Seoul Station train collision involving KTX, 287 passengers transferred

A Mugunghwa train crashed into a high-speed train, the KTX-Sancheon, at 9:25 a.m. at Seoul Station in central Seoul, according to Korail.

Officials clean up the train collision site, where a Mugunghwa train crashed into a high-speed KTX train at 9:25 a.m. on Thursday at Seoul Station in central Seoul. [YONHAP]

A Mugunghwa train crashed into a high-speed KTX train on Thursday morning at Seoul Station in Central Seoul, according to the state-run train operator Korail.

Four people were reported to have suffered minor injuries, said the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The collision occurred at 9:25 a.m., when the Mugunghwa train drove into the KTX-Sancheon bullet train, which was stationary at the station.

The Mugunghwa train, operated by Korail, is the slowest train type in Korea.

Due to the collision, the front wheel of one of the Mugunghwa train's cars was derailed.

Of the injured, one was sent to a hospital and three returned home after being treated on-site.

The 287 passengers aboard the KTX train transferred to an alternative train with a 25-minute delay.

No passengers were on the Mugunghwa train, and those who were waiting to get on board were directed to a different train, which departed 34 minutes later than regularly scheduled.

There were no other delays, except for the two collided trains, according to Korail.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it is investigating the situation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Officials clean up a train collision site, which occurred on Thursday morning at Seoul Station in central Seoul. [YONHAP]

The operator worked on restoring the site and the work was completed at 4:00 p.m., the Land Ministry said.

The Land Ministry added that it plans to compensate the injured so they can get fully treated.

“We will mobilize all available resources to restore the accident site and to focus on treating the injured,” said Baek Won-kug, vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. “We will pay attention to safety to prevent additional accidents, including those involving workers.”

“We will work on investigating the exact cause of the accident and take all possible measures, including preparing fundamental ones, to prevent similar accidents from recurring.”

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]