Korean-made trains set to run at 2028 LA Olympics

Korean-built electric trains are on track to carry passengers at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute said Thursday it has been running its Osong comprehensive railway test track around the clock since July to complete performance verification of domestically built trains bound for LA Metro by December.

Two test programs are currently running simultaneously on the track: a new electric multiple unit built by Hyundai Rotem and a refurbished unit from Woojin Industrial Systems. The combined export value reaches 1.17 trillion won ($835 million) — 884.5 billion won for the Hyundai Rotem contract and 287 billion won for Woojin Industrial Systems.

The American client wants the new and upgraded trains in service before the 2028 LA Olympics. Both projects must therefore complete domestic testing by December.

The tight schedule is the central challenge. Lead-set vehicles — the first units manufactured — must complete a running test of 3,000 miles (about 4,828 kilometers), among other requirements. The institute determined that daytime-only operation of the test track would not allow it to meet the export timeline, and opted for round-the-clock testing.

The institute has also extended 24-hour operation to a third-rail section recently opened by Korea National Railway. The third-rail system supplies electricity to trains through a separate power rail installed alongside the running rails. The extension means uninterrupted day-and-night performance verification is now possible across the entire test track.

The institute has also invested heavily in safety measures for round-the-clock operations. It installed indicators that let workers immediately check whether the third rail is energized or de-energized, and added boarding platforms and lighting for nighttime use. CCTV coverage was reinforced at key points so the control room can monitor testing in real time.

Remote door controls and safety fences have been strengthened, and additional staff are assigned to emergency night shifts during late-night hours. Participants in the testing program receive training on electric shock prevention, and safety equipment including DC voltage detectors has been expanded.

The institute is also providing close technical support throughout the testing process. It shares test schedules, vehicle status updates and results in real time with Hyundai Rotem and Woojin Industrial Systems. Support covers the installation of temporary facilities — including signaling systems and track insulation sections required for export-vehicle testing — as well as power load analysis, regenerative energy assessment and equipment fault response.

The test track itself is also being upgraded. The institute plans to build a digitally integrated management platform and a maintenance monitoring system by 2027, with the aim of eventually using the facility as a railway technology demonstration infrastructure incorporating AI, digital twin and physical AI technologies.

"The test track operates at an annual average utilization rate exceeding 100 percent," said Choi Jin-yu, head of the institute's Railway Testing and Certification Division. "We will carry out the 24-hour testing program for K-railway exports without disruption, backed by rigorous safety management."

Institute President Sagong Myeong said the organization plays a central role not only in verifying research outcomes and handling test certification, but also in driving K-railway exports. "We will provide full support so that Korean trains can run successfully on the stage of the 2028 LA Olympics," he said.