AUTONEWS

Cooling overheated summer railways with “thermal-blocking textile” technology!

The Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) has developed the world's first rail-mounted thermal-blocking textile system featuring an automated installation and removal mechanism. This innovative technology is designed to drastically mitigate overheating and thermal expansion in railway tracks during extreme summer heat.

High-speed ​​securement: The system utilizes optimized magnetic fastening and dual-locking mechanisms. It remains secure even in winds of up to 66 m/s (237 km/h) and withstands the aerodynamic forces generated by high-speed trains (such as the KTX) traveling at 300 km/h.

Field tests completed: Effectiveness and long-term durability were validated through real-world tests conducted between June and October 2025 on the Jungbu Inland high-speed line.

Commercialization: KRRI has signed a technology transfer agreement with PITCHCABLE Co., Ltd. to launch commercial application and expand the technology's use to building facades and highway infrastructure.

As extreme heat waves intensify due to recent climate change, railway rail temperatures now exceed 60°C during summer, increasing track deformation risks. This has necessitated speed restrictions, causing delays and raising safety concerns as a social issue.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) (President: Sagong Myung) has developed the world's first "rail-mounted thermal-blocking textile with automated installation and retrieval system" to dramatically mitigate temperature rises on railway tracks during extreme summer heat.

Currently, rail temperature reduction during summer relies almost entirely on water-spraying systems, which have significant limitations: high installation costs and continuous water consumption. Therefore, a water-free, cost-effective alternative has been strongly needed.

KRRI's technology lowers rail temperatures by attaching a special heat-blocking textile to the rail using magnetic force to block solar radiation. The “heat-blocking textile” features a multilayer structure composed of a special coating that reflects more than 85% of solar radiation, combined with magnets and fiberglass layers. Once installed, the system requires no additional operating costs and poses no risk of failure, offering both stability and economic efficiency.

Field demonstrations were completed on the Gwangju Line of the conventional railway network in the summer of 2024 and on the Jungbu Inland High-Speed Line in the summer of 2025. The results verified a maximum rail temperature reduction of 10.9°C, with no performance degradation observed after testing. The technology was stably applied to both conventional and high-speed rail types*, and certified testing** confirmed outstanding durability, with performance maintained for more than 10 years.

Thermal-blocking Textile and Structural Diagram Developed by Dr. Kang Dong-hoon’s Research Team at KRRI. Credit:Korea Railroad Research Institute

KRRI also developed a fully integrated "all-in-one automated system" that covers the complete lifecycle from installation through retrieval of the thermal-blocking textile. The system enables all operations from cleaning foreign substances off rail surfaces, applying the textile, to retrieving it after the summer season with a single piece of equipment. Its modular design allows two operators to easily transport, assemble, and disassemble it, and the system can operate at speeds exceeding 2 km per hour, significantly reducing both time and cost.

KRRI verified the safety and durability of the thermal-blocking textile technology. The system remained secure even under strong opposing winds generated by KTX trains traveling at 300 km/h. The magnetic attachment force was optimized to withstand wind speeds of up to 66 m/s (1.5 times stronger than high-speed train-induced wind), and additional dual fastening mechanisms were applied to ensure that the textile remains firmly attached even during high-speed train operation.

The technology’s excellence was further recognized at the “2025 Seoul International Invention Exhibition (December 3 to 6, 2025, COEX Hall C, Seoul),” hosted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office and the Korea Invention Promotion Association. The thermal-blocking textile patent won the Grand Prize, and the automated equipment patent received the Silver Prize. Additionally, at the "2025 New Technology Commercialization Promotion Conference (December 10, 2025, Peace & Park Convention, Seoul)" hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Korea Industrial Technology Association, the technology obtained National New Excellent Technology (NET, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Certification No. 1594), further validating its innovation.

Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI)