Donghae Nambu Line

Donghae Nambu Line
Korean name
Hangul	동해남부선
Hanja	東海南部線
Revised Romanization	Donghae Nambuseon
McCune–Reischauer	Tonghae Nambusŏn

Gyeongju station.

The Donghae Nambu Line is a railway line connecting Busan to Pohang in South Korea.

The line runs along South Korea's east coast.

History

On October 31, 1918, an extension of the Daegu Line reached Pohang.^[1] The section from Gyeongju to Pohang would become the oldest part of the future Donghae Nambu Line. On October 25, 1921, a branch of the Daegu Line from Gyeongju to Taehwagang was opened.^[1] On December 16, 1935,^[2] Busan and Ulsan were linked up. The new line and the two older sections built as part of the Daegu Line were combined into the new Donghae Nambu Line, with a length of 145.8 km (90.6 mi) from Busanjin to Pohang.^[2]

Upgrade

As of 2010, most of the line remains single-track and unelectrified.^[2] The entire line is to be upgraded to an electrified-double-tracked railway.

Busan-Ulsan

Planning for the upgrading of the line started in 1990 already, with the primary aim to improve commuter traffic; construction started in June 2003.^[3] The section gets a new 72.1 km long alignment^[3] with several tunnels.^[4][5] Korea Rail Network Authority, Busan, and Ulsan city government is undertaking the upgrade. As of 2010, construction progress reached 32% of the total budget of 2,268.9 billion won.^[3] The completion of the upgrade is foreseen for 2015.^[3]

On September 1, 2010, the South Korean government announced a strategic plan to reduce travel times from Seoul to 95% of the country to under 2 hours by 2020. As part of the plan, the Busan-Ulsan section of the Donghae Nambu Line is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h.^[6]

Ulsan–Gyeongju–Pohang

The line is to be replaced by a completely new alignment that circumvents downtown Gyeongju and connects to the Gyeongbu High Speed Railway at Singyeongju Station.^[7] In 2003, a feasibility study was prepared for the section.^[8] Detailed design was started, and in May 2007, the government expected to realise the project from 2008 to 2011 at the earliest.^[9] The project was finally approved by the government on April 23, 2009, and a ground-breaking ceremony was held.^[8] The altogether 76.56 km line was slated to be opened in December 2014, with a total budget of 2,328.899 billion won.^[7][8] In January 2010, the early completion of the Pohang branch was confirmed by the government.^[10] Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the Ulsan–Pohang section is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h.^[6]

Pohang–Samcheok extension

At the time of thawing relations between South and North Korea, when the cross-border section of the Donghae Bukbu Line was reopened in 2007, the South Korean government considered the construction of a railway for freight traffic all along the east coast to the North Korean border.^[11][12] As part of the corridor, a new single-track, non-electrified line for 150 km/h would connect Pohang and Samcheok, the end of a branch of the Yeongdong Line.^[13] new line is to connect to the existing railhead at Samcheok. Work started on the Pohang-Yeongdeok section on March 20, 2008, with a foreseen budget of 2,949.5 billion won for the entire line until Samcheok.^[14] As of 2009, progress reached 5.9% of a planned budget reduced to 2,831.749 billion won, and completion of the 171.3 km long project was planned for 2016.^[15] Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the Pohang–Samcheok extension is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h.^[6]

Stations

Major stations and junctions along the line include (in order):

• Busan Station, terminus of the Gyeongbu Line;
• Busanjin, also on the Gyeongbu Line, just north of Busan Station;
• Beomil, terminus of the Gaya Line;
• Bujeon Station, terminus of the Bujeon Line;
• Dongnae
• Haeundae, a popular resort beach in eastern Busan;
• Gijang
• Namchang, terminus of the Onsan Line;
• Taehwagang (formerly Ulsan), major industrial city and terminus of the Jangsaengpo and Ulsanhang Lines;
• Gyeongju, historic city and terminus of the Jungang Line;
• Hyoja, terminus of the Goedong Line; and
• Pohang, seaport and industrial city.

Services

The line sees passenger and freight traffic. As of October 2010, from Bujeon Station in Busan, cross-country Mugunghwa-ho trains travel in around 1 hour 25 minutes to Ulsan and in around 2 hours 40 minutes to Pohang.^[16] Via the Gyeongbu, Daegu and Jungang Lines, Pohang and Ulsan are connected to Seoul with both intercity Saemaul-ho and cross-country Mugunghwa-ho services. As of 2010, the shortest travel times from Seoul to Pohang are around 5 hours 15 minutes by direct Saemaul service and around 3 hours 40 minutes with transfer to KTX trains at Dongdaegu.^[16]

After its upgrade is finished, the role of the line as a corridor for freight traffic will be enhanced.^[12]

KTX

Plans foresee direct KTX high-speed train service from Seoul to Pohang and Ulsan after the completion of the upgrades. From 2015, direct KTX trains are to reach Pohang from Seoul in 1 hour 50 minutes, cutting 33 minutes from the travel time with transfer at Singyeongju.^[17] Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the entire line may see KTX service.^[6]

Busan–Ulsan commuter trains

In the Busan–Ulsan section, plans foresee frequent commuter service after the completion of the upgrade.^[12] Planned stops:

See also

• Korail; South Korea's national railroad operator
• List of Korea-related topics
• Transportation in South Korea

References