Mechanical problems in S. Korea's bullet train to be fixed by early 2012

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- Mechanical problems that have plagued South Korea's homemade bullet trains will be fixed by the first half of 2012, the head of the local rolling stock manufacturer said Friday. Hyundai Rotem Co. President Lee Min-ho said in a news conference in Seoul that every effort is being made to correct the glitches in the design and production of the Korea Train Express-II, or the "KTX-Sancheon" trains. "Problems cited by the rail safety commission are being fixed with the help of outside experts and engineers," he said. The trains that have been in operation since March 2010 broke down a total of 49 times as of late July, including a derailment accident earlier this year. No lives were lost so far, but the problems have disrupted the country's train transportation network and raised concerns about the safety of the rail system. In May, state-run Korea Railroad Corp. ordered Hyundai Rotem to recall one of its high-speed trains and ordered a detailed probe into why so many breakdowns were taking place. The KTX trains have been in operation since 2004, although earlier trains that were built by France's Alstom did not experience such mechanical problems. Lee also said that the company will inject 51.9 billion won (US$46.7 million) in the next three years to strengthen technology and engineering knowhow, and to hire experts from countries such as Germany, Britain and Japan. "The number of researchers and engineers at Rotem will be increased from 340 at present to 450, with outside assistance being sought in the future to cope with any problems that may arise," the executive said. The company president, meanwhile, expressed deep regrets over the stoppages, and pledged more will be done to make certain that future breakdowns do not occur. The company is an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, which is the second largest family-owned conglomerate in South Korea.