Korean network grows as second Seoul – Busan route completed

SOUTH KOREA: The national network has expanded with the opening of two strategic links in recent weeks.

The final 145·1 km section of the upgraded Central main line and the handover of a 166·3 km missing link on the country’s eastern coast has enabled national operator Korail to launch a second route from Seoul to Busan while also introducing services from Daegu and Busan to Gangneung.

Second corridor to Busan

Korail introduced inter-city services on December 20 in the second corridor linking the capital with Busan. This followed a ceremony at Andong station the previous day marking completion of work to rebuild the main line between Dodam and Yeongcheon, a distance of 145 km.

The 328 km Central (Jungang) line now runs from Cheongnyangni station in Seoul to Gyeongju on the existing Gyeongbu high speed line that links Seoul to Busan. The route has been progressively double-tracked and electrified over recent years.

The 4·3tr won project to modernise the Dodam – Yeongcheon section covered electrification, double-tracking and shortening the alignment from 168·1 km to 145·1 km. The maximum line speed was raised to 250 km/h. A continu…