MUST Professors Participated in Internship at the GTX Metro Company in Seoul, South Korea

On April 17–18, 2025, eight professors from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), along with Director Min Kyu Park of the Railway Academy, successfully participated in a familiarization internship organized in cooperation with Halla University of South Korea at the GTX-A Metro Company in Seoul. GTX-A Company’s Director Kim Jung Gon, Executive Director Cho Jin Hwan, and Head of the Safety Department Ki Kwang Hwan welcomed the participants and introduced them to various aspects of the metro system, including train operation, control and monitoring systems, rolling stock maintenance depot, and metro safety and protection systems.

The GTX-A metro line of the company stretches 35 kilometers from Unjeong Station to Seoul Station in Seoul City. With trains reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h, it is rightfully considered one of the fastest metro systems in the world. The line operates with 20 trains comprising a total of 160 rolling stock units. One distinctive feature of the GTX metro line is that it runs 50 meters below ground level. To reach the platform, passengers descend via three escalators. During a test ride, it was observed that the train accelerates rapidly after leaving the station, reaching a speed of 175 km/h within just two minutes.

At the metro’s integrated control center (CTS), all operations related to train movement, surveillance cameras, and metro safety systems are centrally managed and coordinated. The center has the capability to monitor the exact location and speed of each train, as well as observe all actions such as the opening and closing of train doors when arriving at stations to allow passenger boarding and disembarkation. To ensure complete safety along the GTX metro line, an additional large tunnel has been constructed. This tunnel, located up to 50 meters underground, is 8 meters wide, 5 meters high, and extends 550 meters in length. In the event of a fire or other emergency, fire engines and special rescue vehicles can access the metro line through this tunnel to provide immediate assistance. Two such tunnels have been constructed on the GTX metro line and have been fully operational since four years ago.

The maintenance depot for the GTX metro rolling stock consists of six main tracks and is designed to fully accommodate a 150-meter-long train set. Adjacent to the depot, facilities such as a spare parts warehouse for locomotives and carriages, staff dormitories, and office buildings have been comprehensively planned and constructed as part of an integrated complex. The outermost track of the depot is equipped with specialized facilities for cleaning both the exterior and interior of the trains, as well as for train preparation operations. To ensure the highest level of operational safety on the GTX metro, daily inspections and maintenance of the trains are carried out consistently.

As part of the internship, participants had the opportunity to enter the driver's cab of the GTX metro locomotive and observe how train operation is carried out. In modern metro systems, the control lever for the electric motor and the braking system are integrated into a single lever. When the train moves forward, the motor control has four levels, while braking is controlled through seven levels. At the top of the lever is a vigilance button that the operator must press every five seconds to confirm that they are alert and functioning normally. From the moment the train departs, the operator continuously uses hand signals and verbal calls to indicate track signals and other critical indicators. This practice highlights the high level of responsibility and alertness required of metro operators.

Overall, the internship was conducted successfully according to the planned program, providing a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the organizational structure, operations, and distinctive features of the GTX company.