Mugunghwa-ho

Mugunghwa-ho
Chungbuk Line Mugunghwa train.
Korean name
Hangul	무궁화호
Hanja	無窮花號
Revised Romanization	Mugunghwaho
McCune–Reischauer	Mugunghwaho

The Mugunghwa-ho or Mugunghwa is a class of train operated by Korail, the railroad of South Korea. Mugunghwa trains are the cheapest class of trains to operate cross-country. Along rural lines such as the Gyeongbuk Line, they remain the only class of passenger train operating. They (and in some cases the Tonggeun) are the only trains to stop at many stations not served by Saemaul-ho or KTX trains. Mugunghwa are built to accommodate large numbers of standing passengers, and frequently have many more standees than sitting passengers.

The Mugunghwa-ho takes its name from the mugunghwa, the national flower of South Korea.

Trains

• Long-length Mugunghwa-ho Passenger Car
• Streamlined Mugunghwa-ho Passenger Car
• Refurbished Diesel Car (aka "RDC")
• New Diesel Car (Retire in 2010)
• Diesel Excellent Car (Retire in 2001)

Accidents

• On April 22, 2016, a Mugungwha-class 9-car train which departed Yongsan Station at around 10:45 p.m, and headed for Yeosu Expo Station, was derailed at 3:41 a.m on a curved track intersection while approaching Yulchon Station. 5 out of 9 cars were derailed, and 2 toppled down, damaging parts of the railway electrification system. The engine car toppled away from the tracks, one engine driver was killed, 7 passengers were injured and a secondary engine driver was injured. 23 people were known to be on board the train. Upon derailment, it is known that the train crashed into an unknown object. According to Korail engineers, the locomotive was operating at 127 km/h on the curved railway intersection. As the train was approaching a platform, it was designated to operate under 50 km/h when approaching stations. After further analysis on the train's data and voice recorders, the accident seemed to be occurred by the engine driver. Legal measures are to be taken on the two engine drivers. The remaining four cars were moved away from the tracks, and the destroyed rail electrification pylons were recovered in 25 hours.

On service

These lines have regular Mugunghwa-ho trains:

• Gyeongbu Line; 경부선(Seoul~Busan,Seoul~Dajeon,Seoul~Dongdaegu,Seoul~Sunchon)
• Janghang Line; 장항선{Yongsan~Iksan~(SeoDaejeon)}
• Chungbuk Line; 충북선(Seoul~Jechon,Daejeon~Jechon)
• Honam Line; 호남선(Yongsan~Gwangju/Mokpo)
• Jeolla Line; 전라선(Yongsan/Iksan~Yeosu EXPO)
• Gyeongbuk Line; 경북선(Yeongju~Busan)
• Jungang Line;중앙선(Cheongryangri~/Andong/Bujeon/Jechon)
• Taebaek Line; 태백선(Jungdongjin~Dongdaegu)
• Jeongseon Line; 정선선 (Jechon~Aurage/Cheongryangri~Aurage, on Jeongseon 5 days market date)
• Yeongdong Line; 영동선(Chongryangri/Bujeon/Dongdaegu~Jeongdongjin)
• Donghae Nambu Line; 동해남부선

(Bujeon~Pohang)

• Daegu Line; 대구선

(Dongdaegu~Pohang)

• Gyeongjeon Line; 경전선(Gwangju-Songjeong~Bujeon)

See also

• Rail transport in South Korea
• Transportation in South Korea