1. Railway Safety Plan and Its Status in Korea
IRSC 2007, Goa, India
Railway Safety Plan and Its Status in Korea
Sanglog Kwak*, Jonbae Wang, Yunok Cho, Hyukjin Yoon
Korea Railroad Research Institute
National Railway Safety R&D Program Office

2. About KRRI : Korea Railroad Research Institute

3. About KRRI : Korea Railroad Research Institute
Founded in 1996, financed by Korean government
246 individuals works for railway R&D division and national project division
Key research area
Rolling stock, track & civil engineering, signaling & electrical engineering, railway policy & operation
National projects
High speed train development , upgrading conventional railway, design urban rail transit system, transportation technology, Trans-Korean railway construction
National safety R&D program from 2004
Homepage :
KRRI founded in 1996, and financed by Korean government
246 individuals works for railway R&D division and national project division
We have 5 key research area and 6 national project division,
National safety R&D program is going on form 2004.
Currently 23 personal working for railway system safety in KRRI
You can find more information from the website :

4. Background : General information in Korea
3.7 billion passenger moved 65.4 billion passenger-km
Railway take more than 25% of passenger-km
Passenger-km increase 2% every year
10 TOC operate 99 lines(4,000km)
Korail operate 80 lines(3,380km)
9 Metro TOC operate 16 lines(500km)
1,050 station, 1,510 level crossing(26 accidents, 3 fatalities)
60% of lines are electrified
280 individuals work on safety management
460 accidents, 190 fatalities (40% are attempted suicide)
Experience based safety management  Risk based safety management
This slide shows background of railway safety in Korea
In 2006, totally 3.7 billion passenger moved 65 billion passenger km, 18 passenger-km for each journey.
Railway take more than 25% of passenger-km among transportation mode.
Which figures are steadily increasing about 2% every year.
Currently 10 TOC operate 4000km railway lines,
Korail previously Korean National Railway, privatized 2004, operate majority of Korean railway.
10 TOC have total 1050 stations, 1510 level crossings
60% of lines are electrified and this ratio is steadily increasing.
In TOC about 280 individuals works on safety management in Korea.
Besides, about 60 individuals work on railway safety at government, research institute, competency management, accident investigations
In 2006, 460 accidents occurred which results 190 fatalities.
Legal background for risk based safety management have been established in 2004, but it will be an optional choice by 2008.
This is an transition period from experience based safety management to risk based safety management.
Korea have many experience and many specialists on risk management in nuclear industry.
So many experts in nuclear industry are joining together in railway safety projects.

5. Background : Safety Status
Number of accidents fatalities are plotted in this graph.
About 40% of fatalities are attempted suicide.
Fatalities on national railway are steadily decreasing,
But fatalities on metro railway are increasing due to the increase of passenger and operating companies

6. Background : Safety Status
Improving safety from 2004
This graph shows the number of railway accident change in recent years.
Number of accidents from national railway and metros are plotted in this graph.
In 2003, there had a tragic subway fire accident, and Railway Safety Act was established in 2004.
Safety management and safety plan have been carrying our after 2004.
Due to the enforcement of safety regulations, accident have been decreasing whereas the passenger-km increase.

7. Background : Accident Cause
National rail : 253 accidents, Metro : 207 accidents
Accident and incident occurred in 2006 have been analyzed and shown in this slide.
National railway accidents causes composed of …
External causes includes trespass, attempted suicide, level crossings accident.
Human factors, about 50% are caused by driver’s problems.
Old diesel locomotive rolling stock, which are planning to discard due to electrification, cause break down failure.
Metro accident & incident caused are some what different comparing national railway line
External cause is higher ratio due to the slip, fall, attempted suicide in the station platform.

8. Background : Environmental Change in Korea
Passenger’s concern on safety
Structural reform of railway industries
Separation of operator and infrastructure manager
Change of Health and Safety Act at Work (working hours, shift work)
Metro related accident increase
Increase number of attempted suicide and slip in the platform
Aging of population
KTX (Korea Train eXpress) operation from 2004
Preparation of international Railway connection
TSR (Trans Siberian Railway)
TKR (connection of the North and South Korean Railway)
Electrification of conventional line
Increasing railway hazards but no railway safety plan by 2004
Non-precedent change have been occurred in recent years during 105-year railway history.
These includes …
1) Passenger’s concern on safety
2) Structural reform of railway industries, Separation of operator and infrastructure manager
3) Change of Health and Safety Act at Work (working hours, shift work)
4) Metro related accident increase : Increase number of attempted suicide and slip in the platform
5) Aging of population
6) KTX (Korea Train eXpress) operation at 2004
7) Preparation of international Railway connection
TSR (Trans Siberian Railway), TKR (connection of the North and South Korean Railway)
8) Electrification of conventional line
Which results Increasing railway hazards but no railway safety plan by 2004

9. Background : Application of Railway Safety Act
Daegue subway train fire accident (191 fatalities)
Safety Planning (from 2006, annual)
National wide railway safety program
Construction of SMS & Safety Case approval (from 2006, biennial)
Risk Management (from 2008, biennial)
Safety inspection (from 2006 , biennial)
Safety technology R&D
Accident investigation
Etc.
After train fire accident Railway Safety Act 2004 was established.
Main contents of railway safety act are shown in this slide
Some of regulation in the Act are not activated by 2008
But many of key safety management activities are included such as Safety Planning,
National wide railway safety program
Construction of SMS & Safety Case approval (from 2006, biennial)
Risk Management (from 2008, biennial)
Safety inspection (from 2006 , biennial)
Safety technology R&D
Accident investigation
Etc.
According to the Act, National Railway Safety Plan was established in 2006.

10. The 1st Railway Safety Plan
TFT from all railway safety related organizations in 2005
Government, TOCs, research institute joins
Determine 77 safety measures, budget, schedule
Requirements for safe operation of the railway system
Environmental change for railway safety
Current problems and limitation on safety
In relation with other plan
Accident analysis & Risk analysis
Many iterative work among organization
The 1st Railway Safety Plan was released in 2006
Establish annual safety plan from 2006
Progress management from 2006
Planning process is shown in this slide
TFT, composed by government, TOCs, research institute have been composed from 2005.
Determine 77 safety measure and related budget, schedule and effects are estimated based on the following.
Requirements for safe operation of the railway system
Environmental change for railway safety
Current problems and limitation on safety
Many iterative work among organization
In relation with other plan
Accident analysis & Risk analysis
And the plan was release in 2006 and each safety related organization have to established their own annual plan from 2006

11. Safety Plan in Korea The 6th Transportation Safety Plan
Transportation Safety Act(1979)
Including all transportation modes  Road Traffic safety is major concern
Government and TOCs establish plan
Passenger & public safety
The 1st Railway Safety Plan(2005)
Railway Safety Act (2004)
All the railway safety related organization have to prepare
Need for approval of government
SMS, safety measure, schedule, results, budget
National safety target and safety index
Risk management included
Passenger, public, and staff safety
Covers all railway related accidents
Before the 1st Railway Safety plan
Transportation safety plan have been sole plan in railway industry.
And the plan have been established in relation with Railway Safety plan from 2007.
Currently th 6th Transportation Safety Plan have been applied.
The 1st railway safety plan have been applied from 2005.
Safety related organizations have to establihed their own safety plan based on the 1st railway safety plan from 2006.
This include the following .

12. Safety management organizations
National organization
Government (MOCT): safety budget, safety policy, safety target, safety case policy, safety plan, safety standard
ARAIB : accident investigation, Part of MOCT
KOTSA : Competency & safety information management, safety case approval & safety inspection
KRRI : establishment of safety rules & standards (draft), guidelines, manuals, risk assessment, safety technology research, support expert to MOCT & ARAIB, KOTSA
Korea Rail Network Authority : infrastructure structure manager
Private organization
Korail : operate passenger & freight train, traffic control, track & station maintenance. (Korea National Rail from 2004)
Metro operating company : 7 metro funded by regional governments
Private TOCs
Safety management organizations in Korea are shown in this slide.

13. Safety Measures & Budget in 2007
The 1st Railway Safety Plan ( )
Safety measure in 6 field, 77 projects (6 billion USD )
Reducing 40% of accidents and fatalities
Safety Plan in 2006
Staff management 13 projects, 31mil. USD
Upgrading safety infrastructure : 13 projects. 392 mil. USD
Rolling stock safety management 16 projects, 558 mil. USD
Establishment of SMS : 11 projects, 1 mil. USD
Accident investigation and emergency response system : 14 projects, 7 mil. USD
R&D on Safety technology : 10 projects, 16mil. USD
Important measures are listed in the paper
The 1st safety plan have 77 projects in 6 fields which need 6 billion USD during
6 fields and budget in 2006 are shown in the following.

14. Safety Measures : Staff management
Train driver license regulation from 2006
Management on competency, aptitude test, physical examination, experience on route, education
Daily examination of driver before on board
Sleeping time, alcohol / drug test
Testing tools and question sheet
Monitoring of high risk staff
Accident related personal, novice driver, etc.
Change of person’s habit or misunderstanding on work
Training program for safety critical work
Operation and development of training program
Evaluation of training program, incentive on staff for safety activity
Preparation of track work guideline
Working and planning process
Train warning system, installation of safe area on working place
The 1st field is staff management.
Human factors have been the major reason for accident.
And many of safety measure are focused on train driver.

15. Safety Measures : Infrastructure safety
High risk 466 level crossing
Change into over bridge
Install obstruction detector
Platform
Screen Door installation
Safety fence & CCTV
Emergency train stop button in platform & communication System
Fire Safety
Emergency evacuation tunnel
Toxic gas ventilation system
Warning system, smoke detector, emergency light
Etc.

16. Safety Measure : Rolling stock safety
Application of safety standard for collison, derailment, and fire
Interior material change : Non-toxic gas release in case of fire
Risk assessment for design approval
Discharging old rolling stock(> 25years)
Installation & Upgrade : signaling, comm. System
Upgrading rolling maintenance equipments
Etc.
In 2006, many of the budget is spending on rolling stock related safety measure.

17. Safety Measure : Safety Management System
Regulation for Safety Case (2006), Risk Assessment (2008)
Regulation for Trespass, level crossing management
Regulation for R/S design approval and verification
SMS for dangerous freight transportation
SMS will be developed in relation with R&D results

18. Safety Measure : Accident Investigation & crisis management
Establishment of ARAIB
Expertise in investigation
Cooperation system with other organizations
Design & construction of accident and safety information system
Publishing railway safety white paper
Construction of preliminary traffic control center for emergency response
Establishment of security and terror response system
Advertisement on emergency response

19. Safety Measure : Safety technology R&D
System engineering for the interface control of research topics
System safety application( including risk assessment)
R&D on human factors, training system using simulator
Testing and evaluation technique for major accident (including testing infrastructure installation)
Design and construction of an safety information management system
Development of emergency action guideline for designed accident scenarios
Development of intelligent level crossing and the improvement of safety performance

20. Transition to Risk Based Safety Management
Current national R&D program for railway safety
System safety & system engineering
Establishment of safety management system
Development of assessing & preventing techniques for major accidents
13 programs are based on risk assessment
Results will be reflected in the next safety plan, regulations and rules

21. Conclusions and future plan
Railway safety plan and its status are presented
1st Railway safety plan became the basis of safety activities
Safety measures and current status in 6 fields are introduced
20% of accidents reduced, 4% of passenger increase during 2years
Problems will be reflect in the next plan
Resistance on new regulation and standards
Lack of expertise on small TOC’s safety management organization.
Consistency among regulation, plans, and standard
Different schedule between activity and safety budget

22. Thank you

25. National R&D on railway safety
1. System engineering and project management
2. Hazard analysis and risk assessment for safety management
3. Establishment of a management system for the human error and the assessment of aptitude
4. Establishment of a training system using simulators for the human error management
5. Establishment of safety standards and management system for infrastructure
6. Establishment of safety standards and management system for rolling stocks
7. Establishment of safety standards and management system for safety critical S/W
8. Establishment of safety standards and management system for dangerous freight operation
9. Development of emergency action guidelines for designed accident scenarios
10.Design and construction of an safety management information system
11. Development of test and evaluation techniques for the fire resistance of rolling stocks and infrastructures
12. Development of test and evaluation techniques for collision and the improvement of safety performances
13. Development of test and evaluation techniques for derailment and the improvement of safety performances
14. Development of test and evaluation techniques for train control system and the improvement of safety performances
15. Development of intelligent level crossing and the improvement of safety performances