Rail transport in South Korea
Encyclopedia
The rail transportation system in South Korea includes mainline railway lines, and rapid transit
system in some major cities.
Other major lines were later laid during the colonial period; these included lines originating in Mokpo
, Masan
, and Busan
. These lines connected to Seoul and to Sinuiju
in North Korea
, where they were linked with the Trans-Siberian Railway
. The railroad network was badly damaged during the Korean War
, but it was later rebuilt and improved.
. Rolling stock included 459 diesel locomotives, 90 electric locomotives, 133 motor coaches, and 370 electric motor cars.
Railroads in the 1980s were useful primarily in the transportation of freight, but they also were important for passenger traffic around Seoul
and in the heavily-traveled corridor linking the capital with the southern port of Busan
. Although the railroad system grew little during the 1980s (there were already 5,600 kilometers of tracks in 1980), rail improvements—the increased electrification of tracks, replacement of older tracks, and the addition of rolling stock—allowed rail traffic to boom. Some of the busiest lines south of Seoul
linking the capital with Busan and Mokpo had three or four tracks. The 1980s also saw the introduction of high-speed trains connecting Seoul with Busan, Jeonju
, Mokpo
, and Gyeongju
. The famous "Blue Train" (Saemaul-ho) between Seoul and Busan (via Daejeon
and Daegu
) took only four hours and fifty minutes and offered two classes of service: first class and special. In 1987 approximately 525 million passengers and 59.28 million metric tons were transported by the railroad system.
, the first rapid transit system in South Korea, was opened.
. After that, economic development and centralization toward Seoul resulted overload in that corridor, making distribution cost expensive. To solve this problem, various plans were studied; resulting introduction of high speed railroad.
Choosing the technology (vehicles, track, catenary, signalling) was difficult. South Korea wrote out an international tender, Japanese Shinkansen
, German ICE
, French TGV
were candidates.
The construction of the Gyeongbu High Speed Railway (Gyeongbu HSR) was started on June 30, 1992, before choosing the vehicle. Initial goal was 1998; lack of experience, frequent redesign, difficulties in purchasing land, and the IMF crisis delayed the entire project. As a result, Korea Train Express
(KTX) service began April 1, 2004.
Since its opening in 2004, the high-speed rail service has halved the demand for air transport on this corridor which used to be one of the busiest direct air routes in the world.
was formed. Initially they only managed construction of new High-speed line. To improve corporational status, Korean government decided to split national railroad, by operation and construction. As a result, after building Gyeongbu HSR, Korean National Railroad was split into Korail
and KR
, the former managing operation, and the latter maintaining tracks. This allowed open access
in Korean railroad.
KR was constituted with old KNR infrastructure assets, and several debts due to construction of railway lines were transferred.
until 1946 when all the railroads except tram
s were nationalised under the rule of, in case of South Korea, U.S. Military Government
. By the end of 1960s, all the tram companies were demised so there were no private rail companies left.
After the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis#South Korea, several government-driven railroad construction project were reviewed, postponed, redesigned, revoked or turned into Build-Transfer-Lease/Build-Transfer-Operate
projects. Several private capitals investment groups, including Macquarie Group
have participated in the projects. As of 2010, Airport Express Co.
, and Seoul Metro 9
are in operation. But after the continuing deficit, most shares of Airport Express Co. were taken over by Korail. Several private railroads, such as New Bundang Line
, BGLRT
, and EverLine
, are preparing to start services.
There's no general rule to define private railway lines in South Korea, though generally all rail companies except Korail
and rapid transit companies under full control of local governments can be considered private sector.
Total: 3,472 km standard gauge (1,742 km electrified) (2007)
(경부선), which connects the capital and largest city (Seoul
) with the country's second largest city and largest seaport (Busan
); the second is the Honam Line
(호남선), which branches off the Gyeongbu Line at Daejeon
, and ends at Gwangju
or Mokpo
.
The following is a table of major railway lines in South Korea:
(Bold lines see KTX service on their entire length or significant sections as of 2010, will see such service by 2011, or are in construction exclusively for KTX service.)
For former or proposed railway lines, see the articles on the Gimpo Line
, Suryo Line
, and Kŭmgang-san Line. For planned lines or lines under construction, see Suin Line
, Jungbunaeryuk Line, Gangwon Line, and Daegok–Sosa–Wonsi Line.
There is no railway service on Jeju Island
.
Korail
(en) (ko) is the sole passenger railway operator.
to all major South Korean cities. Four classes of train operate: KTX, which is the Korean high-speed railway system, takes passengers from downtown Seoul
to downtown Busan
faster than an airplane (including check-in time), makes fewer stops and is more expensive than other trains; the Saemaul-ho (새마을호, named from "New Community Movement
") service, makes more stops but still provides comfortable seating; Mugunghwa-ho
(무궁화호, "Rose of Sharon") service, which is the most popular, stops at most but not all stations, and offers a mixture of reserved and unreserved seating; Nooriro-ho(누리로호), which will replace mid-long distance Mugunghwa service in selected route, is recently introduced; Commuter
(통근 열차) service, which is the slowest and cheapest of the four, stops at all stops, and offers no reserved seating.
, Busan
, Daegu
, Gwangju
, Daejeon
and Incheon
—all have subway systems.
Seoul's subway system
is the oldest system in the country, with the Seoul Station
-Cheongnyangni
section of Line 1
opening in 1974.
A high-speed railroad by the name of the Korea Train Express (KTX) is currently in service between Seoul
, Busan
and Mokpo
. The railway uses French TGV/LGV
technology. Service started on April 1, 2004, using the completed high-speed line sections, and also using upgraded conventional lines. Another section of high-speed line sped up Seoul-Busan services from November 1, 2010. Additional services on new routes will be introduced to Masan
on the Gyeongjeon Line on December 15, 2010, and to Yeosu
on the Jeolla Line in April 2011. As of 2010, the top speed on dedicated high-speed track is 305 kilometre per hour (0.0526440791193906 mi).
Until the division of Korea
following the end of the Second World War, the Gyeongui Line
and Gyeongwon Line
extended into what is now North Korea
. The Gyeongui Line
connected Seoul
to Kaesong
, Pyongyang
, and Sinuiju
on the Chinese border, while the Gyeongwon Line
served Wonsan
on the east coast. Another line—the Kumgang-san Line—connected the town of Cheorwon, now on the border of North
and South Korea
, on the Gyeongwon Line
, to Mt. Geumgang, now in the North
.
The Gyeongui Line
is one of two lines whose southern and northern halves are now being reconnected, the other line being the Donghae Bukbu Line
. On 17 May 2007, two test trains ran on the reconnected lines: one on the west line from Munsan
to Kaesong
; the second on the east from Jejin to Kumgang
.
In December 2007, regular freight service started on the Gyeongui line, from South Korea into the Kaesong Industrial Park
in the north. The service has been underutilized, however: as it was reported in October 2008, on 150 out of 163 return trips that had been done so far, the train carried no cargo at all. The total amount of cargo carried over this period had been merely 340 tons. This absence of interest in the service has been explained by the customers' (companies operating in Kaesong) preference for road transport. In November 2008, North Korea shut down the link.
A Trans-Korean Main Line
, spanning North Korea and connecting to Russian Railways
, is planned.
Japan
No
There's no railroad connection between South Korea and Japan. But Korail
and JR West have a joint rail pass which includes discounted KTX and Shinkansen
ticket with Busan
-Shimonoseki/Fukuoka
ferry
ticket. A Korean Strait undersea tunnel was proposed, but both government and rail companies seems to have no interest in this ultra-long tunnel project.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system in some major cities.
Korean Empire and Partition
In 1896, a concession was granted to American businessmen, Henry Collbran and Harry R. Bostwick to construct the Seoul-Chemulpo (Jemulpo) Railroad (SCRR). The opening of the railroad took place on March 22, 1897. On Sept. 18, 1899, the SCRR was officially opened for traffic from Jemulpo to the south bank of the Han River near Yeongdeungpo. Railroad operations in Seoul did not begin until July 8, 1900, when the Han River was finally bridged. On May 8, 1902, the French-operated railroad financed by the Korean Empire, Northwestern Railway (NWR) was established and completed in 1905. It would connect Seoul with Manchuria by way of Kaesong, Pyongyang and then Uiju on the Yalu River.Other major lines were later laid during the colonial period; these included lines originating in Mokpo
Mokpo
Mokpo is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Mokpo has frequent train service to Seoul and is the terminus for a number of ferry routes serving islands in the adjacent Yellow Sea...
, Masan
Masan
Masan was a formerly a municipal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The city was situated on Masan Bay , approximately 35 km west of Busan. It was known for its textile industry, and it was the site of Hite Brewery's production facilities.During the control of the Mongolians, the...
, and Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
. These lines connected to Seoul and to Sinuiju
Sinuiju
Sinŭiju is a city in North Korea, neighboring with Dandong City, China via international border and is the capital of North P'yŏngan Province...
in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, where they were linked with the Trans-Siberian Railway
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
. The railroad network was badly damaged during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, but it was later rebuilt and improved.
South Korea
Established in September 1963, the Korean National Railroad, an agency of the Ministry of Transportation, was in charge of all rails throughout the 1970s and 1980s and continued electrifying heavily used tracks and laying additional tracks. As of 1987, the combined length of the country's railroad network was approximately 6,340 kilometers, including approximately 761.8 kilometers of double track railroad and 1,023 kilometers of electrified railroad. Suburban lines were electrified and connected to the Seoul subway systemSeoul Metropolitan Subway
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway or Metropolitan Subway in Seoul, in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world, with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's thirteen lines...
. Rolling stock included 459 diesel locomotives, 90 electric locomotives, 133 motor coaches, and 370 electric motor cars.
Railroads in the 1980s were useful primarily in the transportation of freight, but they also were important for passenger traffic around Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
and in the heavily-traveled corridor linking the capital with the southern port of Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
. Although the railroad system grew little during the 1980s (there were already 5,600 kilometers of tracks in 1980), rail improvements—the increased electrification of tracks, replacement of older tracks, and the addition of rolling stock—allowed rail traffic to boom. Some of the busiest lines south of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
linking the capital with Busan and Mokpo had three or four tracks. The 1980s also saw the introduction of high-speed trains connecting Seoul with Busan, Jeonju
Jeonju
Jeonju is a city in South Korea, and the capital of Jeollabuk-do, or North Jeolla Province. It is an important tourist center famous for Korean food, historic buildings, sports activities and innovative festivals.- History :...
, Mokpo
Mokpo
Mokpo is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Mokpo has frequent train service to Seoul and is the terminus for a number of ferry routes serving islands in the adjacent Yellow Sea...
, and Gyeongju
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
. The famous "Blue Train" (Saemaul-ho) between Seoul and Busan (via Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
and Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
) took only four hours and fifty minutes and offered two classes of service: first class and special. In 1987 approximately 525 million passengers and 59.28 million metric tons were transported by the railroad system.
Rapid transit
In 1974, Seoul Subway Line 1Seoul Subway Line 1
Seoul Subway Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, formerly known as the Korea National Railroad of Seoul, is an operation channel which links central Seoul, South Korea to Soyosan Station in the northeast, Incheon in the southwest, and Asan via Suwon in the south. This line covers a large part...
, the first rapid transit system in South Korea, was opened.
KTX
During 1970s a new transportation system between Seoul-Busan corridor was planned. One idea was high-speed railroad, but it was scrapped by construction of Gyeongbu ExpresswayGyeongbu Expressway
The Gyeongbu Expressway is the second oldest and most heavily travelled expressway in South Korea, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Gumi, Daegu, and Busan. It has the route number 1, signifying its role as South Korea's most important expressway...
. After that, economic development and centralization toward Seoul resulted overload in that corridor, making distribution cost expensive. To solve this problem, various plans were studied; resulting introduction of high speed railroad.
Choosing the technology (vehicles, track, catenary, signalling) was difficult. South Korea wrote out an international tender, Japanese Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
, German ICE
InterCityExpress
The Intercity-Express or ICE is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany and neighbouring countries. It is the highest service category offered by DB Fernverkehr and is the flagship of Deutsche Bahn...
, French TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
were candidates.
The construction of the Gyeongbu High Speed Railway (Gyeongbu HSR) was started on June 30, 1992, before choosing the vehicle. Initial goal was 1998; lack of experience, frequent redesign, difficulties in purchasing land, and the IMF crisis delayed the entire project. As a result, Korea Train Express
Korea Train Express
Korea Train eXpress is South Korea's high-speed rail system, operated by Korail. Construction began on the first section of the high-speed line from Seoul to Busan in 1992. The project was later split into two phases and combined with conventional line upgrades, adding a second route from Seoul to...
(KTX) service began April 1, 2004.
Since its opening in 2004, the high-speed rail service has halved the demand for air transport on this corridor which used to be one of the busiest direct air routes in the world.
Split of KNR
During construction of HSL, a company which is now called by KRKorea Rail Network Authority
Korea Rail Network Authority is a railroad construction and management company in South Korea formed by the merger of KNR Construction Headquarter and Korean Express Railroad Construction Corporation. Its main clients are Korail and Seoul Metro....
was formed. Initially they only managed construction of new High-speed line. To improve corporational status, Korean government decided to split national railroad, by operation and construction. As a result, after building Gyeongbu HSR, Korean National Railroad was split into Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...
and KR
Korea Rail Network Authority
Korea Rail Network Authority is a railroad construction and management company in South Korea formed by the merger of KNR Construction Headquarter and Korean Express Railroad Construction Corporation. Its main clients are Korail and Seoul Metro....
, the former managing operation, and the latter maintaining tracks. This allowed open access
Open Access (Infrastructure)
In the context of infrastructure, open access involves physical infrastructure such as railways and physical telecommunications network plant being made available to clients other than the owners, for a fee....
in Korean railroad.
KR was constituted with old KNR infrastructure assets, and several debts due to construction of railway lines were transferred.
Private rail companies
Most railways were operated by private companiesPrivate railway
A private railroad is a railroad run by a private corporation, as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector.-Japan:In Japan, refers to a railway line owned and operated by private sector. Although Japan Railways Group companies are private entities, they are not considered private railways...
until 1946 when all the railroads except tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s were nationalised under the rule of, in case of South Korea, U.S. Military Government
United States Army Military Government in Korea
The United States Army Military Government in Korea, also known as USAMGIK, was the official ruling body of the southern half of the Korean Peninsula from September 8, 1945 to August 15, 1948...
. By the end of 1960s, all the tram companies were demised so there were no private rail companies left.
After the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis#South Korea, several government-driven railroad construction project were reviewed, postponed, redesigned, revoked or turned into Build-Transfer-Lease/Build-Transfer-Operate
Build-Operate-Transfer
Build-own-operate-transfer or build-operate-transfer is a form of project financing, wherein a private entity receives a concession from the private or public sector to finance, design, construct, and operate a facility stated in the concession contract...
projects. Several private capitals investment groups, including Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group Limited is a global investment banking and diversified financial services group, providing banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services to institutional, corporate and retail clients and counterparties around the world...
have participated in the projects. As of 2010, Airport Express Co.
AREX
AREX, spelled A'REX as a brand name, is a South Korean railway line that links Seoul with Gimpo Airport and Incheon International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, the extension to Seoul Station opened December 29, 2010...
, and Seoul Metro 9
Seoul Subway Line 9
Seoul Subway Line 9 is a subway line in Seoul. Originally scheduled to open on June 12, 2009, the line actually opened on July 24, 2009 to ensure that the line was fully ready to begin service. Line 9 was constructed like a standard double track subway except that there are bypass tracks at some...
are in operation. But after the continuing deficit, most shares of Airport Express Co. were taken over by Korail. Several private railroads, such as New Bundang Line
Sin Bundang Line
The Sin Bundang Line or DX Line is a 17.3 km long, wide-area rail line. It connects to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway...
, BGLRT
Seoul Light Rapid Transit
The capital city of Seoul in South Korea plans to build up to seven new Light Rapid Transit, or LRT lines by 2017. They would be connected to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway giving access to several hundred subway stations...
, and EverLine
EverLine Rapid Transit System
The EverLine Rapid Transit System will be a fully automated 18.5-kilometre rapid transit system in the city of Yongin, South Korea connecting the Everland amusement park to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The new line will serve 15 stations...
, are preparing to start services.
There's no general rule to define private railway lines in South Korea, though generally all rail companies except Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...
and rapid transit companies under full control of local governments can be considered private sector.
Ridership
Railroad passenger number in South Korea have been decreasing since the 1990s. However, despite continuous road construction, railways are still one of the primary means by which South Koreans travel over long distances within the country.Total: 3,472 km standard gauge (1,742 km electrified) (2007)
Railway Lines
The principal railway line is the Gyeongbu LineGyeongbu Line
The Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...
(경부선), which connects the capital and largest city (Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
) with the country's second largest city and largest seaport (Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
); the second is the Honam Line
Honam Line
The Honam Line is a major railway line serving the Honam region in South Korea. The line is served by frequent passenger trains from Seoul to Gwangju and Mokpo.-History:...
(호남선), which branches off the Gyeongbu Line at Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
, and ends at Gwangju
Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...
or Mokpo
Mokpo
Mokpo is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Mokpo has frequent train service to Seoul and is the terminus for a number of ferry routes serving islands in the adjacent Yellow Sea...
.
The following is a table of major railway lines in South Korea:
| Line Name | Hangul | Major Stations or Areas Served | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaya Line Gaya Line The Gaya Line is a short railway line serving Busan, South Korea. The line connects Sasang on the Gyeongbu Line to Gaya and Beomil on the Donghae Nambu Line.... |
가야선 | Gaya | Korail Korail Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea... |
| Bukjeonju Line | 북전주선 | Jeonju | |
| Yeocheon Line | 여천선 | Yeocheon | |
| Gyeongbu Line Gyeongbu Line The Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea... |
경부선 | Seoul Seoul Station Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:... , Daejeon Daejeon Station Daejeon Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 166.6 km south of Seoul Station.-History:The station opened on January 1, 1905 and KTX trains on the Gyeongbu Line began services on April 1, 2004. The station inspired a romanic blues ballad entitled "Daejeon Blues" that has... , Dongdaegu Dongdaegu Station Dongdaegu Station, meaning "East Daegu Station", is a railway station in Daegu, South Korea. It is on the national high-speed KTX railway network, 282 km south of Seoul Station.-History:... , Busan Busan Station - External links :* * *... |
|
| Gyeongbu HSR | 경부고속철도 | Seoul Seoul Station Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:... , Daejeon Daejeon Station Daejeon Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 166.6 km south of Seoul Station.-History:The station opened on January 1, 1905 and KTX trains on the Gyeongbu Line began services on April 1, 2004. The station inspired a romanic blues ballad entitled "Daejeon Blues" that has... , Dongdaegu Dongdaegu Station Dongdaegu Station, meaning "East Daegu Station", is a railway station in Daegu, South Korea. It is on the national high-speed KTX railway network, 282 km south of Seoul Station.-History:... , Busan Busan Station - External links :* * *... |
|
| Gyeongui Line Gyeongui Line The Gyeongui Line is one of the oldest railway lines in Korea. When opened in 1906 it linked Seoul in what is now South Korea to P'yŏngyang and Sinŭiju in what is now North Korea... |
경의선 | Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... , Paju Paju Paju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county .The city is located just south of Panmunjeom on the 38th parallel. To defend the Korean capital, Seoul, many US and Korean army bases are set up in the city. In 2002, the northernmost... |
|
| Gyowae Line Gyowae Line The Gyowae Line is a railway line in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, that connects Neunggok Station in Goyang City with Uijeongbu Station in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul.-History :Work on the line began already in October 1959... |
서울교외선 | Goyang Goyang Goyang is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Goyang includes the new city of Ilsan, which is connected to Seoul via Seoul Subway Line 3. Goyang is bordered by Seoul to the south; walls of the Bukhan Mountain Fortress lie along a small portion of this border.Several institutions of higher... , Yangju Yangju Yangju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yangju is located south of Dongducheon and north of Uijeongbu not far from Seoul.- Attractions:... , Uijeongbu Uijeongbu Uijeongbu is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.The city is located just north of Seoul with many U.S. and Korean military bases for the defense of the Korean capital. The U.S. Second Infantry Division has established its headquarters in the city with main troops deployed in Dongducheon... |
|
| Gyeongin Line Gyeongin Line The Gyeongin Line is a railway mainline in South Korea, currently connecting Guro Station in Seoul and Incheon. Passenger transport along the line is integrated into Seoul Subway Line 1.-History:... |
경인선 | Guro Guro Station Guro Station is a subway station in Guro District in Seoul, South Korea. It serves Seoul Subway Line 1.The Gyeongin and Gyeongbu Lines separate at this station, with the former going west and the latter south. In addition, the Line 1 train service depot is located south of here, between Guro and... , Bupyeong Station Bupyeong Station Bupyeong Station is a subway station located in Bupyeong-gu, which is a district in Incheon, South Korea. This station is on the Seoul Subway Line 1 and Incheon Subway Line 1... , Incheon Incheon Station Incheon Station is a metro station on line 1 of the Seoul Subway in Bokseong Dong, Jung Gu, Incheon, South Korea. Travel time from Incheon Station to Seoul Station on Line 1 is 68 minutes, and travelling to Suwon Station in Gyeonggi-do, on the other branch of Line 1 takes 91 minutes, transferring... |
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| Gyeongwon Line Gyeongwon Line The Gyeongwon Line is a railway line serving northeastern Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The line is operated by Korail. The name of the line came from Gyeongseong and Wonsan, the original terminus of the line in what is now North Korea.-History:The Gyeongwon line was opened along its full... |
경원선 | Yongsan Yongsan Station Yongsan Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. It is located in Yongsan Gu, and adjoins the Yongsan Electronics Market. The station is the terminus for high-speed and long-distance trains on a number of railway lines, including most trains on the Honam Line, its high-speed... , Cheongnyangni Cheongnyangni Station Cheongnyangni Station is the Seoul terminus for passenger trains serving the eastern part of South Korea. The station is located just east of downtown Seoul, on the Gyeongwon Line.... , Uijeongbu Uijeongbu Station Uijeongbu Station is a station on the Gyeongwon Line in South Korea. It is also served by trains on Seoul Subway Line 1. It is the main station in the city of Uijeongbu... , Soyosan Soyosan Station Soyosan Station is a ground-level metro station on Line 1 of the Seoul Subway in Sangbongam Dong, Dongducheon, South Korea. It is named after the nearby Soyosan , a mountain beside the U.S. Army base Camp Casey... , Sintanni |
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| Gyeongchun Line Gyeongchun Line The Gyeongchun Line is a railway line connecting Seoul to Chuncheon in South Korea. The line is operated by Korail. The name of the line came from Gyeongseong and Chuncheon. The line was reconstructed in a new alignment in its entirety in the 2000s... |
경춘선 | Cheongnyangni, Chuncheon Chuncheon Chuncheon is the capital of Gangwon Province, South Korea. The city lies in the northeast of the country, located in a basin formed by the Soyang River and Han River. There are some large lakes around the city, most notably Lake Soyang and Lake Uiam... |
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| Janghang Line Janghang Line The Janghang Line is a railway line serving South Chungcheong Province in South Korea. The line connects Cheonan to the railway junction city of Iksan. The Janghang Line is served by frequent Saemaul-ho and Mugunghwa passenger train services between Seoul and Iksan... |
장항선 | Cheonan Cheonan Station Cheonan Station is the main train station in central Cheonan, South Korea, and the junction of the Gyeongbu and Janghang Lines. It has also been served by Seoul Subway Line 1 since 2005.- References :... , Janghang, Iksan Iksan Iksan is a city and major railway junction in North Jeolla Province, South Korea.The city center and railway junction was formerly called "Iri" , but merged with Iksan County in 1995.... |
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| Chungbuk Line Chungbuk Line The Chungbuk Line is a railway line serving North Chungcheong Province in South Korea. The line connects Jochiwon on the Gyeongbu Line to Bongyang on the Jungang Line, serving the major cities of Cheongju and Chungju en route. Cheongju International Airport is located near the rail... |
충북선 | Jochiwon, Cheongju Cheongju Cheongju is the capital city of Chungcheongbuk-do , South Korea. The city is divided into two wards , Heungdeok-gu and Sangdang-gu .-History:... , Chungju Chungju Chungju is a city in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Namsan is a mountain located on the outskirts of the city.The city is famous for the annual martial arts festival held in October. Also of note, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon grew up here.... , Bongyang |
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| Honam Line Honam Line The Honam Line is a major railway line serving the Honam region in South Korea. The line is served by frequent passenger trains from Seoul to Gwangju and Mokpo.-History:... |
호남선 | Seodaejeon Seodaejeon Station Seodaejeon Station, meaning "West Daejeon Station", is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 161 km south of Yongsan Station.-History:The station opened on November 1, 1914 and KTX trains on the Honam Line began services on April 1, 2004.... , Iksan Iksan Station Iksan Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 243 km south of Yongsan Station.-History:The station opened on January 1, 1915 and KTX trains on the Honam Line began services on April 1, 2004. The most notable incident to occur at this station, however, was an explosion... , Songjeongni, Naju, Mokpo Mokpo Station Mokpo Station is a station in Mokpo. It is on Honam Line. and is also the westernmost railway station in South Korea.-External links:**... |
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| Honam HSR | 호남고속철도 | Osong Osong Station Osong Station is a station on the Gyeongbu KTX Line in Cheongwon County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at the intersection of the Gyeongbu KTX high speed rail line and the conventional Chungbuk Line... , Iksan Iksan Station Iksan Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 243 km south of Yongsan Station.-History:The station opened on January 1, 1915 and KTX trains on the Honam Line began services on April 1, 2004. The most notable incident to occur at this station, however, was an explosion... , Gwangju·Songjeong, Mokpo Mokpo Station Mokpo Station is a station in Mokpo. It is on Honam Line. and is also the westernmost railway station in South Korea.-External links:**... |
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| Jeolla Line Jeolla Line The Jeolla Line is a railway line in North and South Jeolla Provinces in South Korea. The line is served by frequent passenger trains from Seoul to Yeosu... |
전라선 | Iksan Iksan Station Iksan Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 243 km south of Yongsan Station.-History:The station opened on January 1, 1915 and KTX trains on the Honam Line began services on April 1, 2004. The most notable incident to occur at this station, however, was an explosion... , Jeonju, Suncheon Suncheon, South Korea Suncheon is a city in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Located in the province of Jeollanam-do,It is a scenic agricultural and industrial city of around 250,000 people near Suncheon Bay. It is located in the southeastern corner of Jeollanam-do, just over an hour south-east of Gwangju... , Yeosu Yeosu Yeosu is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Old Yeosu City, which was founded in 1949, Yeocheon City, founded in 1986, and Yeocheon County were merged into a new city in 1998.... |
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| Jungang Line Jungang Line The Jungang Line is a railway line connecting Cheongnyangni in Seoul to Gyeongju in South Korea, traversing central South Korea from the northwest to the southeast.-History:... |
중앙선 | Cheongnyangni, Wonju Wonju Wonju is the most populous city in Gangwon province, South Korea.Wonju is a city approximately east of Seoul and the capital can be reached within 1hr 30minutes by bus or train. Wonju is home to three major universities which attract many students from Seoul and elsewhere. They provide facilities... , Jecheon Jecheon Jecheon is a city in Chungcheongbuk-do , South Korea. The city is a major railway junction , served by the Jungang, Chungbuk and Taebaek Lines. Jecheon has scenic surroundings and several tourist spots like the Uirimji Reservoir, Cheongpung Lake and Cheongpung Cultural Properties Complex... , Yeongju Yeongju Yeongju is a city in the far north region of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea, covering 668.84 km2 with a population of 113,930 people according to the 2008 census... , Andong Andong Andong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 in October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city... , Gyeongju Gyeongju Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the... |
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| Gyeongbuk Line Gyeongbuk Line The Gyeongbuk Line is a railway line serving North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. The line runs from Gimcheon on the Gyeongbu Line via Sangju, Yeomchon , and Yecheon to Yeongju on the Jungang Line.... |
경북선 | Gimcheon Gimcheon Gimcheon is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is situated on the major land transportation routes between Seoul and Busan, namely the Gyeongbu Expressway and Gyeongbu Line railway.-Administrative divisions:... , Yeongju Yeongju Yeongju is a city in the far north region of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea, covering 668.84 km2 with a population of 113,930 people according to the 2008 census... |
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| Yeongdong Line Yeongdong Line The Yeongdong Line is a line of Korail. It connects Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province with Gangneung in Gangwon Province. From Yeongju, it crosses the Taebaek Mountains and reaches the Sea of Japan at Donghae, thence proceeding north to Gangneung.At Yeongju, the line connects with the... |
영동선 | Yeongju Yeongju Yeongju is a city in the far north region of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea, covering 668.84 km2 with a population of 113,930 people according to the 2008 census... , Donghae Donghae City Donghae is a city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. There are two major ports: Donghae Harbor and Mukho Harbor. The city is located on the Yeongdong Line railroad and the Donghae Expressway. Numerous caverns are found in the city, as in neighboring Samcheok... , Gangneung Gangneung Gangneung is a city in Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 229,869 . Gangneung is the economic centre of the Yeongdong region of eastern Gangwon Province. Gangneung has many tourist attractions, like Jeongdongjin, one of the most famous towns in Korea... |
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| Taebaek Line Taebaek Line Taebaek Line is a single-track electrified railway mainline connecting Jecheon Station to Baeksan Station in South Korea. At its two ends, the Taebaek Line connects to the Jungang Line and Yeongdong Line. The line was originally two spur lines, which were built across difficult mountainous terrain... |
태백선 | Jecheon Jecheon Jecheon is a city in Chungcheongbuk-do , South Korea. The city is a major railway junction , served by the Jungang, Chungbuk and Taebaek Lines. Jecheon has scenic surroundings and several tourist spots like the Uirimji Reservoir, Cheongpung Lake and Cheongpung Cultural Properties Complex... , Taebaek Taebaek Taebaek is a city in Gangwon province, South Korea. Its name is shared with that of the Taebaek Mountains.-Climate:-Sister cities: Helong, Jilin since August 29, 1995 Baguio City, Philippines since April 25, 2006 Suzhou, China since March 8, 2005 Gaoan, China since June 23, 2004 Changchun, China... |
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| Donghae Nambu Line Donghae Nambu Line The Donghae Nambu Line is a railway line connecting Busan to Pohang in South Korea.The line runs along South Korea's east coast.-History:... |
동해남부선 | Bujeon, Ulsan Ulsan Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the... , Gyeongju Gyeongju Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the... , Pohang Pohang Pohang is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River... |
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| Donghae Bukbu Line Donghae Bukbu Line The Donghae Bukbu Line is a former railway line that connected the present-day city of Anbyon in Kangwon Province, North Korea, with Yangyang, Gangwon Province, South Korea. It has not carried trains since the division of Korea. The line originally connected to the Gyeongwon Line running from... |
동해북부선 | Jejin | |
| Gyeongjeon Line Gyeongjeon Line The Gyeongjeon Line is a railway line serving South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla Provinces in South Korea. It covers a total of 324.8 km, from Samnangjin Station in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, to Gwangju·Songjeong Station in Gwangju, South Jeolla.-History:An east-west railway along Korea's... |
경전선 | Samnangjin Samnangjin Samnangjin or Samnangjin-eup, is an eup, or town, in Miryang City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It is composed of thirteen ri. Samnangjin lies in the southeastern corner of Miryang, bordering Wondong-myeon in Yangsan City.The Gyeongbu Line railroad passes through Samnangjin, and Mugunghwa-ho... , Masan, Jinju Jinju Jinju is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It was the location of the first and second Sieges of Jinju by Japanese forces during the Imjin War... , Suncheon Suncheon, South Korea Suncheon is a city in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Located in the province of Jeollanam-do,It is a scenic agricultural and industrial city of around 250,000 people near Suncheon Bay. It is located in the southeastern corner of Jeollanam-do, just over an hour south-east of Gwangju... , Songjeongni |
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| Jinhae Line | 진해선 | Jinhae Jinhae Jinhae is a district in Changwon City, South Korea. This region is served by the Korean National Railroad, and is famous for its annual cherry blossom festival every spring.... |
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| Jeongseon Line | 정선선 | Jeongseon | |
| Mungyeong Line | 문경선 | Mungyeong Mungyeong Mungyeong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk Province, South Korea. The local government, economy, and transportation networks are all centered in Jeomchon, the principal town. Mungyeong has a lengthy history, and is known today for its various historic and scenic tourist attractions... |
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| Gaun Line | 가은선 | Gaeun Gaeun Gaeun is an eup in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. It was formerly a center of coal-mining, but the last mines closed in the 1990s. The dominant local industries are now tourism and agriculture. There are also several operating kilns.... |
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| Gwangju Line | 광주선 | Songjeongni, Gwangju Gwangju Station Gwangju Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 353 km south of Yongsan Station.-History:The station opened on July 1, 1922 and the station building was moved to its present location on July 25, 1969... |
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| Hwasun Line | 화순선 | Jangdong | |
| Gunsan Hwamul Line | 군산화물선 | Gunsan Hwamul (Gunsan Freight) | |
| Okgu Line | 옥구선 | Okgu | |
| Samcheok Line | 삼척선 | Samcheok Samcheok Samcheok is a city in Gangwon-do, South Korea.-Ancient age & Three Kingdom:* It was called "Siljikguk or Siljikgokguk"* 102 under the rule of Silla * 468 under the rule of Goguryeo... |
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| AREX AREX AREX, spelled A'REX as a brand name, is a South Korean railway line that links Seoul with Gimpo Airport and Incheon International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, the extension to Seoul Station opened December 29, 2010... |
인천국제공항철도 | Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport Gimpo Airport Station Gimpo International Airport Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 5 and Line 9. True to its name, it serves the nearby Gimpo Airport, the hub of domestic flights in the Seoul metropolitan area as well as limited flights to/from China and Japan.... , Seoul Seoul Station Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:... (2010) |
Airport Express Co. |
(Bold lines see KTX service on their entire length or significant sections as of 2010, will see such service by 2011, or are in construction exclusively for KTX service.)
For former or proposed railway lines, see the articles on the Gimpo Line
Gimpo Line
The Gimpo Line is a former railway line operated by Korean National Railroad that served Gimpo Airport, southwest of Seoul. The line was a spur line that terminated at the airport and connected to the Gyeongin Line at Bucheon Station. The line no longer exists....
, Suryo Line
Suryo Line
The Suryeo Line is a former narrow-gauge railway line owned by Korean National Railroad. The line connected Suwon to Yeoju. The Suryeo Line was abandoned on May 31, 1973.-Route:...
, and Kŭmgang-san Line. For planned lines or lines under construction, see Suin Line
Suin Line
The Suin Line is a former narrow-gauge railway in South Korea. The narrow-gauge line, which connected Suwon to Namincheon via Ansan and Siheung, was abandoned in 1995, but the Suin Line is currently being reconstructed in standard gauge and double track as an integral part of the Seoul...
, Jungbunaeryuk Line, Gangwon Line, and Daegok–Sosa–Wonsi Line.
There is no railway service on Jeju Island
Jeju-do
Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...
.
Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...
(en) (ko) is the sole passenger railway operator.
Services
Frequent service is provided on most routes, with trains every 15–60 minutes connecting SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to all major South Korean cities. Four classes of train operate: KTX, which is the Korean high-speed railway system, takes passengers from downtown Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to downtown Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
faster than an airplane (including check-in time), makes fewer stops and is more expensive than other trains; the Saemaul-ho (새마을호, named from "New Community Movement
New Community Movement
The New Community Movement, also known as the New Village Movement or Saemaeul Movement, was a political initiative launched on April 22, 1970 by South Korean president Park Chung Hee to modernize the rural South Korean economy...
") service, makes more stops but still provides comfortable seating; Mugunghwa-ho
Mugunghwa-ho
The Mugunghwa-ho or Mugunghwa is a class of train operated by Korail, the national railroad of South Korea. Mugunghwa trains are the cheapest class of trains to operate cross-country. Prior to the introduction of the KTX in 2004, they were the most common passenger train along most railroad lines...
(무궁화호, "Rose of Sharon") service, which is the most popular, stops at most but not all stations, and offers a mixture of reserved and unreserved seating; Nooriro-ho(누리로호), which will replace mid-long distance Mugunghwa service in selected route, is recently introduced; Commuter
Tonggeun
The Tonggeun is a class of short-run commuter trains operated by Korail, the national railroad of South Korea. On timetables, the name is always translated as "Commuter." They typically operate once or twice daily in each direction, along a few tens of kilometers of track...
(통근 열차) service, which is the slowest and cheapest of the four, stops at all stops, and offers no reserved seating.
Rapid transit
South Korea's six largest cities—SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
, Gwangju
Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...
, Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
and Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
—all have subway systems.
Seoul's subway system
Seoul Metropolitan Subway
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway or Metropolitan Subway in Seoul, in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world, with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's thirteen lines...
is the oldest system in the country, with the Seoul Station
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:...
-Cheongnyangni
Cheongnyangni Station (underground)
Cheongnyangni Station is a station on Line 1 of the Seoul Subway network. All Line 1 trains departing north from Cheonan stop at this station. The underground Cheongnyangni Station will be merged with its above ground counterpart when the new Cheongnyangni Station building is completed...
section of Line 1
Seoul Subway Line 1
Seoul Subway Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, formerly known as the Korea National Railroad of Seoul, is an operation channel which links central Seoul, South Korea to Soyosan Station in the northeast, Incheon in the southwest, and Asan via Suwon in the south. This line covers a large part...
opening in 1974.
High-speed service
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
and Mokpo
Mokpo
Mokpo is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Mokpo has frequent train service to Seoul and is the terminus for a number of ferry routes serving islands in the adjacent Yellow Sea...
. The railway uses French TGV/LGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
technology. Service started on April 1, 2004, using the completed high-speed line sections, and also using upgraded conventional lines. Another section of high-speed line sped up Seoul-Busan services from November 1, 2010. Additional services on new routes will be introduced to Masan
Masan
Masan was a formerly a municipal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The city was situated on Masan Bay , approximately 35 km west of Busan. It was known for its textile industry, and it was the site of Hite Brewery's production facilities.During the control of the Mongolians, the...
on the Gyeongjeon Line on December 15, 2010, and to Yeosu
Yeosu
Yeosu is a city in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Old Yeosu City, which was founded in 1949, Yeocheon City, founded in 1986, and Yeocheon County were merged into a new city in 1998....
on the Jeolla Line in April 2011. As of 2010, the top speed on dedicated high-speed track is 305 kilometre per hour (0.0526440791193906 mi).
International service
North Korea: Yes, same gauge - but not generally availableUntil the division of Korea
Division of Korea
The division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea stems from the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending Japan's 35-year colonial rule of Korea. In a proposal opposed by nearly all Koreans, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to temporarily occupy the country as a trusteeship...
following the end of the Second World War, the Gyeongui Line
Gyeongui Line
The Gyeongui Line is one of the oldest railway lines in Korea. When opened in 1906 it linked Seoul in what is now South Korea to P'yŏngyang and Sinŭiju in what is now North Korea...
and Gyeongwon Line
Gyeongwon Line
The Gyeongwon Line is a railway line serving northeastern Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The line is operated by Korail. The name of the line came from Gyeongseong and Wonsan, the original terminus of the line in what is now North Korea.-History:The Gyeongwon line was opened along its full...
extended into what is now North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. The Gyeongui Line
Gyeongui Line
The Gyeongui Line is one of the oldest railway lines in Korea. When opened in 1906 it linked Seoul in what is now South Korea to P'yŏngyang and Sinŭiju in what is now North Korea...
connected Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to Kaesong
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
, Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
, and Sinuiju
Sinuiju
Sinŭiju is a city in North Korea, neighboring with Dandong City, China via international border and is the capital of North P'yŏngan Province...
on the Chinese border, while the Gyeongwon Line
Gyeongwon Line
The Gyeongwon Line is a railway line serving northeastern Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The line is operated by Korail. The name of the line came from Gyeongseong and Wonsan, the original terminus of the line in what is now North Korea.-History:The Gyeongwon line was opened along its full...
served Wonsan
Wonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
on the east coast. Another line—the Kumgang-san Line—connected the town of Cheorwon, now on the border of North
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, on the Gyeongwon Line
Gyeongwon Line
The Gyeongwon Line is a railway line serving northeastern Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The line is operated by Korail. The name of the line came from Gyeongseong and Wonsan, the original terminus of the line in what is now North Korea.-History:The Gyeongwon line was opened along its full...
, to Mt. Geumgang, now in the North
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
.
The Gyeongui Line
Gyeongui Line
The Gyeongui Line is one of the oldest railway lines in Korea. When opened in 1906 it linked Seoul in what is now South Korea to P'yŏngyang and Sinŭiju in what is now North Korea...
is one of two lines whose southern and northern halves are now being reconnected, the other line being the Donghae Bukbu Line
Donghae Bukbu Line
The Donghae Bukbu Line is a former railway line that connected the present-day city of Anbyon in Kangwon Province, North Korea, with Yangyang, Gangwon Province, South Korea. It has not carried trains since the division of Korea. The line originally connected to the Gyeongwon Line running from...
. On 17 May 2007, two test trains ran on the reconnected lines: one on the west line from Munsan
Munsan
Munsan is an eup in Paju City, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It lies along the edge of the Demilitarized Zone, near Panmunjom and the Joint Security Area. Munsan lies along the south bank of the Imjin River. At the time of the Korean War it was known as Munsan-ni.Munsan has a heavy military presence...
to Kaesong
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
; the second on the east from Jejin to Kumgang
Kumgang
Kumgang or Geumgang may refer to:*Kumgang County, a county in Kangwon province, North Korea*Kumgang mountain, a mountain in Kangwon province, North Korea*Kumgang fat minnow, a freshwater fish, in Kangwon province, North Korea....
.
In December 2007, regular freight service started on the Gyeongui line, from South Korea into the Kaesong Industrial Park
Kaesong Industrial Region
Kaesŏng Industrial Region is a special administrative industrial region of North Korea. It was formed in 2002 from part of Kaesŏng Directly Governed City.-Kaesŏng Industrial Park:...
in the north. The service has been underutilized, however: as it was reported in October 2008, on 150 out of 163 return trips that had been done so far, the train carried no cargo at all. The total amount of cargo carried over this period had been merely 340 tons. This absence of interest in the service has been explained by the customers' (companies operating in Kaesong) preference for road transport. In November 2008, North Korea shut down the link.
A Trans-Korean Main Line
Trans-Korean Main Line
The Trans-Korean Main Line is a project to build railway infrastructure in North Korea, and allow rail freight to travel between South Korea and Russia; it is hoped to halve the time taken to transport freight from eastern Asia to Europe and earn substantial transit fees.In 2001, the leaders of...
, spanning North Korea and connecting to Russian Railways
Russian Railways
The Russian Railways , is the government owned national rail carrier of the Russian Federation, headquartered in Moscow. The Russian Railways operate over of common carrier routes as well as a few hundred kilometers of industrial routes, making it the second largest network in the world exceeded...
, is planned.
Japan
Rail transport in Japan
Rail transport in Japan is a major means of passenger transport, especially for mass and high-speed travel between major cities and for commuter transport in metropolitan areas.-Overview:...
No
There's no railroad connection between South Korea and Japan. But Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...
and JR West have a joint rail pass which includes discounted KTX and Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
ticket with Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
-Shimonoseki/Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
ticket. A Korean Strait undersea tunnel was proposed, but both government and rail companies seems to have no interest in this ultra-long tunnel project.
See also
- Rail transport in North KoreaRail transport in North KoreaRail transport in North Korea is provided by Korean State Railway which is the only rail operator in North Korea. It has a network of 5,200 km of track with 4,500 km in Standard gauge. There is a small narrow gauge railway in operation in Haeju peninsula...
- Transport in South Korea