Trains traveling south of Seoul severely delayed after derailment

Social Affairs

Published: 07 Nov. 2022, 10:06

Trains traveling south of Seoul severely delayed after derailment

Officials from Seoul Metro guide people waiting for subway Line 1 at Seoul Station on Monday morning. Subway Line 1, which passes through Yongsan Station, was delayed after the derailment of a Mugunghwa train on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Trains traveling south from Seoul are experiencing severe delays on Monday morning after a Mugunghwa train derailed outside Yeongdeungpo Station in western Seoul on Sunday evening.

KTX trains as well as subway trains passing through Yongsan Station in central Seoul and Yeongdeungpo Station have been affected, causing delays and cancellations.

On Sunday night at 8:52 p.m., a Mugunghwa train carrying 275 passengers derailed while entering Yeongdeungpo Station. Thirty-four people were injured due to the incident, though Korail said the injuries were not severe.

According to Korail on Monday, 15 KTX trains and 10 trains that should have started operations from before 9 a.m. have been suspended.

Six KTX trains and four trains operated on altered routes departing from Seoul Station or Gwangmyeong Station, or cut some of their journey short to avoid stations that were affected by the derailment.

No trains will stop at Yongsan Station and Yeongdeungpo station until rails have been completely cleared. Korail expects the recovery process to finish at around 4 p.m. today.

Subway Line 1 and the Gyeongui-Joungang Line that pass through affected stations have also been delayed or seen routes cut on Monday, affecting commuters in the morning.

BY KIM JEE-HEE, JEONG HYE-JEONG [kim.jeehee@joongang.co.kr]