KTX-SRT merger brings more trains, lower fares on Honam and Jeolla lines
"Starting this chuseok, heading home for the holidays will be a little more comfortable."
A long-standing wish of residents in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province has been granted, as train services on the Honam and Jeolla lines have been expanded and fares reduced.
The integration of KTX and SRT operations has increased the number of high-speed train runs and available seats on both lines while bringing fares down.
Since KTX and SRT merged into a single operating system Tuesday, daily runs on the Honam Line have increased from 95 to 100 on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and from 96 to 100 on weekends (Friday through Sunday).
As a result, daily seat supply has grown by 3,742 on weekdays and 4,822 on weekends.
The Jeolla Line has also seen an increase — from 40 to 45 daily runs on weekdays and from 45 to 54 on weekends — adding 1,957 and 2,511 seats respectively.
By station, the number of high-speed train runs at Gwangju Songjeong Station has risen from 89 to 96 on weekdays and from 90 to 96 on weekends.
At Yeosu Expo Station, daily runs have increased from 36 to 43 on weekdays and from 39 to 48 on weekends.
KTX fares have also been adjusted to match previous SRT pricing levels, resulting in an average reduction of 10 percent.
The fare for the Yongsan–Gwangju Songjeong route has dropped by 4,800 won, from 46,800 won ($34) to 42,000 won, and 5 percent of each payment will be credited as mileage points.
The ticketing systems previously split between Korail and SR have also been unified, allowing passengers to book tickets through the Korail+ app and the Korail website.
General ticket reservations for the chuseok holiday — the first since the integration — cover trains running Sept. 23 through Sept. 27. Sales open Monday and run through Friday, proceeding by line.
Kim Young-seon, head of the transportation bureau for Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, said the benefits of the high-speed rail integration were already showing in the form of more seats, lower fares and improved booking convenience. "We will analyze ridership data after the integration and work to secure additional high-speed train runs for the Honam region," Kim said.
sij@heraldcorp.com
