Korea Rail Network Authority to Begin Double-Tracking Construction on Andong~Yeongcheon Section Next Month

Dodam~Yeongcheon Double-Track Railway Project Overview. Provided by Korea Rail Network Authority

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Rail Network Authority announced on the 28th that it will begin double-tracking construction on the Andong~Yeongcheon section (71.3 km) of the Jungang Line next month.

The Andong~Yeongcheon section is part of the Jungang Line Dodam~Yeongcheon double-track electrification construction project (145.1 km), which is scheduled to open in 2024. Following a re-evaluation of the project plan's appropriateness last year, the plan was changed from a single-track electrification with double-track subgrade to full double-track.

Single-track electrification with double-track subgrade is a railway construction method where the subgrade is built for double tracks, but the track, power, and signaling systems are implemented as single track.

Currently, the subgrade work on the Andong~Yeongcheon section is nearing completion. According to the plan change, the Rail Network Authority will start double-tracking construction for track, power, and signaling communication on this section next month, completing the entire Dodam~Yeongcheon section as double track and opening it in 2024.

Once the double-track electrification project is completed, travel time from Jecheon to Yeongcheon is expected to be reduced by 89 minutes, from the original 2 hours 23 minutes (Mugunghwa train) to 54 minutes (KTX-Eum).

Additionally, the track capacity between Andong and Yeongcheon will increase from 63 to 189 trips per day.

Kim Han-young, Director of the Rail Network Authority, said, “With the double-tracking of the entire Andong~Yeongcheon section, transportation capacity will increase, and the existing transportation system centered on the Gyeongbu Line will be dualized into the Gyeongbu Line axis and the Jungang Line axis, which is expected to increase the railway logistics share.” He added, “The Rail Network Authority will proceed with the remaining construction processes without delay to open the entire Jungang Line double-track electrification section in 2024.”

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