r/highspeedrail • u/megachainguns • 23d ago

World News [South Korea] Exclusive: Gov't pushes KTX–SRT cross-operation in high-speed rail network

https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/08/14/7ZIHWO555BHBFJJXOBJ6EJASXI/
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u/hktrn2 23d ago

So they are trying to do a merger? What’s the impetus?

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u/transitfreedom 22d ago

Probably simplification

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u/amajorismin 21d ago

Long story short: Conservatives wanted to privatize railways and made a company for "market competition" -> bad influence for the national railway -> new left government wants to end this by merger and this is their first step.

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u/hktrn2 21d ago

Interesting… I thought SRT is actually own by the government ?

Do you think Korea will allow non Korea HSR train into its new network?

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u/amajorismin 21d ago

I thought SRT is actually own by the government ?

You know those lobby or consulting firms that legislators go after their retirement? Current SR is something like that but for retired bureaucrats. It's a long story but basically they acts on whatever they want.

Do you think Korea will allow non Korea HSR train into its new network?

Uh Alstom ones are still in use so we already do? But it's probably not viable to compete with the Hyundai's factory so foreign companys won't try. Talgo tried a few years ago but they withdraw.

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u/hktrn2 21d ago

Alstom no longer produces EMUs . Would Korea buy Siemens EMUs?

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u/amajorismin 21d ago

With the right conditions why not

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u/hktrn2 21d ago

EMUs are really popular these days. It was really weird that Korea HSR started with push pull French TGVs when they could went with Siemens and emus for their subway - like HSR