Korea National Railway (KR) has set aside 708.2 billion won for eight rail projects this year: two new high-speed railway projects and six general projects.
They include projects to build a second double-track route between Pyeongtaek and Osong and the Daejeon North Connection Line.
According to KR, the two high-speed railway projects in the Chungcheong region call for constructing a second double-track route between Pyeongtaek and Osong and the Daejeon North connection line, part of the second phase of the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan) High-speed Railway Project.
The construction of a second double-track route between Pyeongtaek and Osong is designed to expand railway capacity of the 46.4 km-long section between Peyongtaek and Osong, which has been saturated due to the confluence of the Gyeongbu High-speed and Suseo-Pyeongtaek High-speed railway lines.
The planned route is designed to accommodate a speed of up to 400 km per hour. KR will spend 150.5 billion won to launch the project this year, and the route is scheduled to be opened to traffic in 2027.
When the project is finished, it is expected to lower the number of sellouts, which have been occurring on weekends and holidays, by putting more high-speed trains into operation.
The Daejeon North connection line is part of the second phase of the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan) High-speed Railway Project.
The line is a project to build a 5.96 km-long route to improve the north urban section of Daejeon, part of the second phase of the Gyeongbuk High-speed Railway Project. KR will set aside 36.2 billion won to launch the project this year.
After the project is completed, the whole of the Gyeongbuk High-speed Railway Line will be made available for the exclusive operation of high-speed trains, which could lead to improved speed and greater safety.
Six ongoing projects related to the construction of general railroad routes in the Chungcheong region include railroad networks in the Seohae and Jungbu Inland spheres.
KR will spend 521.5 billion won for the implementation of the projects this year.
The Seohae double-tracked electrified railway line project calls for building a 90 km-long route connecting Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, and Songsan, Gyeonggi-do. KR will spend 120.3 billion won this year on the project.
The line is scheduled to be put into operation in the second half of 2024.
The progress of the project is now standing at 92 percent, and work on follow-up sectors, such as tracks and systems are getting under way.
When the project is completed, the line is expected to improve Chungcheongnam-do’s northwestern region’s access to the Seoul metropolitan area, invigorating the regional economy. Commuting between Hongseong and Songsan by train will be curtailed to 40 minutes.
The Icheon-Mungyeong railway line project calls for connecting inland areas of the nation’s central region, such as Chungju and Mungyeong.
The first phase, linking 54 km between Icheon and Chungju, was opened to traffic in December 2021. The second phase, linking 39.2 km between Chungju and Mungyeong, is under construction.
The ongoing project is scheduled to be opened to traffic in the second half of 2024.
KR will set aside 148.7 billion won this year for the project on the follow-up work, such as tracks, systems and buildings. It is progressing at a rate of 84.5 percent.
The Poseung-Pyeongtaek railway line project is a 30.4 km link between Poseung and Pyeongtaek. The first phase, connecting 13.4 km between Oseong and Pyeongtaek, was opened to traffic in February 2015.
The second phase, linking 9.4 km between Anjung and Oseong, is progressing at a rate of 85 percent.
The third stage, connecting 7.6 km between Poseung and Anjung, is expected to be implemented according to the master plan on the nation’s ports.
The Janghang Line (Shinchang-Daeya), double-track railway project calls for connecting 118.6 km between Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, and Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.
The first phase, linking Shinchang and Hongseong, is undertaking work on buildings and systems.
The next phase, progressing at 85 percent, is scheduled to be opened to traffic in the second half of 2024. The second phase, lining Hongseong and Daeya, is scheduled to be put into operation in 2027.
The second phase is getting under way with work on structures, tracks and power sectors. KR will spend 112.1 billion won this year to implement a project to improve an 18.8 km-section between Shinseong and Jupo, part of the second phase of a project to improve the Janghang Line. Work for this year will focus on railway subbase.
After the Janghang Line, double-track, improvement project is completed, it is expected to spur balanced regional development and the development of the region by connecting it with the Seohae, Honnam and Jeolla lines and building a trunk railway network for passenger and logistics in the East Coast axis.
KR Chairman Kim Han-young said, “KR will execute 708.2 billion won for this year’s railway budget involving the Chungcheong region in an effective fashion, contributing to invigorating the regional economy and creating jobs, and planned railway projects will be pushed without interruption so the Chungcheong region can grow into a mega city, an equivalent to the Seoul metropolitan area.”
_평택-오송 2복선화 건설사업노선도.jpg)
