Gyeongui Line

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Gyeongui Line
Hangul:
경의선
Hanja:
京義線
Revised Romanization: Gyeonguiseon
McCune-Reischauer: Kyŏngŭisŏn

The Gyeongui Line is one of the oldest railway lines in Korea. When the line opened in 1906, it connected Seoul in what is now South Korea to P'yŏngyang and Sinŭiju in what is now North Korea. At Seoul, the line connected with the Gyeongbu Line to Busan, while at Sinŭiju, the line connected with the South Manchuria Railway, linking the Korean railway system to the rest of Asia and Europe.

After the division of Korea in 1945, trains stopped operating between the north and south halves of the country, meaning that southern trains probably terminated at Kaesŏng, which is now in North Korea but was at the time part of the US-administered southern zone. Northern trains would have terminated north of Kaesŏng.

Korail Dorasan Station
Korail Dorasan Station

After the end of the Korean War in 1953, southern trains were cut back to around Munsan (north of Seoul), with northern trains terminating at Kaesŏng. Around the same time, North Korea renamed the P'yŏngyang-Kaesŏng section of the line as the P'yŏngbu (P'yŏngyang + Pusan) Line and the P'yŏngyang-Sinŭiju section as the P'yŏngŭi (P'yŏngyang + Sinŭiju) Line. The DPRK sector is now 100% electrifed, although the double track section spans only from Pyongyang to Sunan International Airport.

Since the summit between the two Koreas in 2000, an effort has slowly been underway to reconnect the Gyeongui Line. Southern passenger service has been extended to Dorasan on the edge of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and tracks have been built across the DMZ itself. In October 2004, the Northern connection from the DMZ to Kaesŏng was finally completed. However, the connection awaits a formal opening, which could arrive at any time.

The Seoul-Imjingang section of the line has frequent passenger service. Mostly Tonggeun, but one regular Saemaeul train is scheduled in timetable.

Station # Station name Transferrable lines Station type Doors open
Yongsan Line 1, Jungang Line, KTX Aboveground
Hyochang (under construction) A'REX(under construction) Aboveground
Gongdeok (under construction) Line 5, Line 6 Underground
Seogang (under construction) Underground
Hongik University Line 2, A'REX(under construction) Underground
Gajwa (under construction) Underground
Seongsan Line 6 Aboveground
Susaek Aboveground
Hwajeon Aboveground
Haengsin Aboveground
Neunggok Aboveground
Daegok Line 3 Aboveground
Goksan Aboveground
Pungsan (under construction) Aboveground
Ilsan Aboveground
Tanhyeon (under construction) Aboveground
Unjeong (under construction) Aboveground
Geumneung Aboveground
Geumchon Aboveground
Wolleung Aboveground
Bongam (under construction) Aboveground
Munsan Aboveground


[edit] See also

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