Train operations for the KTX and Gyeongui Line resumed May 26 after a temporary suspension caused by the collapse of the Seosomun overpass [1], [2].
The restart of these critical transit lines restores connectivity for passengers traveling through Haengsin station toward Seoul and Yongsan. The disruption had halted high-speed and regional rail traffic in a densely populated urban corridor.
Service returned approximately 79 hours after the initial collapse [1]. The first resumed KTX train, designated as KTX 405, departed at 6 a.m. [2]. This restoration came four days after the overpass failure [2].
Emergency demolition and clearing work continued until approximately 9:40 p.m. the night before service resumed [1]. Crews worked to remove heavy debris, including concrete slabs, and girders that had fallen across the tracks.
"The slabs, girders, and other structures that had hit the tracks have all been cleared, and trains are now passing through one after another," said YTN reporter Lim Ye-jin [1].
Seoul city officials authorized the resumption of service after completing safety inspections. Officials said that the remaining pillars of the overpass posed a low risk to rail operations [1], [2]. The Gyeongui Line segment, which is operated by Korail, had been the primary area affected by the structural failure [1], [2].
“Train operations for the KTX and Gyeongui Line resumed on May 26 after a temporary suspension.”
The rapid resumption of service within four days indicates a priority on maintaining Seoul's transit infrastructure, but the reliance on a 'low-risk' assessment of remaining pillars suggests that full structural repairs may continue while trains are running. The incident highlights the vulnerability of rail corridors to aging or failing urban overpasses.
