The two high speed trains SRT (above) and KTX as seen at train stations in South Korea. Pics: Anisha Bijukumar / The Peninsula
Busan: “As in the movie Train to Busan, which was shot in Korean Train Express (KTX), there will be no zombies in our train.” Our tour guide assured us as we began the train trip in the South Korean city.
As one travels by one of the world’s fastest Super Rapid Train (popularly known as SRT) and KTX, the landscape shifts from hills to cities to factories in minutes. But one thing that remains constant apart from its 305km/hr speed is the presence of tunnels at regular intervals as the train covers 80% of its journey 50m underground.
Both the trains have giant windows that lets you enjoy the view and sturdy foldable tables, in case one wants to get some work done on the laptop.
My first trip by SRT began at Dongtan as we moved to Busan after a night spent in the Gyeonggi-do province of Suwon. After getting off at the station, media professionals from over 48 countries and a few Korean guides accompanying them made their way down to basement level five. The scene of them carrying heavy suitcases on the escalator might seem funny to the onlookers but they definitely didn’t think so as many hoped and wondered why the station did not have an elevator. Anyway, those are probably the memories that many will treasure. Trails of a journalist’s life, as one joked.
Though our guide later clarified that all the stations are equipped with elevators, it is just that they decided not to use them as escalators were easier to use to keep such a large group together.
To give you, the Doha residents, an easier comparison of the speed, while the Doha metro travels at 100km/hr, SRT is three times faster at 305km/hr and of course, the distance is longer too as the train covers a distance 400km in little over two hours.
The train, introduced in 2016, begins at Suseo and stops at Dongtan, PyeongtaekJije, Chonsan Daejun, Dongdaegu, and Singyeongju, before reaching its final destination at Busan. The ticket fare varies between 50,000 Korean Won (QR135) to 80,000 (QR217).
The next leg of our journey took us to Incheon from Busan using another popular high-speed network KTX, where the fare is slightly higher than SRT. The train, similar in fashion to SRT, has a few more stops making the journey longer than the former. Also, KTX, introduced in 2004, connects a wider network of cities, through its five train lines - KTX Gyeongbu Line, KTX Honam Line, KTX Gyeongjeon Line, KTX Jeolla Line, and KTX Gangneung Line.
Both trains equipped with Wifi and reclining chairs, offer comfort and convenience to travellers. In fact the first class commuters are provided with water and snacks that included two salted cookies and a small pack of mixed nuts.
Through out our journey, there was never a check or inspection of tickets by any official and we were told that there is rarely ever. "We take trust to another level. We believe that no South Korean or tourist will travel without ticket as it is individual's responsibility to pay for travel. So you will find that no where our tickets are checked. Very rarely will a official check for your travel tickets," said Sharon Choi, a tour guide in Seoul.
South Koreans take similar responsibility when it comes to waste that they generate which is rarely thrown on any road sides. There are designated waste boxes where you throw them or carry them along in your bag till you find one. This explains why both the trains, SRT and KTX, were extremely clean.
Overall the journey, for me, was exciting because it was the first time that I was travelling in such a high speed network train and super convenient with the amenities that it included.
