the Korean Railway Company (Korail) was rocked when a KTX train bound for Seoul encountered an unexpected problem. Sparks began to fly from the top shelf of carriage 6 of the train departing from Pohang. The incident occurred as the train arrived near Daejeon Station and was immediately brought under control by the crew.
Start of the Incident and Response
At 15:25, while the KTX train was heading towards Seoul, sparks suddenly started to come out from the top shelf of carriage 6. Immediately after the incident, crew members took action quickly and moved 390 passengers to a safer carriage. Then, as the smoke started to spread, a fire extinguisher was used to prevent a possible fire. This quick and effective intervention prevented a bigger disaster.
Korail officials inspected the train at Daejeon Station. Initially, they found no serious problems, but due to the seriousness of the incident, a more in-depth investigation was launched. In the meantime, safety experts boarded the train and observed its journey from Daejeon to Osong Station. Although no new problems were encountered, a transfer was made to another train for the safety of the passengers.
Cause of Sparks: Fluorescent Light Component
Korail continued to investigate the cause of the sparks. Initial statements indicated that the fault was caused by a high-voltage fluorescent light component. The company aims to prevent similar problems in the future by investigating the cause of this component with experts. Korail officials said they will review their protocols to resolve such technical faults more quickly and effectively.
Security and Delays
During the incident, Korail’s quick response prevented a major disaster. However, due to this emergency, four trains were delayed by 10-20 minutes. While these disruptions caused minor inconvenience to passengers, most passengers praised the crew’s efficient management. Despite the delays, the crew’s successful response to ensure safety brought relief to passengers.
Korail's Proactive Approach and Future Steps
Korail stated that it attaches great importance to passenger safety and promised to share more information about the incident. The company plans to increase its inspections to ensure safety on the KTX line and review its maintenance processes. Korail officials also announced that stricter controls will be implemented to prevent such incidents from happening again.
This incident has once again highlighted the difficulties in maintaining high-speed railway systems. Korail will attach great importance to proactive maintenance to prevent future accidents. It also announced that all processes will be continuously improved to ensure safe travel and protect the company's reputation.
Although the spark incident on the KTX train caused travel disruption, Korail’s quick and effective response prevented a larger disaster. Passengers expressed their satisfaction with Korail’s approach that prioritizes safety. While Korail continues its work to ensure safety, this incident has once again emphasized the importance of proactive maintenance and strict inspections in the railway sector.
