Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
Train crews prevented a derailment after track buckling on South Korea's Gangneung Line
In May, track buckling on South Korea’s Gangneung Line nearly caused a derailment.
A driver on one train noticed the train shaking and reported it, while the driver of a following train stopped before reaching the damaged track.
The incident was discussed at a parliamentary hearing on October 13, where lawmakers questioned rail safety officials.
Routine inspections in January and March had not detected the deformation, which was later identified as rail buckling.
Korail’s president said the checks had found no major problems and that buckling can appear suddenly.
After the incident, inspections identified 361 locations where problems might develop, which Korail said were not all confirmed defects.
Lawmakers asked for details on safety improvements and checks of the track’s design and construction before a later audit.
Train crews prevented a derailment on South Korea’s Gangneung Line after rail buckling caused a track deformation in May.
A driver reported that the train was shaking, and the driver of a following train stopped it.
At a parliamentary audit on October 13, lawmakers questioned why routine inspections in January and March had not detected the deformation.
Korail President Kim Tae-seung said the cause was rail buckling and that routine inspection had no major problems.
Post-incident checks identified 361 locations considered at risk, which Korail said were not necessarily places with an existing serious problem.
- Who
- Train drivers reported the track problem and stopped a following train. Lawmaker Hwang Un-ha questioned Korail President Kim Tae-seung at a parliamentary audit.
- What
- Rail buckling caused a track deformation, and train crews prevented a derailment.
- When
- The near-miss occurred in May; the parliamentary audit took place on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- The Gangneung Line in South Korea.
- Why
- The rail buckled; the sources do not state the underlying cause of the buckling.
Hwang Un-ha
Kim Tae-seung, Korail president
Cause and responsibility
Hwang Un-ha
Hwang questioned whether inspection failures or design and construction problems contributed to the near-miss.
Kim Tae-seung, Korail president
Kim said the cause was rail buckling and described it as unavoidable.
Routine inspections
Hwang Un-ha
Hwang questioned why the deformation was not found during inspections in January and March.
Kim Tae-seung, Korail president
Kim said routine inspections had no major problems and that buckling can appear suddenly.
Routine inspections did not detect the rail deformation, according to the report.
Rail buckling caused a near-miss on the Gangneung Line, and train crews prevented a derailment.
Checks identified 361 locations considered at risk, which Korail said were places where problems could occur.
At a parliamentary audit, Hwang Un-ha questioned Korail about the inspections and requested follow-up information.
- Rail line
- Gangneung Line
- Incident
- Rail buckling caused track deformation
- Crew response
- A driver reported shaking; a following train was stopped
- Routine inspections
- Conducted in January and March; deformation was not detected
- Post-incident checks
- 361 potentially vulnerable locations identified
- Audit date
- October 13, 2026
What people are saying
The driver of the train ahead detected the shaking and reported it, and the driver following stopped, preventing a derailment. It was not prevented by Korail’s inspections.
They say it was rail buckling.
Sometimes rail buckling appears suddenly.
Sources
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