KTX (Korea Train eXpress) is launched as the 5 th high-speed train in the world. This study aims to systematically develop a ride-comfort model for high-speed rail passengers using structural equation model (SEM). Both qualitative and quantitative factors affecting ride-comfort were investigated, and employed to construct a comprehensive ride-comfort model. The SEM model was built with twenty measurement variables and seven latent variables for the evaluation of ride-comfort of high-speed train

more »

... passenger. A total of six hundreds thirty two subjects participated in the evaluation using face-to-face survey method. As a result, the proposed SEM model showed statistical significance as well as a high level of model fitness (GFI=0.93). According to the results, overall ride-comfort was significantly affected by the seat-, fatigue-, interior-related, and customer satisfaction variables such as fare. Among the engineering design variables of high-speed train, seat-related variables were identified as critical factors of the ride-comfort. It is expected that the result of this study could be useful for the enhancement of ride comfort in next generation KTX.