Passenger rail transport in Zhenia



Being home to one of the busiest passenger train networks in the world by ridership and distance of track, rail is an important means of passenger transport in Zhenia. With an annual ridership of around 3.51 billion in 2018, a figure not including and  networks throughout the nation, passenger rail accounts for a significant portion of all passenger trips in the nation. It is also home to one of the largest (HSR) networks in the world by ridership and track length, spanning over almost 20,000 kilometres throughout the nation. Almost all passenger train services in the nation, excluding rapid transit, urban rail and select lines, are operated by ZhenRail and its subsidiaries.

Route identifiers
Like the nation's expressways, are designated according to their starting and terminal points. Normally, the northern and eastern ends of each route are designated as starting points (Zhenian: 기점), while the southern and western ends are designated as the terminal point (Zhenian: 종점). The routes from starting points to terminal points, or southbound and westbound routes, are often called 'downbound routes' (Zhenian: 하행선), while eastbound and northbound routes are referred to as 'upbound routes' (Zhenian: 상행선). This practice originated from the construction of the first major railroads in the nation, from Changan to Daedo.

If the rail line runs in a circle, as is the case with several regional routes across the nation, the clockwise (inner) train is designated as the 'downbound train' and the counterclockwise (outer) train the 'upbound train', although such references are not as commonly used: in most cases, they would be referred to as 'inner circle' (Zhenian: 내선순환) and 'outer circle' (Zhenian: 외선순환) trains respectively. The general direction of the route ultimately dictates whether the entire line is upbound or downbound if the rail line zigzags and changes directions often, although the location of the starting and terminal points are primarily used as reference points in making the decisions for such cases. Applying such scheme, downbound trains are given odd numbers, while upbound trains are given even numbers.

Types of route
All passenger rail services are obligated to follow ZhenRail's route classification scheme, which classifies passenger train services into three different tiers according to the train's maximum speed and frequency of stops. While actual maximum speeds can vary by region - for instance, the maximum speeds of high-speed trains in aboveground railroads in urban areas is under 200 km/h throughout most of the nation - the maximum speeds listed below are general references of each train level in normal circumstances. In practice, different tiers allow for traffic priorities and other systems according to train level: for instance, if railroad traffic nearby is congested, traffic priority, assuming all other conditions are equal, is given to Tier 1 trains, followed by Tier 2 and 3 trains. Note that one route type does not necessarily equate to one passenger service brand.

Apart from the route type classification system, a select set of trains not scheduled for year-round service are given designations under emergency situations and are often referred to as 'Tier 0' trains. Tier 0 trains have varying rail traffic priorities against other types, although they are mostly between Tier 1 and Tier 2 in terms of traffic priority. Although not as common as other tiers, Tier 0 trains can be designated and mobilized under the following situations:


 * Executive transport: circumstances in which the Chancellor, the Premier or international figures of similar status are travelling via train. Along with hazardous cargo transport over rail and emergency railway equipment, they are the three types of trains allowed the highest traffic priority in the nation's rail network during peacetime.
 * Hazardous cargo transport: Trains transporting hazardous cargo, notably explosive chemicals or radioactive material, receive the highest traffic priority as Tier 0 trains. This is primarily due to lessons learnt from the 1958 Osan Station Explosion incident, in which a freight train carrying over 1,200 metric tons of military-grade explosives detonated in Osan Station by accident.
 * Emergency railway equipment transport: In events of railroad accidents, ZhenRail's emergency railway equipment receive the highest priority in railway traffic as Tier 0 trains.
 * Emergency relief transport: Trains containing emergency relief personnel and equipment to zones where natural disasters occurred can also be designated Tier 0 trains. Because it is likely that they will be transported using conventional rail, they do not have priority over Tier 1 services but have traffic priority over Tier 2 and Tier 3 services.
 * Military troop and freight transport during wartime: In wartime or in similar circumstances, the Ministry of Defense and ZhenRail commandeers and prioritizes all Zhenian rail transport assets under its command for the war effort. Under such scheme, military troop and freight transport trains are prioritized above all other types.

Tier 1
Tier 1 trains, almost entirely consisting of ZNX trains, offer a total of three classes, each varying in price and quality of seating. All classes have cup holders, overhead storage, foot rests, electrical outlets, onboard Wi-Fi and, in newer trains, screens. The total percentage of seats vary by line, although there is a higher percentage of sleeper class seats in longer, trans-national ZNX routes.


 * Standard Class: The most common class available in Tier 1 trains, the Standard Class is arranged in a 2+2 seating scheme, each with a seating pitch of 960-980 mm. Newer models feature AVOD screens on every seat. Ameinities include cup holders, overhead storage, foot rests, USB ports and onboard Wi-Fi.
 * Executive Class: A higher class aimed for business travelers on ZNX trains, it features partitioned 2+1 seating that are separated further back and forth to allow for more space. Seats are reclinable further than the Standard Class, with newer models being fully reclinable to 180 degrees. It features more amenities than the Standard Class, including provided personal headphones, complimentary snacks on shorter routes, personal reading lights and larger AVOD screens, as well as all amenities seen on the Standard Class.
 * Sleeper Class: Sleeper classes are found on longer domestic and international routes, some of which often run overnight. Three types of sleeper class seats are available - a personal compartment, a duplex compartment, and a quad-pod compartment, each corresponding to the number of beds in a single compartment. Each bed contains storage space and a foldable desk in addition to all the amenities of lower classes. The personal compartment, although very uncommon, contains a bathroom with a shower, a larger desk and bed, thus earning its nickname 'The Rail Suite'. Some personal compartments in select long-haul lines are directly served by a dedicated attendant for each room.

Tier 2
Service classes in Tier 2 trains can vary by type and line, but they are normally divided into four subcategories. Similar to high-speed Tier 1 trains, the exact percentage service classes of the train would vary by train and the route it serves: however, it is the general tendency that Tier 2 trains have lower percentages of Executive Class seats than Tier 1 trains due to demand.


 * Standard Class: Standard class seats in Tier 2 trains are normally organized in a 2+2 seating scheme, although some older trains used on select Rapid Express and Metropolitan Express routes are organized in a 2+3 seating scheme. Seating pitch is also less favorable than those on Tier 1 trains. Amenities on those seats include foot rests, overhead storage, electric chargers via USB ports and onboard Wi-Fi, although newer trains in select Limited Express routes have AVOD screens as well. Older variants also had weaker air conditioning compared to those on Tier 1 counterparts, but the situation has been improved in newer trains introduced since the late 2000s.
 * Executive Class: With an objective similar to those on ZNX trains, Executive Class seats feature partitioned 2+1 seating that generally offer more space than standard class seats. They, like other seats aside from the standard class, are often not found on Metropolitan Express trains.
 * Sleeper Class: Similar to Tier 1 trains, sleeper class seats are further divided into three subcategories depending on the number of beds in each compartment - a duplex compartment, a quad-pod compartment and a hexagon compartment, which hosts a total of six non-folding bunks per compartment. Like their Tier 1 counterparts, they are not found on short-haul routes.
 * Suite Class: Mostly found in long-haul routes served by Limited Express and Rapid Express trains, the Suite Class is akin to the personal compartment found on Tier 1 Sleeper Class seats. It features a private suite featuring a bed, a desk, storage space and a bathroom with a shower.

Tier 3
In principle, there are no service class separations in Tier 3 trains: in the case of stopping trains and most commuter rail services, most seats are freely assigned and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, although seats can be reserved in both classes for an additional fee. They also lack sleeper or restaurant cars, with the exception of some long-range stopping trains that are equipped with hexagon-compartment sleeper cars. Traincars of some commuter rail services are organized similarly to carriages used in urban rail or rapid transit services, with much fewer seats to allow for standing and thus larger passenger loading.

Accommodations
Aside from the differences of seating, all Tier 1, 2 and most Tier 3 trains have onboard restrooms, mostly one on every carriage or on every other carriage. All restrooms on trains are sitting toilets, with the last carriages with squat toilets retiring from service in 1992. All restrooms on carriages are equipped with sinks to allow for basic washing, although water supply in trains may not be abundant as those on rail stations. All trains with restrooms are mandated to be equipped with onboard holding tanks, which are then emptied in dedicated facilities in major stations once full. Some commuter rail trains and traincars lack onboard restrooms, so passengers must debark from the train and use the restrooms on the station.

The degree of onboard catering can vary significantly by train tier, level of seating and the route of the train. While most commuter rail trains operate on a strict no food and drink policy like most urban rail networks across the nation, all other trains are equipped with at least one vending machine for every four passenger carriages, which mostly offer an array of beverages, packaged snacks and other light refreshments. All Tier 1 and most Tier 2 trains are additionally serviced by food cart services, which offer a more diverse selection of light refreshments than vending machines, including instant noodles and sandwiches, as well as hot water dispensers on select routes. Long-distance train routes are often serviced by restaurant cars or food sale counters, which can offer an array of hot meals to passengers. All passenger trains in Zhenia strictly prohibit smoking in all areas of and around the train, while alcohol consumption within the train is also banned: however, smoking in station platforms outside the train during short stops remains permitted, although some have argued that it is in breach of the nation's ban on smoking in public areas.

E-tickets and Internet integration
The e-ticket system has been adopted nationwide since March 1, 2008, although it has seen beta service across ZNX lines for a short period from 2007 to 2008 before being proliferated nationwide.

Station classification
Passenger rail stations are generally classified into three main types according to size and function, closely following to ZhenRail's standards and conventions - special, regular and way stations, although they are further subdivided according to size and capacity.