There’s a single aisle and seats in a two-one configuration. The seats in carriage 3 are covered in bright red plush fabric and spaced far apart,with legroom so ample I’m able to place my carry-on case in front of my knees. All seats have a tray table,footrest and copy ofKTX magazine in the seat pocket. On the wall,there are coat racks,USB ports and power outlets (two round pins). There’s complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the train.

It’s worth noting the single seats (line A) are popular and tend to book out online sooner than the adjoined seats (line B and C). All seats in first class face in the direction of travel. In economy,there’s a chance I’d be stuck going backwards.

Baggage

There are no restrictions on luggage that may be brought onboard as long as it fits in the area at the end of each carriage designated for suitcases or in the overhead racks.

Food + drink

First-class passengers receive a welcome pack containing a cookie,mixed nuts and a cleansing wipe. In the vestibule area between carriages,there are vending machines that dispense small bottles of cold water,free of charge,exclusively for those in first class. If you’re hungry for more,buy a meal or snacks at the station,where there are plenty of choices.

Carbon emissions

For this journey,travelling by train creates 14.22 kilograms of CO2. Going by car would create more than three times that amount,and by plane more than six times. In 2021,the first low-carbon,eco-friendly train was introduced in South Korea. There are plans to replace all diesel-powered passenger trains with low-carbon versions,which will reduce carbon emissions to 16.5 tonnes by 2029 (down from 23.5 tonnes in 2019).

One more thing

Don’t be late — the train will leave without you. If it’s scheduled to leave at 10.27am,you can bet it will be moving at 10.28am.

The verdict

If you’re a fan of Japan’s bullet trains,you’ll love exploring South Korea by high-speed KTX. Seeletskorail.com

Our rating out of five

★★★★

The writer travelled as a guest of the Korea Tourism Organisation. Seeenglish.visitkorea.or.kr