Pohang-Ulsan Metropolitan Railroad Scheduled to Open in November... Mayor Lee Kang-deok: "Transforming into a City of Transportation Welfare"

Upon Full Opening, Pohang~Busan Travel Time Reduced from 145 to 76 Minutes... Symbolizing the First Metropolitan Railroad in Non-Capital Areas

Mayor Lee Gang-deok of Pohang City visiting the Korea National Railway Corporation on the 15th to meet with Shin Hyeong-ha, Head of the Facilities Headquarters, for discussions.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The Donghae Nambu Line double-track electrification project, the first metropolitan railway connecting major cities outside the Seoul metropolitan area, covering the Ulsan Taehwagang~Pohang (76.6 km) section, is nearing completion this year.

According to Pohang City on the 20th, the Ulsan Taehwagang~Pohang section, which began its preliminary feasibility study in 2003, will be fully completed and opened this year after 18 years.

With commercial operation starting this November and the full opening of the entire Donghae Nambu Line, travel time between Pohang and Busan will be drastically reduced from the existing 145 minutes to 76 minutes. It is symbolic as the first metropolitan railway connecting major cities in a non-capital region.

The Donghae Nambu Line double-track electrification project is largely divided into the Busan~Ulsan (65.7 km) and Ulsan Taehwagang~Pohang (76.6 km) sections and is in its final stages. After opening, the Donghae Nambu Line will operate electric multiple units (EMU) with a maximum speed of 260 km/h.

In this regard, Mayor Lee Kang-deok of Pohang visited the Korea Rail Network Authority on the 15th to push for the early opening of the Donghae Nambu Line.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, "It will alleviate traffic congestion in Pohang, Gyeongju, Yeongdeok, and other areas, and unify the southeastern region into a single living zone," adding, "We will do our best to transform Pohang, which was once a transportation blind spot, into a city of transportation welfare through the early opening of this long-awaited project by citizens."

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