Chairman & CEO Kim Sang-gyun of Korea National Railway (KR) speaks at a ceremony to open the double-tracked Iksan-Daeya Line on Dec. 10. (Photos: KR)

The Gunjang National Industrial Complex and Gunsan Port are expected to rise as logistics centers in the Pan-Yellow Sea region.

A railway line, linking Gunsan Port Station and New Daeya Station to approach the Gunjang National Industrial Complex, and double-tracking of the Iksan-Daeya Line have been opened to traffic for commercial operation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and Korea National Railway (KR) said a 28.6-km-long railway line leading to the national industrial complex and the double-tracking of the 14.3 km-long Iksan-Daeya Line had been dedicated and opened to traffic for commercial operation with an opening ceremony on Dec. 10.

The Gunsan-New Daeya Line is designed to transport shipments to and from the industrial complex. It has Gunsan Port Station, 19 bridges and four tunnels.

The opening ceremony was held at Gunsan Port Station in compliance with social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A limited number of about 100 people from MOLIT, KR and local autonomous authorities took part in the event.

The two projects, which were launched in December 2012 at once, were finished eight years later. The project on Gunsan Port-New Daeya Line leading to the Gunjang National Industrial Complex cost 616.7 billion won and the other, 494.6 billion won.

With the opening of the new Gunsan Port-New Daeya Line, the conventional cargo handing function of Gunsan Station will be transferred to Gunsan Port Station through which major items such as paper, coal, steel and containers will be shipped to Gwangyang and Busan areas.

Cargo volumes to Gwangyang and Busan areas are estimated to stand at 520 TEUs per day and 132 TEUs per day, respectively. The Gunsan and Gunsan II National Industrial complexes now accommodate about 700 companies, including Doosan Infracore, Tata Daewoo and SeAH Steel.

The opening of Gunsan Port-New Daeya Line allows the shipment of construction machineries, steel and parts to be connected to a nationwide railway network, paving the way for mass transportation and ensuring logistics stability.

The double-tracking of the electrified Iksan-Daeya Line is capable of raising train frequency from 23 occasions to 130 occasions daily.

Fifteen crossings on the line have been upgraded to ensure pedestrians’ safety. The electrified Iksan-Daeya Line is a first part of a project to double-track and electrify the Janghang Line, measuring 118.6 km in length, which will be dedicated by 2024.

The dedication of the whole of the Janghang Line will complement connections with Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan), Janghang (Cheonan-Iksan) and Jeolla (Iksan-Yeosu) lines.

Afterward, Janghang Line, to be linked with the Seohae Line by 2022, and the Wonsi-Sosa Line, which was opened in June 2018, and Sosa-Daegok Line, to be opened by 2021 will be connected with Gyeongui Line to improve West Coast area residents’ access to the Seoul metropolitan area.

Dignitaries, including 2nd Vice Minister Sohn Myung-soo of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), Jeollabuk-do Gov. Song Ha-jin, KR Chairman Kim Sang-gyun, attend a ceremony to open a railway line, linking Gunsan Port Station and New Daeya Station to approach the Gunjang National Industrial Complex.