Korea Rail Network Authority, Bulk Bidding for Section 10 of the Southern Inland Railway

The Korea Rail Network Authority announced on the 28th that it will issue a design-build lump-sum contract for Section 10 of the Southern Inland Railway (Gimcheon~Geoje).

Southern Inland Railroad Project Route Plan. Provided by Korea Rail Network Authority

Section 10 is the final section of the Southern Inland Railway construction project. The Rail Network Authority plans to issue a lump-sum bid (announcement) next month for the design and construction of the main line, stations, and railway vehicle depot in the Geoje city section, which is the terminus of the Southern Inland Line.

Sections 1 to 9 are currently underway with basic and detailed designs, aiming to be completed by June next year.

The Southern Inland Railway is a project to connect 177.9 km between Gimcheon and Geoje with a single-track electrified railway, establishing a new rail network linking the Seoul metropolitan area with the inland regions of Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk and the southern coast. The project is expected to cost 4.943 trillion KRW.

The Rail Network Authority expects that upon completion, direct operation without transfers will be possible from Seoul/Suseo to Geoje/Masan, reducing travel time between Seoul and Jinju from 3 hours 27 minutes to 2 hours 9 minutes by high-speed train, shortening the time by 1 hour 18 minutes.

It is also anticipated that travel to Geoje will take only 2 hours 34 minutes.

Above all, the Rail Network Authority foresees that this project will enhance accessibility between the Seoul metropolitan area and western Gyeongnam, revitalizing the southern coastal tourism industry and generating regional-based jobs.

Kim Han-young, Director of the Rail Network Authority, said, “The Southern Inland Railway is a key line contributing to national balanced development and will help connect the entire country into a daily living zone through railways.” He added, “Through this project, we expect increased human and material exchanges to the western Yeongnam region and revitalization of the southern coastal tourism industry.”

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