Donghae Nambu Line

Donghae Nambu Line
Overview
Native name	동해남부선(東海南部線)
Type	Heavy rail, Passenger/freight rail Regional rail, Commuter rail
Status	Integrated
Locale	Busan Ulsan North Gyeongsang
Termini	Busanjin Pohang
Stations	37
Operation
Opened	Stages between 1918–1935
Owner	korea Rail Network Authority
Operator(s)	Korail
Technical
Line length	143.2 km (89.0 mi)
Number of tracks	Single track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV/60 Hz AC Overhead line (Busanjin–Bujeon)
Route map Legend Gyeongbu Line, Uam Line 0.0 Busanjin (Line 1) Gyeongbu Line 2.1 Beomil Gaya Line Bujeon Line 4.6 Bujeon (Line 1) 7.8 Geoje 9.1 Nammungu (Line 1) 10.6 Dongnae 11.9 Allak 13.6 Jaesong 14.9 Suyeong 20.8 Haeundae 23.7 Songjeong ↑Haeundae Busan/Gijang↓ 30.3 Gijang 33.3 Ilgwang 38.6 Jwacheon 42.0 Wolnae ↑Gijang Busan/Ulsan↓ 44.9 Seosaeng Onsan Line 53.4 Namchang 55.0 Oegosan 62.7 Deokha 65.2 Seonam Jangsaengpo Line Ulsanhang Line 70.0 Taehwagang (Former Ulsan) Taehwa River 73.4 Hyomun 79.6 Hogye ↑Ulsan/Gyeongju↓ 86.8 Mohwa 90.7 Ipsil 94.6 Juktong 98.7 Bulguksa 103.2 Dongbang (Signal Box) 109.7 Gyeongju Hyeongsan River Jungang Line 114.8 Nawon 118.5 Cheongnyeong 121.2 Sabang 127.0 Angang 129.9 Yangjadong 132.8 Bujo (Signal Box) ↑Gyeongju/Pohang↓ 139.2 Hyoja Goedong Line 142.0 Yanghaktong 143.2 Pohang 145.2 Haksan

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.^[2] On October 25, 1921, a branch of the Daegu Line from Gyeongju to Ulsan (Taehwagang) was opened.^[1] On 16 December 1935 Busan and Ulsan were linked up through the opening of the section Jwacheon–Ulsan.^[3] 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.^[4]

Upgrade

As of 2010, most of the line remains single-track and unelectrified.^[4] 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.^[5] The section gets a new 72.1 km long alignment^[5] with several tunnels.^[6][7] 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.^[5] The completion of the upgrade is foreseen for 2015.^[5]

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.^[8]

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.^[9] In 2003, a feasibility study was prepared for the section.^[10] Detailed design was started, and in May 2007, the government expected to realise the project from 2008 to 2011 at the earliest.^[11] The project was finally approved by the government on April 23, 2009, and a ground-breaking ceremony was held.^[10] The altogether 76.56 km line was slated to be opened in December 2014, with a total budget of 2,328.899 billion won.^[9][10] In January 2010, the early completion of the Pohang branch was confirmed by the government.^[12]

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.^[13][14] 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.^[15] 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.^[16] 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.^[17] Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the Pohang–Samcheok extension is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h.^[8]

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.^[18] 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.^[18]

After its upgrade is finished, the role of the line as a corridor for freight traffic will be enhanced.^[14]

Busan–Ulsan commuter trains

In the Busan–Ulsan section, plans foresee frequent commuter service after the completion of the upgrade.^[14] Planned stops:

See also

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

References

Korail lines
KTX	Gyeongbu HSR Honam HSR Suseo HSR
Main	Gyeongbu Gyeongjeon Honam Jungang
Regional	Chungbuk Daegu Donghae Donghae Nambu Gwangju Gyeongbuk Gyeongui Gyeongwon Janghang Jeolla Jinhae Taebaek Yeongdong Seohae (u/c) Gyeonggang Line (u/c)
Urban/Rapid	● Bundang ● Gyeongchun Mangu ● Gyeongui–Jungang Yongsan ● Seoul Line 1 Byeongjeom Gyeongin ● Seoul Line 3 Ilsan ● Seoul Line 4 Ansan Gwacheon ● Suin Bujeon–Masan (u/c) Byeollae (u/c) Daegok–Sosa (u/c) Donghae Nambu (u/c) Hanam (u/c) Indeogwon–Suwon (u/c) Jinjeop (u/c) Sinansan (u/c) Sosa–Wonsi (u/c) Gyeonggang (u/c)