Korea Rail Network Authority Lays Foundation for 'Mega City' Connecting Southeast Mega-Regional Rail Network

Overview of the Four Railway Projects in the Southeast Region. Provided by Korea Rail Network Authority

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Rail Network Authority has connected the southeastern region with a super metropolitan railway network, laying the foundation for the creation of the Southeastern Mega City.

On the 28th, the Rail Network Authority announced that it has fully opened four project sections in the southeastern region connecting Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongbuk by linking Dongdaegu Station~Yeongcheon Station~Singyeongju Station~Taehwagang Station~Ilgwang Station with double-track electrified rail.

This project was promoted to convert the single-track non-electrified line (228.7 km) connecting key southeastern hubs Dongdaegu, Yeongcheon, Singyeongju, Pohang, Taehwagang, and Bujeon into double-track electrified rail (208.4 km) according to the national railway network construction plan.

Starting with Busan~Ulsan in 2003, the sections Ulsan~Pohang in 2009, Dongdaegu~Yeongcheon in 2011, and Yeongcheon~Singyeongju in 2015 were sequentially converted to double-track electrified rail and connected.

This 18-year project was completed with a total budget of 6.8271 trillion KRW, constructing 35 stations, 1 train depot, 6 signal stations, 130 bridges, and 59 tunnels.

The Rail Network Authority expects that the opening of the four southeastern project sections will significantly reduce travel times within the region. First, with the opening of this section, the train travel time between Dongdaegu and Bujeon will be shortened by 42 minutes from 190 minutes before opening to 148 minutes after opening, based on the Mugunghwa train.

Additionally, travel times are expected to be reduced as follows: Dongdaegu~Yeongcheon from 34 minutes to 27 minutes, Yeongju~Singyeongju from 39 minutes to 24 minutes, Taehwagang~Singyeongju from 39 minutes to 33 minutes, and Bujeon~Taehwagang from 78 minutes to 64 minutes.

Analysis Data on Expected Effects of the 2024 Jungang Line Opening (KTX-Eum). Provided by Korea Rail Network Authority

In particular, when the double-track electrified line between Dodam and Yeongcheon on the Jungang Line opens in 2024, KTX-Eum operation will be possible from Seoul (Cheongnyangni) to Busan (Bujeon), greatly improving accessibility between the southeastern region and the metropolitan area as an alternative semi-high-speed train route between Cheongnyangni and Bujeon, according to the Rail Network Authority.

The opening of the four southeastern project sections is also expected by the Rail Network Authority to have positive effects on regional economic revitalization as well as environmental and cultural aspects.

First, by establishing a trunk railway network linked with the Gyeongbu Line, Jungang Line, Donghae Line, Gyeongjeon Line, Daegu Line, and Gyeongbu High-Speed Line, the tourism, transportation, and logistics conditions in the southeastern region will improve, helping to revitalize the local economy, the Rail Network Authority expects.

Also, by electrifying all four project sections, electric trains and electric locomotives will operate instead of existing diesel locomotives, significantly reducing air pollutants. After the opening of the double-track electrified line, the existing line (closed line) sites are expected to create space that can be developed into tourist attractions such as rail bikes or used as shared spaces for citizens.

Kim Han-young, Director of the Rail Network Authority, said, “With the opening of the four southeastern railway project sections, the southeastern region can establish a super metropolitan cooperative system through the railway network,” adding, “Based on this, the southeastern region is expected to build a mega city foundation and promote regional economic revitalization.”

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