What would Hyundai Rotem’s new subway train look like?
Have you ever seen a brand new subway train at the subway station? Whenever I do, I wonder how often subway trains need to be replaced. Replacing subway trains is not that easy, because it requires significant manpower and physical resources. But it’s something very necessary for convenient and safe transportation of the passengers. We met with Hyundai Rotem, which is to produce 448 subway trains for KORAIL by March 2023 and talked about what kind of changes the familiar subway trains will go through.
Why we need regular subway train upgrade.
Hyundai Rotem’s new subway trains will be optimized of their allocation and speed according to lines.
But did you know that as of September 2020 among all Korea Railroad Corporation (Hereafter Korail)’s subway trains, those that will have been running for more than 20 years will be over 30% of all trains? Generally, subway trains go through detailed safety evaluation every 5 years after 20 years of production. Trains that break down frequently get functional evaluation every 3 years, but aged subway trains will eventually have to come to a stop.
So, Hyundai Rotem is making a huge effort in developing the function and safety of the trains in charge. 448 Korail subway trains will be consisted of 80 trains for line 1 and line 3, 180 trains for line 4, and 108 trains for Bundang Line. Allocation and speed of the trains will be optimized for each operating line. Line 4, which will go past Gwacheon Ansan line and Line 1, which will be operated on Gyeongin Line, as well as Bundang Line will have their trains designed with a maximum operating speed of 110km/h for their tracks. Line 3 will also be operated with a maximum speed of 90km/h according to its track environment, contributing to the fast commute of the citizens. For a more leisurely travel, Lines 1·3·4 subway trains will have 10 carriages while Bundang Line will have 6 carriages. Let’s find out what other technological changes will take place aside from these basic changes.
Conveying citizens, putting passenger safety first
The installation of passenger car CCTV will enable a quicker response to safety accidents.
Functions were added as passenger convenience was put forward. First of all, air purification facility will be installed in the passenger cars. This change was due to the consideration of passenger health, as they have to be on the run even on days with severe micro dust. Also, you may have left something behind when using public transportation. All new subway trains will have passenger car CCTV to prevent such losses as well as various safety accidents.
The recorded CCTV video will be transmitted to the control room via remote facilities in real time. Upon accidents or fire in the passenger car, the control room can check it remotely and make immediate response. Before the passengers had to make direct contact to the control room regarding any emergencies from the passenger car which made it inconvenient; the new subway will reduce such inconvenience and allow quick response to any issues.
Take the less congested car on your busy commute!
Passenger convenience will be much improved as you can check the level of congestion for each car.
Did you used to pray so that your car would not be so congested on your busy way to work? From now on, you can wait for your train at the platform while checking which car has free seats and which car is packed with people. Previously the platforms showed whereabouts the trains were on the destination board, but now you will be able to choose the less congested car before you get on. It will be especially useful during the busy rush hours and also if you are with heavy luggage or a stroller.
Changes to become a subway train for everyone
There will also be functions for the transportation minorities.
Concerns for the transportation minorities are also reflected onto the new trains. Before the braille blocks were only installed on the platform floors, but now they will be installed on the floors of car entrances. This was created for the visually disabled people to get on and off a train easily. Space where you can store wheelchairs or strollers in the passenger car was included in the design. Details were considered so that anyone getting on a subway train would not feel any inconvenience.
Smart subway train that checks its safety on its own
Hyundai Rotem’s smart maintenance system (CBM: Condition Based Maintenance) will be implemented to control a train in real time.
Then how technically different would it be? Cars that have already been aged lack sufficient database for us to analyze the causes of their breakdowns. The recent cars go through major component check-up, and the results are systematically organized in the database. But still, there is an inconvenience as you have to download and back up the data individually.
On newly replaced subway trains, Hyundai Rotem’s smart maintenance system (CBM: Condition Based Maintenance) will be implemented. It’s a technology that can make real time surveillance on major equipment and even predict possible accidents during operation through IoT (Internet of Things) and sensors. Not only will it be able to analyze the basic car information, but it will also be able to analyze current status and maintenance history with big data. Inspection cycle and dangerous elements will not go overlooked; thorough check-up will be possible. Sudden speeding and sudden break will also be checked, which will allow ‘eco driving’ which cuts down fuel consumption.
Not only that, on board signal train control system based on Korean wireless communication ‘KRTCS-1’ will also be part of Hyundai Rotem’s new subway trains. Smart technology will allow us to effectively cut down manpower and costs, right?
Subway trains that deserve all the gratitude as much as they are friendly and familiar will go through great changes with Hyundai Rotem.
As the new subway trains will be produced for the safety and convenience of all citizens, Hyundai Rotem are taking careful steps throughout the process to please all passengers. Our subway trains deserve all the gratitude as much as they are friendly and familiar. We all look forward to the travels we will have with the new subway trains that will take us everywhere.
▶ Hyundai Rotem official blog
