The first railway link for 50 years between the previously hostile countries of North and South Korea was officially completed in June 2003 following a new era of co-operation.
At the end of the Second World War, Korea (a Japanese colony) was split into Communist North and pro-Western South. The railway between the two was cut in 1945, when the Korean Peninsula was divided.
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The situation worsened after the 1950-53 Korean War when all traces of the railways, some built by the Japanese, were removed. Technically, the two Koreas are still at war because the conflict ended in a truce without a peace treaty.
A demilitarised zone (known as the DMZ) has separated the North and South since the war. The DMZ is an ‘no-mans’ area of land, 4km (2.5 miles) wide with a 243km (151 mile) long border strewn with mines and guarded by nearly two million troops on the two sides. The United States has 37,000 troops stationed in South Korea. There is only one crossing point and meeting place in the zone, at Panmunjom truce village near the west coast.
The plan to reconnect the two Koreas with a railway, and adjacent road, was agreed in 2000. A ceremony on 18 September 2002 marked the beginning of construction and another was held on 13 June 2003 to mark its completion. It was the day before the third anniversary of the inter-Korean summit meeting, the first time a South Korean president has ever visited the North. Although the prime use of the railway is intended to be freight, it is also envisaged that it could be used to re-unite families who were separated in the north and south after the 1953 truce.
Reconnection of the Kyongi Line links Seoul (close to the DMZ) with Shinuiju on the Chinese border and the Donghae Line running north-south in the eastern coastal areas. It connects the 70 million people on the Korean peninsula to the Trans-China Railway and Trans-Siberian Railway, the latter creating a route for rail freight to Europe, crucial for South Korea’s export-driven economy. The Trans-Korea railway will reduce transport costs by about a third and cut transit times in half.
The scheme is supported by Russia, traditionally North Korea’s ally. Russia will benefit from the additional rail freight running over its lines.
The project
Under the 2000 agreement, the North pledged to reconnect a 15.3km (9.5 mile) section of the Kyungeui railway from Kaesong station to the DMZ in the north, and the South to build a 1.8km (1.1 miles) section in the DMZ. A two-lane road was built alongside the Kyungeui railway line, also opening in 2003.
Under the latest agreement, North and South Korea restored a 27.5km (17 mile) section of the Donghae line to link the North’s Onjong-ri in the first stage. In the South, Dorasan station is the last South Korean stop on the line and has been the focus of ceremonies.
Infrastructure
The line between Onjong-ri and Jojin on the east coast will be rebuilt as a single-track railway in the first phase.
The boundary railway stations of the two sides will be built separately by the North and South in locations the Governments feel are convenient, outside the DMZ. South Korea chose Dorasan station for its boundary station. The line is built to allow heavy freight with diesel locomotive haulage.
The South supplied the first batch of equipment and materials for the project to the North which are needed to reconnect rail and road links in the North in the east and west coastal areas, through Wonsan and Haeju ports.
The main task was to clear hundreds of land mines to create a safe corridor for the road and railway. Both sides were engaged in this dangerous work. Work started on this task in September 2002.
Rolling stock
North Korea uses older rolling stock, largely supplied by its ally Russia. South Korea’s equipment is more modern but both use coaches hauled by locomotives for long-distance services.
It is expected that initially rolling stock and diesel locomotives will be jointly provided. In the longer term, new trains could be ordered.
Signalling and communications
Initially, the single-track railway is being run as a self-contained operation between two border stations only, and has its own signalling and communications system.
The future
The railway crosses the border on the west coast and if relations between the two countries improve dramatically it could become very busy. The east coast branch provided the shortest route to key port of Wonsan, the Trans-Siberian Railway and Vladivostok. The west coast route is the most direct to reach the Trans-China railway.
Ultimately it has been agreed that the road adjacent to the new railway will be rebuilt with four lanes. An industrial zone is planned to be built in the North at Kaesong, close to the DMZ.
Ultimately the line could be doubled-tracked and upgraded to a high-speed route. Electrification, already used in South Korea, could be extended.
