Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tiaw]

Couple of questions:

I'm arriving in Pusan from Fukuoka on the JR Beetle Hydrofoil and planning to catch the train straight up to Seoul from there (same day).

I've read a few places you have to book your place on the train ONE FULL DAY before. But on the KTX english website it says ONE HOUR. Which is correct?

Obviously it's impossible for me to book it before I arrive in Pusan and the website doesn't let you reserve a seat.

Secondly:

Do these trains book up that often? I've noticed on the site for most days there are 300-500 seats free on each train and very regular trains, so would I have a problem getting on a train to Seoul?

Many thanks for your help,

Michael.

[tzechuk]

You can book it from www.english.barota.com, but you have to be a member to do so.

If you book it there, you can book it 48 hours in advance, and you must collect and pay for your ticket 10 minutes before the train's departure, or they will cancel your seat.

It depends on what day you are travelling... weekends get booked up really quickly but weekdays are no problem.

I am a member of barota... if you want, I can book your train for you and will PM you my membership number, so you can collect your ticket later when you arrive.

[tiaw]

Hmmm thanks for the offer... what details would you require of me?

Is it possible to book a ticket on the day of travel?

[Ekuboko]

TIAW,
There are unreserved seat tickets on the KTX that you can just rock up and buy - like you can on the shinkansen in Japan.
Those ones you can't book online. There's not much difference in price between reserved and unreserved seats on the KTX.

What day of the week and what time of day will you be departing Busan Station?
I mean, of course Friday afternoons/evenings and Sundays (as examples) the trains will get booked out, but some days and times you should be okay.

[tiaw]

Monday 10th April between 2pm and 5pm!

I mean, if I dont get on one train, there should be another I can catch? On the website there seems to be one every 15/30 minutes?

Also, on the website... it shows available places every day...

Like, I looked at tomorrow's trains and on every train from 2pm-5pm there are like 400/500 free seats in standard class...

here's a screenshot:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/michael746/ktx1.jpg

Am I reading the grid wrong or something? I dont understand about people saying it gets booked up...

[tiaw]

P.S. i'm now getting worried because on another site it says you have to book ONE FULL WEEK IN ADVANCE? What's going on? ahh!

[Ekuboko]

Don't stress out!
You don't have to book a week in advance. It's just like the shinkansen - if you go to the station on the day, and there are no seated tickets left, they'll just sell you an unreserved seat ticket.

The day and time you want to travel: I would say you should be okay with not booking in advance; and seeing as there are KTXs running every 20-odd minutes, you shouldn't have a problem getting a seat sometime.

Oh, I just thought about the "1 week in advance" thing: that could be connected to the booking online with membership card. If you book online with the card, then you have to complete the purchase withing a week of making the booking.

[tiaw]

thanks... you've put my mind at rest, in other words if i can travel anytime between 2pm and 5pm on Monday 10th April, I should get on a train sometime?

It's just i need to be in Seoul that night.

[tzechuk]

[Ekuboko]

Tzechuk,
Please don't abbreviate my name.
Thanks

[tzechuk]

[plato's republic]

How does one become a KTX member? Is it free?

[tzechuk]