Thales has delivered European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1
systems for the Gyeongchun Line, a 81 km rail link in the north-east of Seoul,
and the 89 km Jeolla Line serving Yeosu in the south of the country, host city
for Expo 2012.
The ITX (Intercity Train eXpress) Gyeongchun
high-speed train service began operating on 28 February 2012 after project completion to a tight
schedule of just 18 months. Based on the quality of the systems and the work
performed, the customer also selected Thales to upgrade the Jeolla Line with
ETCS Level 1 equipment. With 25 stations over a total length of 89 km, the work
needed to be completed to an ambitious schedule of just seven months in time
for Expo 2012, which opened in Yeosu on May 12.
“We are very happy to have delivered these two
projects to the complete satisfaction of the customer. Thales’s ETCS experience
and excellent cooperation with our Korean partners were the keys to this
success," stated Alfred Veider, CEO of Thales Austria.
ETCS technology is being installed as part of a
project to significantly upgrade today's predominantly single-track rail
network into a modern high-capacity two-tracks system. The ETCS Level 1
equipment will support an increase in train speed from 80 km/h to 200 km/h and
higher train frequencies, up to one train every four minutes, significantly
increasing line capacity.
Thales and its local industry partners were
able to manufacture a substantial share of the ETCS Level 1 equipment in South
Korea, increasing local added value and boosting overall programme performance.
These two project deliveries comfort Thales’
unmatched ETCS track record worldwide.