ASIA: Work has started to complete the a coastal railway corridor along the east coast of the Korean peninsula, linking the rail networks of South and North Korea.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Jeojin station close to the border on January 5, attended by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. This marked the start of construction of a 112 km route running south from Jeojin to meet the South Korean network at Gangneung. The single-track line is expected to cost 2·7tr won to build and is due to open in 2027.
Although located in South Korea, Jeojin is currently only accessible by rail from the north. Construction of the missing section of the Donghae Line is intended to complete a coastal route linking the southern industrial hub of Busan with the North Korean network.
The South Korean government has long-standing plans to run international freight services from Busan to the rest of Asia and Europe via North Korea. Many shippers currently use maritime transport to move their traffic between Busan and ports in eastern Russia, where it is transhipped from onward movement to Europe by rail via the trans-Siberian corridor.
‘With the completion of the missing section of the East Coast line that connects the Korean Peninsula north to south, it will take a new leap forward and lay the foundation for inter-Korean economic cooperation’, Moon explained.
