Donghae Line

The Donghae Line (Korean: 동해선) is a railway line connecting Busanjin station to Yeongdeok in South Korea. The literal meaning of its name, the "East Sea Line," reflects its position along the nation's East coast. It merged with the Donghae Nambu Line on December 30, 2016, and will merge with the Donghae Bukbu Line.

Donghae Line
Korail Class 381000
Overview
Native name	동해선 (東海線)
Status	Operational
Owner	Korea Rail Network Authority
Locale	Busan Ulsan North Gyeongsang
Termini	Busanjin Yeongdeok
Stations	37
Service
Type	Commuter rail Regional rail Intercity rail
System	Busan Metro (Bujeon–Taehwagang)
Operator(s)	Korail
Rolling stock	Hyundai Rotem Class 381000 series
History
Opened	April 2, 2015
Technical
Line length	188.3 km (117.0 mi)
Number of tracks	2 (Busanjin–Pohang) 1 (Pohang–Yeongdeok)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV/60 Hz AC Overhead line
Korean name
Hangul	동해선
Hanja	東海線
Revised Romanization	Donghaeseon
McCune–Reischauer	Tonghaesŏn
Route map Legend Busan 0.0 Busanjin ←Uam Line Gyeongbu Line (to Daegu)→ 2.1 Beomil/Gaya Gaya Line→ 4.6 Bujeon to Uam Line 6.9 Geojehaemaji 7.9 Geoje, transfer to BML 8.6 BNU, transfer to BML Oncheon stream 9.8 Dongnae 10.7 Allak 12.0 Busanwondong 13.0 Jaesong 14.0 Centum 15.4 BEXCO, transfer to BML Jangsan Tunnel haeundae Tunnel 19.9 Sinhaeundae Songjeong Tunnel Mipo crossing Cheongsapo crossing 22.8 Songjeong 23.9 OSIRIA 29.6 Gijang 32.6 Ilgwang 37.9 Jwacheon 41.3 Wollae ↑Busan/Ulsan↓ 44.2 Seosaeng Magun Tunnel Jindong Tunnel ←Onsan Line 52.7 Namchang Oegosan Onsan 56.6 Mangyang Hoeya stream ← Ulsan New Harbor Line (Ulsan Rail Yard) 62.0 Deokha 64.5 Gaeunpo ←Ulsan Harbor Line 68.4 Taehwagang Taehwa River Old Ulsan Byeongyeong Hyomun 78.1 Bugulsan Hogye Ulsan/Gyeongju Mohwa 89.8 Oedong Signal box Ipsil Donghae Expressway Jukdong Gyeongbu HSR (to Busan)→ Bulguksa Dongbang Old Gyeongju (~2021) 110.3 Gyeongju Gyeongbu HSR (to Busan)→ 114.7 Moryang Signal box Jungang Line (to Yeongcheon)→ 122.9 Seogyeongju (Hyeongsan River) Geumjang Triple Line Nawon Cheongnyeong Sabang 133.7 Angang Yangjadong 139.5 Bujo Signal box ←goedong Line Hyoja goedong/ Yanghakdong 149.7 Pohang Haksan Heunghae Town ←Yeongil Bay Harbor Line 165.0 Wolpo 174.1 Jangsa 181.7 Ganggu 188.3 Yeongdeok

Stations

Major stations along the line include (in order):

• Bujeon station, terminal station of the line and terminus of the Bujeon Line
• Sinhaeundae station, a popular resort beach in eastern Busan
• Gijang station
• Taehwagang station (formerly Ulsan), major industrial city and terminus of the Jangsaengpo and Ulsanhang Lines
• Gyeongju station (Singyeongju), historic city
• Pohang station, seaport and industrial city
• BEXCO station, where the G-Star gaming event is held

Services

KTX

Plans foresee direct KTX high-speed train service from Seoul to Pohang and Ulsan after the completion of the upgrades. From 2015, direct KTX trains are to reach Pohang from Seoul in 1 hour 50 minutes, cutting 33 minutes from the travel time with transfer at Gyeongju.^[1] Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the entire line may see KTX service.^[2]

Busan–Ulsan commuter trains

In the Busan–Ulsan section, higher frequency commuter rail service between Bujeon and Ilgwang began on December 30, 2016. Service operates approximately every 15 minutes during the peak periods and 30 minutes during the off-peak. The line is integrated into the Busan Metro network and accepts the Hanaro Card and Digital Busan Card, as well as the T-Money card from Seoul.

Station #	Station name	Transferable lines	Station type	Doors open
K110	Bujeon	Mugunghwa-ho & ITX-Saemaeul services	Aboveground	Either, depending on which side the train stops
K111	Geojehaemaji		Aboveground	Left
K112	Geoje	Line 3	Aboveground	Left
K113	Busan Nat'l Univ. of Edu.	Line 1	Aboveground	Left
K114	Dongnae		Aboveground	Left
K115	Allak		Aboveground	Left
K116	Busanwondong		Aboveground	Left
K117	Jaesong		Aboveground	Left
K118	Centum	Mugunghwa-ho services (limited service)	Aboveground	Left
K119	BEXCO	Line 2	Aboveground	Left
K120	Sinhaeundae	Mugunghwa-ho & ITX-Saemaeul services	Semi-underground	Left
K121	Songjeong		Aboveground	Left
K122	OSIRIA		Aboveground	Left
K123	Gijang	Mugunghwa-ho services	Aboveground	Left
K124	Ilgwang		Aboveground	Left
K125	Jwacheon		Aboveground	Left
K126	Wollae		Aboveground	Left
K127	Seosaeng		Aboveground	Left
K128	Namchang	Mugunghwa-ho services	Aboveground	Left
K129	Mangyang		Aboveground	Left
K130	Deokha		Aboveground	Left
K131	Gaeunpo		Aboveground	Left
K132	Taehwagang	Mugunghwa-ho services	Aboveground	Either, depending on which side the train stops
K133	Bugulsan (2025)	Mugunghwa-ho services

Upgrade

Pohang–Samcheok extension

At the time of thawing relations between South and North Korea, when the cross-border section of the Donghae Bukbu Line was reopened in 2007, the South Korean government considered the construction of a railway for freight traffic all along the east coast to the North Korean border.^[3][4] As part of the corridor, a new single-track, non-electrified line for 150 km/h (93 mph) would connect Pohang and Samcheok, the end of a branch of the Yeongdong Line.^[5] new line is to connect to the existing railhead at Samcheok. Work started on the Pohang-Yeongdeok section on March 20, 2008, with a foreseen budget of 2,949.5 billion won for the entire line until Samcheok.^[6] As of 2009, progress reached 5.9% of a planned budget reduced to 2,831.749 billion won, and completion of the 171.3 km (106.4 mi) long project was planned for 2016.^[7] Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the Pohang–Samcheok extension is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h (140 mph).^[2]

See also

• Korail; South Korea's national railroad operator
• Transportation in South Korea
• Donghae Nambu Line
• Donghae Bukbu Line

References

1. 2015년 포항~서울 2시간에 달린다 (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 2010-02-04. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
2. "Bullet trains coming to a town near you by 2020". JoongAng Daily. 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
3. "Trans-Korean Railway" (PDF). Korean Rail Technology (English). 9: 09–11. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-14. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
4. "South Korea's growing network". Railway Gazette International. 2008-09-08. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
5. "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.
6. 포항~삼척 166km 철도 오늘 첫 삽 (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 2008-03-20. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-10-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
7. 포항~삼척 철도건설. Korea Rail Network Authority. Retrieved 2010-10-24.

External links

• Korail (in Korean)