Hyundai Rotem commercializes 4G LTE-based train control system

KTCS-2 train control system [Courtesy of Hyundai Rotem]

South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem achieved a major milestone by successfully commercializing the world’s first 4G/Long-Term Evolution (LTE) based train control system.

On Monday, the company announced that its “Korean Train Control System-2” (KTCS-2) was implemented on the 180-kilometer Jeolla Line connecting Iksan Station and Yeosu Expo Station.

KTCS-2 is a real-time train control system built on a dedicated railway wireless communication network known as LTE-R. It plays a critical role in ensuring safe and efficient operation by continuously monitoring the position and speed of the preceding train and adjusting the spacing between trains accordingly.

KTCS-2 is considered an essential component for high-speed train operations, including KTX and SRT, as it supports speed control and emergency braking to ensure the safety of train operations. Until now, train operators relied on balises, which are electronic beacons or transponders placed between the rails of a railway, to transmit information about the preceding train’s movement.

Hyundai Rotem believes that the introduction of KTCS-2 will enhance the operational efficiency and transport capacity of high-speed trains.