- UK-Korea experts discuss rail digitalization technology and safety certification-UIWANG, South Korea – April 11 – Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) (President: Seok-Youn Han) held the 5th Korea-UK Joint Seminar on Rail Safety Certification jointly with Ricardo Rail UK (Managing Director: Michael Newman) at 2 PM on April 10 at COEX, Samseong-dong, Seoul. This seminar was sponsored by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the British Embassy in Korea and was co-organized by the KRRI and Ricardo Rail. It has been held annually since 2017. About 150 people from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, the British and Israeli embassies in Korea, railway operators, and companies attended, showing great interest in the event.The seminar, which was held under the theme of “Railway Digitalisation”, introduced global digital railway technology cases, along with the latest technologies and systems that can contribute to improving efficiency and convenience as well as safety. In particular, innovation in railway safety using digital technology and plans to expand bilateral cooperation between Korea and the UK were the main topics of discussion. KRRI presented its research achievements in the fields of digital transformation and safety certification. Dr. Kyung-Ho Shin, a principal researcher at KRRI, introduced the research on establishing a conformity assessment system for the Korean Train Control System (KTCS), and presented the essential requirements for exporting train control systems and how domestic companies can respond.Dr. Kang-Mi Lee, a principal researcher at KRRI, presented an automation system to streamline the safety certification work of manufacturers through the open RAMS platform developed by KRRI.Presentations on overseas cases followed. Tristan van Hoek, General Manager of Ricardo Rail Europe, shared implications applicable to light and high-speed rail in Korea through the application of the European Train Control System (ETCS Level 2) in the Netherlands and Denmark. Julien Legrand, Senior Consultant of Ricardo Rail, introduced regulations and standards related to cybersecurity certification, which are essential for participating in overseas rail projects, and Ricardo Rail's safety certification cases, providing useful information for Korean railways’ expansion into overseas markets.The Embassy of Israel in Korea also participated, presenting examples of digital technology applications in Israeli railroad projects and possibilities for technical cooperation. Tamar Maron Kosher, Commercial Attaché, introduced Israel's digital innovation cases and suggested expanding cooperation with Korean companies. * Presentations - Conformity Assessment in the Digital Railway Era (Presentation by Dr. Shin Gyeong-Hon in charge ofKTCS-2 Conformity Assessment Research) - ERTMS Operation Status in Europe (Presentation by Tristan van Hoek, General Manager, Ricardo Rail Europe) - Technological Innovation in Israeli Railways (Presentation by Tamar Maron Kosher, Counsellor, Embassy of Israel in Korea) - Open RAMS Platform for Railway Safety Certification Support (Presentation by Dr. Lee Kang-Mi in charge of RAMS Platform Research) - Cybersecurity of Railway Systems (Presentation by Julien Legrand, Senior Consultant, Cybersecurity, Ricardo Rail)Since KRRI and Ricardo Rail signed a joint railway safety certification agreement in 2015, KRRI and Ricardo Rail have been conducting mutual acceptance of railway safety certification results and joint safety evaluation of railway systems and products in stages. Recently, they have also expanded their cooperation on train control systems for urban railroads (KTCS-M).Dr. Seok-Youn Han, President of KRRI, said, “We will continue to strengthen the international cooperation system and industrial support foundation to proactively respond to global digital railway technology changes and revitalize the overseas expansion of railway technology.”Press ContactsYoonju YIKorea Railroad Research Instituteyjyi@krri.re.kr+82 31 460 5189

- Inspired by fish bone structure, realizing innovative noise reduction technology -UIWANG, South Korea – March 12 – Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) (President: Seok-Youn Han) has developed a Fishbone Silencer modeled after fish bones, applying biomimetic technology. Unlike conventional silencers, this silencer is characterized by high noise reduction effects without using sound-absorbing materials or acoustic absorbents.Silencers is applied to various fields such as railroad vehicles and tunnels, ventilation ducts, and industrial exhaust systems to reduce noise.Conventional duct-type silencers used sound-absorbing materials to reduce noise, but they had limitations of being vulnerable to moisture and difficult to maintain. In addition, they were heavy and costly due to the use of many metal materials.To solve these problems, the KRRI researchers designed internal partitions or splitters in a fishbone shape that reflects noise in a specific direction or induces a weakening effect by bouncing sounds off each other. This enabled noise reduction without the need for sound-absorbing materials.In particular, researchers applied a scientific approach to precisely analyze the movement of airflow and noise. They derived optimal design by testing various structures through two- and three-dimensional computational analysis, and ensured reliability through experiments at an accredited testing center.The Fishbone Silencer is an original design inspired by the fishbone structure, the backbone of a fish. The slender structure (Rib) made up of several layers plays a role in dispersing, reflecting, and reducing noise.Conventional silencers mainly utilize sound-absorbing materials to reduce noise, but they had the disadvantage of deteriorating over time or being difficult to maintain.The Fishbone Silencer reduces noise effectively even without sound absorbing materials and optimizes airflow to help spread less noise. In addition, the retractable structure allows for easy maintenance, which is expected to reduce costs.Related Research Projects- Project name: Development of Railway Noise Optimization Technology Based on Meta and Digital Twin (KRRI Basic Project)  (Research Period: Jan. 2024 ~ Dec. 2026/ Project Manager: Hee-Min Noh, Principal Researcher at KRRI)According to the performance tests conducted by an accredited testing center, the Fishbone Silencer showed an average noise reduction effect of more than 10dB compared to the conventional method in the 500~5000Hz frequency band.Furthermore, when reinforced with Thinsulate-type sound-absorbing materials on the exterior, the noise reduction effect was further maximized, and not only was noise reduction performance improved, but airflow was also confirmed to be more than 20% smoother.Principal Researcher Hee-Min Noh of the KRRI said, “This is an innovative technology inspired by nature, which is differentiated from existing technologies in that it can effectively reduce noise without sound-absorbing materials,” adding, ”We plan to commercialize the Fishbone Silencer with reduced maintenance costs and eco-friendliness and apply it widely to railway vehicles and infrastructure.”President Seok-Youn Han of KRRI, said, “The development of the Fishbone Silencer is an important example of the advancement of eco-friendly K-railway technology and,” “KRRI will continue to work with governments and railroad operators to further strengthen our research to reduce noise and to innovate sustainable railroad technology.”※Reference: (Photo) Introduction of In-Duct Fishbone Silencer TechnologyPress ContactsYoonju YIKorea Railroad Research Instituteyjyi@krri.re.kr+82 31 460 5189