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KTX Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen
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Guri Guy



Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Location: Bamboo Island

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oops, double post.

Will they raise prices to actually do proper maintenance?


Last edited by Guri Guy on Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:01 am; edited 1 time in total
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Milwaukiedave



Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Frankly Mr Shankly wrote:
Quote:
According to blueprints, waterproofing materials are supposed to be used to prevent water from seeping in between the bolts but they were not used,


Sampoong department store, anyone?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampoong_Department_Store_collapse


Yep, the headline reminded me of that as well. I remember seeing Seconds From Disaster on Discovery Channel.

Part1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeR8UluOdpg
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crosbystillsstash



Joined: 12 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When it happens the foreign companies will me blamed for manufacturing faulty materials. Ever tried to tell a Korean how to do something? I read somewhere that the company (French?) brought in to help on construction of the KTX tried to oversee standards but were not listened to.


I'll try to find the article. Basically they said it's an accident waiting to happen too.
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buymybook



Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Location: Telluride

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guri Guy wrote:
Can't say I'm shocked. Build everything Bbali bbali and see what happens.

God forbid if there is ever a big earthquake in this country.


An earthquake in Korea, no way! Shocked The people here are not sinners. Embarassed
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T-J



Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Frankly Mr Shankly wrote:
Quote:
According to blueprints, waterproofing materials are supposed to be used to prevent water from seeping in between the bolts but they were not used,


Sampoong department store, anyone?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampoong_Department_Store_collapse


Let's not forget the Seongsu bridge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seongsu_Bridge

Was here for both. The bridge was worse, because you used the remaining bridges like everyday wondering....Especially the two line subway rail bridge. The trains used to craaaaawwwwl over that bridge because after it was inspected following the other collapse it was deemed unsafe for speeds above like 10km until it could be reinforced.
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Passions



Joined: 31 May 2006

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You guys act like Korea is the only country with construction failures and corruption. Rolling Eyes
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caniff



Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pkang0202 wrote:
Shoddy construction isn't a Korean thing. Look at the "Big Dig" in Boston. Didn't a big piece of concrete wall crush a woman to death?


Yeah, a section of a ceiling in one of the tunnels came loose and hit her car, killing her.

Don't even get me started on the Big Dig. Although it did vastly improve traffic (especially getting to Logan Airport from the city and along 95), during the years of construction it proved to be a nightmare of graft, mafia involvement, corruption, clusterfucks for motorists, delays and cost overruns of billions.

We Bostonians were hardly surprised by this, of course.
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bjonothan



Joined: 29 Apr 2003
Location: All over the place

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="crosbystillsstash"]When it happens the foreign companies will me blamed for manufacturing faulty materials. Ever tried to tell a Korean how to do something? I read somewhere that the company (French?) brought in to help on construction of the KTX tried to oversee standards but were not listened to. [quote]

I was thinking the same thing. I was always worried when using the KTX trains. I just don't trust Korean workmanship when something is travelling that fast. Other countries have some problems like that too, but Korea has acknowledged that is a problem and now they have the "anjon jae il" signs to remind people to do a better job.
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jinks



Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I always fret about the lack of seatbelts on the KTX, especially when people have their drink trays down. A high speed crash with no seatbelt wouldn't be pretty, but people sliced in two by their seat trays definitely makes a bad thing worse.
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roadwork



Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Location: Goin' up the country

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="bjonothan"][quote="crosbystillsstash"]When it happens the foreign companies will me blamed for manufacturing faulty materials. Ever tried to tell a Korean how to do something? I read somewhere that the company (French?) brought in to help on construction of the KTX tried to oversee standards but were not listened to.
Quote:


I was thinking the same thing. I was always worried when using the KTX trains. I just don't trust Korean workmanship when something is travelling that fast. Other countries have some problems like that too, but Korea has acknowledged that is a problem and now they have the "anjon jae il" signs to remind people to do a better job.


I always get a little spooked as well when I look up at the screen and see that it's topping out at 300 km/h and thinking about some ajosshi that spent most of the previous night drunk and banging hookers and probably pissed off because he had to work that day, deciding that he'll just do everything half-assed.
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FistFace



Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Location: Peekaboo! I can see you! And I know what you do!

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was sitting in a bar with a friend in Itaewon speaking to this foreigner maybe three years ago. We started talking about what we were doing in Korea, and he says he's an engineer helping to build the KTX. This is a rough paraphrase of what he said:

That thing is a time bomb. Due to budget and time constraints, they're building it under specification. The tracks aren't made to handle those speeds. You'd never catch me riding that thing.

I can't remember the exact words, but he faulted the Korean side for the issues, citing their desperation to finish it as soon as possible, and at lowest budget.

I think we're starting to see the fruits of that discussion, and before you believe the spin Koreans put on this (foreign-caused problem) please remember exactly what I've posted here.
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bjonothan



Joined: 29 Apr 2003
Location: All over the place

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="roadwork"][quote="bjonothan"]
crosbystillsstash wrote:
When it happens the foreign companies will me blamed for manufacturing faulty materials. Ever tried to tell a Korean how to do something? I read somewhere that the company (French?) brought in to help on construction of the KTX tried to oversee standards but were not listened to.
Quote:


I was thinking the same thing. I was always worried when using the KTX trains. I just don't trust Korean workmanship when something is travelling that fast. Other countries have some problems like that too, but Korea has acknowledged that is a problem and now they have the "anjon jae il" signs to remind people to do a better job.


I always get a little spooked as well when I look up at the screen and see that it's topping out at 300 km/h and thinking about some ajosshi that spent most of the previous night drunk and banging hookers and probably pissed off because he had to work that day, deciding that he'll just do everything half-assed.


Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing
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cruisemonkey



Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Korea... the land where nothing is level, square or plumb. How come there's never enough time to do it properly, but always enough time to do it twice? Wink
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BreakfastInBed



Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cruisemonkey wrote:
How come there's never enough time to do it properly, but always enough time to do it twice? Wink

Amen!
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wylies99



Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cruisemonkey wrote:
Korea... the land where nothing is level, square or plumb. How come there's never enough time to do it properly, but always enough time to do it twice? Wink


They pay a big price for the corruption.
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