Trains
Korea built a topnotch train system over the last half-century. Along with conventional trains, it developed a high-speed rail network that zooms passengers up and down the peninsula.
In the past, a friendly attitude could get you and your bike on board any of Korea’s trains. But nowadays most conductors turn cyclists and their bikes away.
Let’s explore which trains in Korea allow full-sized bikes (road, MTB, hybrid) on board.
Are Bikes Allowed on Trains?
Most of the trains in Korea do not allow assembled, full-size bicycles on board. Only select ITX-Cheongchun and limited ITX trains have designated “bicycle seats” where passengers can board with their ready-to-ride road, mountain, or hybrid bicycles.
However, almost all trains in Korea allow folding-bicycles in their collapsed positions or disassembled bikes packaged in travel bags or cases and stored in luggage compartments.
The Trains of Korea
Five types of trains roll on Korea’s railroad tracks.
- ITX (medium-speed) — Select routes allow full-sized bikes.
- Mugunghwa-ho (slow-speed) — bike carriages discontinued in 2022. Only folding bikes or packaged full-size bikes in travel cases or bags are allowed.
- KTX (high-speed) — only folding bikes or packaged full-size bikes in travel cases or bags are allowed.
- SRT (high-speed) — only folding bikes or packaged full-size bikes in travel cases or bags are allowed.
- Subway Trains — full-sized bikes on certain days. Read more here.
Would you like to take a train with your assembled, full-sized bike? ITX trains are the only type of train in Korea that offers bike cradles for road, mountain, or hybrid bicycles.
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