KOREA has completed development of the core technologies for a next-generation high-speed train capable of regularly operating at up to 370km/h, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Molit) has announced. EMU-370 has a design speed of 407km/h and is the result of a four-year national research and development programme led by the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) that has involved seven public and private organisations, including rolling stock manufacturer Hyundai Rotem. A total of Won 22.5bn ($US 15.5m) has been invested in the project, with funding provided jointly by the government and industry. According to Molit, production of the EMU-370 will begin this year, with test operations scheduled to start in 2030. Commercial deployment is expected after 2031, potentially making it the world’s second-fastest high-speed train based on operating speed behind China. The project builds on the KTX-Cheongryong (EMU-320) platform, which has a top commercial operating speed of 320km/h and design speed of 352km/h, and addresses technical challenges associated with operation above 350km/h, including increased aerodynamic resistance, vibration and noise. Six core technologies were developed, including a new 560kW high-efficiency traction motor, representing a 47.4% increase in output compared with the 380kW motor used in the KTX-Cheongryong. Four 560kW motors are fitted to each car, with 24 on an eight-car train. Aerodynamic optimisation of the train nose, bogies and roof equipment has reduced air resistance by 12.3%, while suspension improvements cut lateral vibration by 33%, enhancing ride comfort. Interior noise levels were reduced by around 2dB through structural optimisation and the use of composite sound-insulating materials. The programme also achieved domestic production of air-tight doors and established technical standards for trains operating at up to 400km/h, ahead of the development of similar standards in Europe. Molit plans to order one or two EMU-370 trains from Hyundai Rotem in the first half of 2026, with testing by Korail earmarked for the Pyeongtaek - Osong section of the high-speed network. The ministry said the train could significantly reduce journey times between major cities while also strengthening Korea’s competitiveness in the high-speed train export market. “As a result of the joint technology development efforts of the government, public institutions, and private companies, we have independently secured the technology for high-speed operation at the 370km/h level in just 20 years since the introduction of high-speed railways,” says Kang Hee-up, Korea’s second vice-minister of land, infrastructure and transport. “The government will support the development of core technologies for third-generation 400km/h high-speed trains, so that Korea can accelerate its ultra-high-speed railway infrastructure and become a global leader in railway technology.”
