Chungnam Launches Dedicated Team for 'West Sea KTX High-Speed Rail Network Construction'

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A dedicated team for the construction of the West Sea KTX high-speed rail network will be launched.

Chungnam Province announced on the 18th that it will form and operate a task force (TF) team to establish a KTX high-speed rail network connecting the West Coast and the Seoul metropolitan area.

The TF will be led by Kim Yong-chan, the provincial vice governor, and will include members such as railway policy advisory committee members from Boryeong City, Hongseong County, and the province. Its purpose is to derive the justification for the construction of the West Sea KTX high-speed rail network, develop the rationale for project promotion, and perform consultation and advisory roles.

The construction of the West Sea KTX high-speed rail network starts from the recognition that the Chungnam West Sea region has been neglected in the high-speed rail transportation sector.

For example, except for Jeju Island, all 16 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide have entered an era of half-day travel across the country with the opening of the Gyeongbu, Honam, and Gangneung high-speed rail lines. However, the province explains that the West Coast region inevitably experiences slower development in all areas including economy, society, culture, and politics due to the absence of a KTX high-speed rail network.

Accordingly, the province plans to incorporate the West Sea KTX high-speed rail network construction plan into the "4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan (2021?2030)" to promote the development of the previously neglected West Coast region.

The core of the province’s vision is to build a high-speed rail network connecting the West Sea Line double-track electrified railway (Pyeongtaek Cheongbuk-myeon) and the Gyeongbu high-speed railway (Hwaseong Hyangnam-myeon) over the shortest distance of 7.5 km, enabling travel from Hongseong to Seoul Yongsan in about 40 minutes.

A provincial official said, “Although growth hub facilities such as industrial complexes are widely distributed along the West Coast, the West Sea Line (under construction) and the Seokmun Industrial Complex inbound railway (under design) are not directly connected to Seoul, resulting in poor accessibility by rail. However, if KTX is connected to the West Coast, it is expected to provide a breakthrough in regional economic revitalization as well as national balanced development.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.