Korail cools tracks with sprinklers, slows trains for safe summer operations

Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) is mobilizing all available resources to keep rail lines safe amid an extreme summer heat wave.

Korail said Wednesday it is operating 599 automatic sprinkler systems — similar in design to fire sprinklers — at locations across the national rail network to ensure safe train operations.

The systems cover the entire ballast-track section of the high-speed line between Gwangmyeong and Daegu, with concentrated installations at heat-vulnerable spots such as poorly ventilated stretches and sharp curves. The sprinklers are designed to prevent tracks from buckling as summer temperatures rise.

To cope with record heat exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, Korail is also ordering trains to slow down preemptively as a safety measure. Bottled water, fans and other emergency supplies have been stocked at major stations and aboard trains, and Korail is broadcasting regular announcements to keep customers informed of heat-related delays.

Korail has also kept its 24-hour disaster response center running since May to address increasingly severe weather events and the growing frequency of climate-related emergencies. The center continuously monitors train operations nationwide across passenger, metropolitan, freight, facility, electrical, vehicle and traffic-control divisions, and has stepped up measures to prevent heat-related illness among field workers.

Outdoor workers have been issued protective equipment, and supervisors regularly check the apparent temperature at work sites to recommend adjustments to working hours. Workers are also being advised on heat-stroke prevention, including taking adequate rest breaks, staying hydrated and seeking shade.