The ministry and the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) said that a domestic train-manufacturing company Rotem developed, produced and assembled the high-speed train over a period of three years and six months with technical assistance from French transport company Alstom.

The new Korean-made express train, which can travel at speeds of up to 350 km per hour, will undergo safety and durability tests on a 57km-long railway line linking Cheonan and Daejon until September.

The officials said that the train will begin operations with the opening of the Gyeongbu express railway.

KTX13 is 388 meters in length and 771.2 tons in weight and is composed of four power carriages and 16 passenger carriages. The vehicle can accommodate up to 935 travelers on its 127 first-class seats and 808 second-class seats.

The officials explained that the train possesses 18,000 horsepower, 1.5 times stronger than the high-speed train produced by France's TGV, and can travel normally in a temperature as low as 25 degrees Celsius.

Taking into consideration the country's geographic feature that calls for many tunnels through mountains, the officials added that the train is designed to minimize ear-ringing through a compressed airtight system.

The passenger carriages are articulated with each other for the prevention of disconnection or overturn in case of accident, along with enhanced brake system and energy efficiency level.

The vehicle also facilitates driving sensors for operation safety, the officials said.

On passenger carriages, the train offers TV monitors, earphones, telephones and fax, as well as wheel chair storage and restroom designed for handicapped.

The KRRI will produce a total of 16 express trains by the end of this year and 18 more by October next year, the officials said.

The production of one express train costs $40 million (52 billion won).