This country will soon offer the world’s second fastest train, and it’s not Japan

People make many mistakes while traveling by train. Pick the cheapest ride, and you’ll be stuck on a slow-moving train before the paint dries. Choose the wrong type of train, and you’ll be spending money faster than the blink of an eye. Knowing how to choose the right type of long-distance train is important, and when it comes to train systems, Asia dominates this field more than any other continent in the world. China currently holds the top spot for the most bullet trains, as well as the fastest, and the country will soon offer the world’s second-fastest train, and no, it’s not Japan.

South Korea’s government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport just revealed on December 22 that the world’s second-fastest bullet train will join its fleet in 2030 for trial operations, and it is expected to be fully commercialized for the public by 2031. The EMU-370 train is a next-generation high-speed train that will put South Korea on the map when it comes to bullet trains that promise lightning-fast travel.

The Korea Railway Research Institute (KRRI), together with seven public and private organizations, led a three-year long national research and development program from April 2022 to December 2025, to design the highly anticipated EMU-370 train project with a total cost of $15.23 million (22.5 billion Korean won). The EMU-370 was designed for a fully functional top speed of 253 miles-per-hour (407 km-per-hour), making the trip from Seoul to Busan in less than two hours, when it would normally take two and a half hours.

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South Korea’s new EMU-370 will be a breakthrough for rail travel in Asia

One of the best places to take a day trip if you’re staying in Seoul is the coastal city of Busan, which will now be more accessible than ever. Currently, the EMU-320 (KTX-Cheongyong) is South Korea’s fastest-moving train, although the EMU-370’s impressive figures speak for themselves. Two decibels lower indoor noise level, and with a motor capacity of 560 kW, set in 479 passenger seats, the EMU-370 provides 47.4% more power than the equivalent of about 75 midsize family sedans with a sleek aerodynamic design, making this train the world’s sports car.

Currently, China’s CR450 high-speed train is under test, reaching a speed of about 249 miles-per-hour (400 kilometers-per-hour), and is the world’s leading passenger bullet train, which is scheduled to enter commercial public use in 2027. Other countries with bullet trains, such as France, Germany, and Japan, which first operated a bullet train called the Shinkansen in 1964, reach a top speed of about 200 miles-per-hour (320 kilometers-per-hour).

With the technological advancement in train speed, the tracks should naturally be upgraded as well. According to the head of the Railway Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, there must be significant improvements before the EMU-370 reaches full speed. Without halting railway operations, trains will not run during the four-hour period replacing ballast tracks with concrete tracks in some sections. Ministry officials expect South Korea’s high-speed rail to exceed 217 miles-per-hour (350 kilometers-per-hour) in the near future, securing South Korea’s position as a top player in the high-speed rail sector for years to come.

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Read the original article on Exploration.