Seoul to Busan train - best to book online or buy at station?
#16
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
Trust me, you can sit anywhere. It may not be the proper rule but everyone does it: Don't move until you're asked by someone with ticket proof. There have been many a fiesty old lady or three that think you don't know what you're doing because you're white, when they're doing the same thing you are.
At the most, the conductor goes through and has his seat chart. I've seen him tell others that they can sit there until XXX stop when someone has reserved the seat. Nothing serious happens.
At the most, the conductor goes through and has his seat chart. I've seen him tell others that they can sit there until XXX stop when someone has reserved the seat. Nothing serious happens.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,552
Apologies for tagging onto this thread with a tangent question.
What's the luggage space situation like on the trains? I've read you can leave larger luggage by the doors. Wanted to confirm that's acceptable and get feedback how safe that is. Or if there are good alternatives like shipping the luggage via takuhaibin in Japan. We're currently targeting to travel from Seoul to Busan in the early evening on a Sunday.
TIA.
What's the luggage space situation like on the trains? I've read you can leave larger luggage by the doors. Wanted to confirm that's acceptable and get feedback how safe that is. Or if there are good alternatives like shipping the luggage via takuhaibin in Japan. We're currently targeting to travel from Seoul to Busan in the early evening on a Sunday.
TIA.
#19
Apologies for tagging onto this thread with a tangent question.
What's the luggage space situation like on the trains? I've read you can leave larger luggage by the doors. Wanted to confirm that's acceptable and get feedback how safe that is. Or if there are good alternatives like shipping the luggage via takuhaibin in Japan. We're currently targeting to travel from Seoul to Busan in the early evening on a Sunday.
TIA.
What's the luggage space situation like on the trains? I've read you can leave larger luggage by the doors. Wanted to confirm that's acceptable and get feedback how safe that is. Or if there are good alternatives like shipping the luggage via takuhaibin in Japan. We're currently targeting to travel from Seoul to Busan in the early evening on a Sunday.
TIA.
#20
#22
Free water, more space to stretch out and snooze and less chance of someone next to you. They have standalone seats.
However, the Korean government gives some inane discounts for 'disabled' people and this brings in weirdos sometimes. In my experience.
I would do it since the cost isn't too much higher.
#24
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
They are 100% refundable. While I'm not sure about the foreigner website, I know you can cancel any ticket for up to an hour after the train departs for a very small fee (like 5%). What I mean is that the foreigner website is very simple and does have a cancel button, but I'm not sure if you can cancel it online after departure (you might have to do that at the station). I know that before departure it will be fine to cancel online no problem.
To change your ticket, you simply have to cancel the old one and just buy new ones.
To change your ticket, you simply have to cancel the old one and just buy new ones.
#25
If the train already leaves then it's hard to get a refund on that. You could probably show the print out to the desk person at ICN if you want to change it up sooner. I don't know either about the foreigner website online. I use the Korean app.
#26
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 1
Hello, my 2 kids and I will be in Seoul on July 4th and its our first time there. We will land around 3 o'clock p.m at Incheon International airport and we would like to take the train from the airport to Busan for couple days. I don't know how to get train tickets...what is the best way to get round trip tickets?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#28
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
Trains to Busan on July 4 are at 4:30 and 6:30. You simply won't have time to catch the 4:30 train with two kids, bags, etc. You'd have to hussle quickly even as a solo traveler. Also, at 3 PM, that's when a lot of flights from Europe and America start to land, so immigration starts to get busier then.
Buy the tickets online and pick them up at the airport train station. Take time to grab some food somewhere in either the airport or the train station.
I know that it may seem incovenient to have to wait at the airport, but it would be much more difficult to go to Seoul Station, transfer, carry bags up and down escalators, get tickets, etc.
If something does happen and you miss the train, they are refundable minus a very small fee, something like 5% of each ticket after departure.
Buy the tickets online and pick them up at the airport train station. Take time to grab some food somewhere in either the airport or the train station.
I know that it may seem incovenient to have to wait at the airport, but it would be much more difficult to go to Seoul Station, transfer, carry bags up and down escalators, get tickets, etc.
If something does happen and you miss the train, they are refundable minus a very small fee, something like 5% of each ticket after departure.
#29
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere in Y class
Programs: OZ D+ Lifetime
Posts: 1,181
Here is the link to purchase the tickets online. On the site, under the selector "Train" make sure you pick KTX. The other ones are much slower and sometimes not so nice inside.
A few tips. First class is really not that much more expensive. Maybe $20 more than economy. But I highly recommend it, especially if you have luggage. Also free small water bottles for passengers in first. Nice to have during the warm summer and just getting onto the train can be a bit of a workout with luggage.
The seats in First class (cars 2-5) are arranged in a 1-2 seating layout. So "A" seats are by themselves and "B" and "C" are together. If it's just you and your two kids, the system most likely will give you the whole row to yourself.
As for the actual ticket, you only need to have it in case something goes wrong. From the airport onto the train, literally you can just walk on. No ticket machine or anyone checking tickets. Make sure you go to the KTX entrance! But once onboard, if you are not in your seat they will know. Specifically if someone is sitting in a vacant seat, someone will come by and check. So, if you know your specific ticket information (KTX train #169, Car 5, Seat 5A for example), then you can just walk onto the train and sit in your seat.
Also, if you are taking the KTX back up to Seoul, I recommend booking the return ticket also online. Although there are trains running back and forth every 30 or 40 minutes, it is one less thing to worry about. I don't think a round trip ticket is possible. I've always bought two separate one-way tickets. I don't think there is any difference in price.
While the 4:30pm train is possible, the stars will have to line up that everything goes smoothly on arrival. If the plane lands late, or there is a massive line in immigration. I would take the later 6:35pm train. Only downside is it does get into Busan just after 10pm. Good thing is you won't have to worry about getting off at the wrong station. You get on from the beginning and exit at the end of the line.
A few tips. First class is really not that much more expensive. Maybe $20 more than economy. But I highly recommend it, especially if you have luggage. Also free small water bottles for passengers in first. Nice to have during the warm summer and just getting onto the train can be a bit of a workout with luggage.
The seats in First class (cars 2-5) are arranged in a 1-2 seating layout. So "A" seats are by themselves and "B" and "C" are together. If it's just you and your two kids, the system most likely will give you the whole row to yourself.
As for the actual ticket, you only need to have it in case something goes wrong. From the airport onto the train, literally you can just walk on. No ticket machine or anyone checking tickets. Make sure you go to the KTX entrance! But once onboard, if you are not in your seat they will know. Specifically if someone is sitting in a vacant seat, someone will come by and check. So, if you know your specific ticket information (KTX train #169, Car 5, Seat 5A for example), then you can just walk onto the train and sit in your seat.
Also, if you are taking the KTX back up to Seoul, I recommend booking the return ticket also online. Although there are trains running back and forth every 30 or 40 minutes, it is one less thing to worry about. I don't think a round trip ticket is possible. I've always bought two separate one-way tickets. I don't think there is any difference in price.
While the 4:30pm train is possible, the stars will have to line up that everything goes smoothly on arrival. If the plane lands late, or there is a massive line in immigration. I would take the later 6:35pm train. Only downside is it does get into Busan just after 10pm. Good thing is you won't have to worry about getting off at the wrong station. You get on from the beginning and exit at the end of the line.