Wikipedia

Jungang line

For other uses, see Central line (disambiguation).

The Jungang line (Korean: 중앙선; Hanja: 中央線; lit. Central line) is a railway line connecting Cheongnyangni in Seoul to Moryang in Gyeongju in South Korea, traversing central South Korea from the northwest to the southeast. It is also referred to as the rail line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway from Yongsan station to Jipyeong station. The section from Cheongnyangni to Dodam was designated as a semi-high-speed railway.

Jungang line
Overview
Native name중앙선(中央線)
StatusOperational
OwnerKorea Rail Network Authority
LocaleSeoul
Gyeonggi
Gangwon (South Korea)
North Chungcheong
North Gyeongsang
Termini
Stations56
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Passenger/freight rail
Regional rail, Commuter rail, Intercity rail
Operator(s)Korail
History
OpenedStages between 1918–1942
Technical
Line length323 km (201 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV/60 Hz AC Overhead line
Route map

Legend
Suin–Bundang Line Gyeongui–Jungang Line
Cheongnyangni Rail Yard
0.0
 Cheongnyangni Suin–Bundang Line Gyeongchun Line
1.4
 Hoegi Gyeongchun Line
Gyeongwon Line (to KU st.)→
Jungnang stream
3.2
 Jungnang
Mangu Line
4.0
 Sangbong
Gyeongchun Line
4.6
 Mangu
Gyeongchun Line
Gyeongchun Line (to Chuncheon)
6.3
 Yangwon
↑Seoul/Guri↓
Donggyo Signal Box
closed in 2005
9.5
 Guri
↑Guri/Namyangju↓
CRFRE
11.2
 Donong
14.9
 Yangjeong
Seoul–Yangyang Expressway
17.2
 Deokso
18.7
 Dosim
22.9
 Paldang
Neungnae
closed 2008
29.3
 Ungilsan
Bukhan River
↑Namyangju/Yangpyeong↓
31.2
 Yangsu
35.9
 Sinwon
38.8
 Guksu
42.9
 Asin
Central inland Expressway
45.7
 Obin
47.9
 Yangpyeong
53.7
 Wondeok
Samsung Tunnel
Yongmun Tunnel
58.5
 Yongmun
←Yongmun Rail Yard
Songhyun Tunnel
62.1
 Jipyeong
Jipyeong Tunnel
65.0
 Seokbul
Mangmi Tunnel
Gudun Tunnel
68.5
 Gudun/Ilsin
Jisan Tunnel
Mibong Tunnel
Maewol Tunnel
72.3
 Maegok
Seogok stream
75.3
 Yangdong
Samsan Tunnel
↑Yangpyeong/Wonju↓
79.2
 Samsan/Pandae
until 2011
Seom River
Ganhyeon
closed 2011
86.4
 Seowonju
88.3
 Donghwa
Yeongdong Expressway
93.0
 Manjong
Gangneung Line (to Gangneung)→
94.7
97.9
 Wonju
103.8
 Yugyo Signal box
107.2
 Bangok
Segyo,Geumdae Tunnel
111.2
 Geumgyo Signal box
spiral "Ddwari Tunnel"
117.0
 Chiak
Chiak hill
Garapa, Dunchang Tunnel
122.3
 Changgyo Signal Box
125.4
 Sillim
↑Wonju/Jecheon↓
110.4
 Unhak Signal box
129.0
 Yeongyo Signal Box
Hakjeon Tunnel
133.5
 Guhak
←Chungbuk Line (to Chungju)
125.2
 Bongyang
Jungang Expressway
129.7
 Jecheon Rail Yard
132.1
144.6
 Jecheon
Taebaek Line (to Yeongwol)→
136.0
 Gomyeong
↑Jecheon/Danyang↓
141.2
 Samgok
148.5
160.5
 Dodam
Hagoe Tunnel
Namhan River
154.5
 Danyang
Simgok, Hyuncheon Tunnel
171.4
 Danseong
Danseong emergency line
Daegang Tunnel
Ttoari-gul (spiral tunnel)
179.6
 Jungnyeong Signal Box
Jungnyeong Tunnel
↑Danyang/Yeongju↓
187.4
 Huibangsa
175.9
 Punggi
199.7
 Anjeong Signal Box
186.9
 North Yeongju Signal box
North Yeongju Triangular Junction
Yeongdong Line (to Donghae)
188.3
207.0
 Yeongju
←Gyeongbuk line (to Gimcheon)
212.0
 Munsu
Seungmun
closed 2013
Naesrong stream
Pyeongeun
closed 2013
↑Yeongju/Andong↓
bukhu Tunnel/Songwonri Tunnel
formal Ongcheon St.
closed 2013
206.1
 Ongcheon Signal box
Jangi Tunnel
229.1
 Masa
Juha Tunnel
233.5
 Iha
236.1
 Seoji Signal Box
219.4
242.3
 Andong
←formal Gyeongbuk line
Nakdong River
249.7
 Mureung
256.5
 Unsan
232.2
 Mangho Signal box
↑Andong/Uiseong↓
262.0
 Danchon
Dangjin–Yeongdeok Expressway
Eopdong Tunnel
241.1
 Eopdong Signal Box
245.4
 Uiseong
251.7
 Bibong Signal Box
257.1
 Tap-ri
Cheongro Tunnel
↑Uiseong/Gunwi↓
265.7
 Ubo
wi stream
273.7
 Hwabon
279.1
 Bongnim Signal box
↑Gunwi/Yeongcheon↓
Orim Tunnel
283.9
 Gaphyeon Signal Box
Sangju-Yeongcheon Expressway
288.9
 Sinnyeong
295.3
 Hwasan
Iksan–Pohang Expressway
303.4
 Yeongcheon
←Daegu Line (to Daegu)
305.9
 Yeongcheon
Wansan Tunnel
311.1
 Songpo Signal Box
Sangju-Yeongcheon Expressway
315.2
 Impo
Goji Tunnel
↑Yeongcheon/Gyeongju↓
321.1
 Ahwa
National Route 20
327.0
 Geoncheon
330.9
 Moryang
Donghae line (to Pohang)
335.5
 Yuldong Signal Box
Dae stream
343.1
 Seogyeongju
Donghae Nambu Line (to Pohang)
Hyeongsan River
348.2
 Gyeongju
Donghae Line (to Ulsan, Busan)

History

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The Jungang line was opened along its full length between Cheongnyangni and Gyeongju on April 1, 1942.[1] Jungang means "central" in Korean, and describes the line's route through the mountains in the east-central part of South Korea. When Korea was under Japanese rule, the line was briefly known as the Gyeonggyeong Line, referring to a line running between Seoul and Gyeongju.

On 1 December 1938 'Donghae Jungbu line' (Daegu–Haksan) was divided into three parts: Daegu Line, the Gyeongygeong line and Donghae Jungbu line, which was later merged into the Donghae Nambu Line.[2] At the same time the Gyeonggyeong line was extended to the Ubo Station. The southern part, Gyeonggyeong Nambu Line, was opened as follows:

Date Section Length
1 December 1938 Yeongcheon–Ubo 40.1 km
1 March 1940 Ubo–Gyeongbuk Andong (Andong) 48.9 km
1 July 1941 Gyeongbuk Andong–Yeongju 38.7 km

On the other hand, the northern part, Gyeonggyeong Bukpu Line, was constructed as follows:

Date Section Length
1 April 1939 East Gyeongseong (Cheongnyangni)–Yangpyeong 52.5 km
1 April 1940 Yangpyeong–Wonju 55.9 km
1 July 1941 Wonju–Jecheon 46.8 km

On 1 April 1942, the two lines were merged into the Gyeonggyeong Line with the opening of the section Jechon–Yeongju (62.3 km).[3] The name of the line was changed back to its present name after the end of World War II.

Following the 1961 coup, the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction started South Korea's first five-year plan, which included a construction program to complete the railway network and foster economic growth.[4] As part of the program, in the outskirts of Seoul, a 4.9 km (3.0 mi) long avoiding line was built from Mangu to Seongbuk on the Gyeongwon Line, called the Mangu Line, which opened on December 30, 1963.[4]

Upgrade

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A part of the line was the first to be electrified with the 25 kV/60 Hz AC catenary system in South Korea: the catenary on the 155.2 km long Cheongnyangri–Jecheon section went into service on June 20, 1973.[5] The 29.0 km long extension to Danseong followed on December 30, 1987, finally the 35.0 km long extension to Yeongju on December 23, 1988.[5]

The entire line is foreseen for electrification and double-tracking.[6]

Phase 1: Cheongnyangni–Deokso

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The double-tracking of the 18.0 km long section from the terminus Cheongnyangni to Deokso was completed first on December 16, 2005.[5] Work started in mid-2001 with a planned budget of 1,700 billion won.[7]

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 Cheongnyangri–Wonju section of the Jungang Line is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h.[8]

Phase 2: Deokso-Wonju

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The first 5.7 km to Paldang was opened on December 27, 2007,[5] the next 15.9 km to Guksu on December 29, 2008,[5] and another 19.7 km to Yongmun on December 23, 2009.[9] The total budget of the 90.4&km long upgrade project is 2,036.847 billion won.[9]

The upgrade of the Deokso–Wonju section is more extensive, with significant re-alignments[9] to enable a line speed of 150 km/h.[10][7]

Phase 3: Wonju–Jecheon Electrified Double Track Line Project

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The Wonju–Jecheon Electrified Double Track Line Project was launched in 2011, connecting Seowonju station at Wonju and Bongyang station at Jecheon. Between Seowonju and Bongyang, the double-track line was to run in a new alignment, most of which would be the 25,080 metre long Musil Tunnel.[6][11] Works on the tunnel was slated to commence in June 2011, for a planned start of service on the Wonju-Jecheon section in January 2021. Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the new alignment in the Wonju–Bongyang section was to be laid out for 250 km/h, the rest to Jecheon was to be upgraded for 230 km/h.[8] The new alignment was to reduce line distance by 5.5 km and was to cut travel time by 20 minutes.[6] The project budget for the entire 41.1 km Wonju-Jecheon section was 1,140.061 billion won.[12]

Later, the plan was redesigned to build two tunnels instead of single long tunnel, to improve safety. On June 22, 2020, construction was completed and Korean National Railway(KR) started trial running.[13] Commercial running would started at January 5, 2021.

Plans for the double-tracking of the section from Bongyang, the terminus of the Chungbuk Line, to Jecheon, have been prepared separately.[14]

Phase 4: Dodam-Yeongcheon

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Jecheon-Dodam Section

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The Jecheon–Dodam section was double-tracked.[15][16] The rebuilt section is 17.4 km in length, was built with a budget of 320.024 billion won, and is primarily intended to improve capacity for freight transports to a cement factory.[17] The project was completed on 31 March 2011.

Dodam–Andong Section

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The reconstruction of the Dodam–Andong section as an electrified double-track line started in December 2013. The section includes the realignment of the Danyang–Yeongju section, which opened as a single-track section on 13 December 2020. The Yeongju–Danchon section, another re-alignment, opened as single-track on 17 December 2020. The electrified and double-tracked Dodam–Danyang section opened in 5 January 2021, the second track on the Danyang–Yeongju section opened on 30 June 2022, finally the second track on the Yeongju–Danchon section and the electrified and double-tracked Danchon–Andong section opened on 28 July 2022. Operation of the entire section at the maximum line speed started only in December 2023.

Andong-Yeongcheon Section

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This section was originally planned to open in the summer 2022 as electrified single-track line, prepared for later double-tracking. In December 2021, the decision was made to complete the section as a double-track line, with opening planned in Late 2024. Construction started in December 2022 and completed on 20 December 2024. After 23 years, the whole Jungang Line became fully double-tracked and electrified.

Phase 5: Yeongcheon-Singyeongju

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Electrification and doubling in this section were completed on December 28, 2021.[18]

Services

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KTX service

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KTX service was launched on 5 January 2021. Since Jungang Line is not a dedicated high-speed line, the new rolling-stock KTX-Eum was adopted.[19][20] KTX service was expanded to Bujeon station on Dec. 20, 2024. The time required is around four hours.[21]

 
Jungang KTX Route Map

Regular rail service

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Before the KTX era, trans-Korean Tongil-ho trains were in operation on the Jungang and Donghae Nambu lines, providing a 12-hour train journey from Seoul to Busan.

The entire line is served by cross-country Mugunghwa-ho trains, which are most frequent until Jecheon, where many trains continue east on the Taebaek Line. As of October 2010, the travel time from Cheongnyangni in Seoul is a minimum of 1 hour 18 minutes to Wonju, 2 hours 2 minutes to Jecheon, around 3 hours to Yeongju, 5 hours 22 minutes to Yeongcheon, and 6 hours 8 minutes to Gyeongju. Some trains continue to Bujeon station in Busan, with a total travel time of 8 hours by day and 20 minutes shorter by night.[22] After 20 December 2024, the Mugunghwa-ho were replaced by ITX-Maum.

Seoul Metropolitan Subway

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Main article: Gyeongui–Jungang Line

Commuter rail service was launched on Jungang line (fully integrated with the Seoul Metropolitan Subway) as the upgrading of the line progressed.[10][7] The service started on December 16, 2005, connecting parts of the Gyeongwon Line (from Yongsan to Hoegi Station) and the Jungang line (from Hoegi to Deokso) under the interim name Yongsan–Deokso Line.

An extension to Paldang Station on December 27, 2007, brought the official renaming of the service to Jungang line, although the line actually incorporates parts of both Gyeongwon and Jungang lines. In December 2008, the service was extended to Guksu Station, and an express train service was launched, operating twice a day during morning commuting hours. The express trains ran westward only, from Yangpyeong to Yongsan. The service was finally extended to Yongmun station in Yangpyeong County on December 23, 2009.[9]

The western terminus was Yongsan station ever since the opening of the line. However, with the completion of Gyeongui Line extension to Yongsan on December 27, 2014, both the Jungang and Gyeongui lines were combined into the "Gyeongui-Jungang Line," and trains now run to Munsan station near the North Korean border.[23]

Stations

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This list does not include stations served only by Gyeongui-Jungang Line services.

Station number
(Seoul Subway) 		Station Hangeul Hanja Services
K117 Cheongnyangni 청량리 淸凉里 Seoul Metropolitan Subway:  
  ITX-Saemaeul services
  Mugunghwa-ho services
DMZ Train
K126 Deokso 덕소 德沼   Mugunghwa-ho services (limited service)
K135 Yangpyeong 양평 楊平   ITX-Saemaeul services
  Mugunghwa-ho services
K137 Yongmun 용문 龍門   Mugunghwa-ho services (limited service)
K138 (terminus) Jipyeong 지평 砥平   Mugunghwa-ho services (limited service)

After Jipyeong, major stations on the line include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "경영원칙 > 경영공시 > 영업현황 > 영업거리현황". Korail. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  2. ^ 朝鮮総督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 3558, 28 November 1938
  3. ^ 朝鮮総督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 4536, 13 March 1942
  4. ^ a b "철마 110년, 영고의 자취 [12] 경제개발과 철도" (in Korean). Silvernet News. 2010-03-20. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Electricity Almanac 2009" (PDF). Korea Electric Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  6. ^ a b c 원주~제천 중앙선 복선전철 2011년 6월 착공 (in Korean). Yahoo!. 2010-09-09. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  7. ^ a b c "South Korea's growing network". Railway Gazette International. 2008-09-08. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  8. ^ a b "Bullet trains coming to a town near you by 2020". JoongAng Daily. 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  9. ^ a b c d "덕소~원주 복선전철". Korea Rail Network Authority. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  10. ^ a b "Korea's railways face a bright future". International Railway Journal. 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  11. ^ "Feasibility study and basic plan of Jungang line for double track between Wonju and Jecheon". Chunsuk Engineering. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  12. ^ "원주~제천 복선전철". Korea Rail Network Authority. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  13. ^ "중앙선 원주~제천 복선전철 시운전 돌입…연말 개통".
  14. ^ "Basic and detailed design of roadbed for electrified double track on Jungang line (Bongyang～Jecheon)". Chunsuk Engineering. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  15. ^ "Basic design of railway construction for double track on Jungang Line (Jecheon～Dodam)". Chunsuk Engineering. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  16. ^ "Design/Construction Package of Jungang Double Track Line (Jecheon - Dodam)". Sambo Engineering. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  17. ^ "제천~도담 복선전철 (노반,궤도 턴키공사)". Korea Rail Network Authority. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  18. ^ choi, Jaeyong (2021-12-28). "Era of electrified double-track railway opens in Daegu, Jungang, Donghaenambu line after 100 years" (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  19. ^ Lim Chang-won (January 4, 2021). "S. Korea's high-speed electrical train 'KTX-Eum' makes commercial debut". Aju Business Daily. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  20. ^ "Korail orders high-speed trains from Hyundai-Rotem". Railway Journal. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  21. ^ 청량리~제천~부산... '제2 경부선' 철도 개통. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 20 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Booking". Korail. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  23. ^ "[수도권II] "경의선 효창정거장 부지 220m 때문에…"" ((Korean Language)). Chosun. 2011-08-25. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
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