Gyeongbuk Line

Gyeongbuk Line
Overview
Native name	경북선(慶北線)
Status	Operational
Owner	Korea Rail Network Authority
Locale	North Gyeongsang
Termini	Gimcheon Yeongju
Stations	12
Service
Type	Heavy rail, Passenger/freight rail Regional rail
Operator(s)	Korail
History
Opened	Stages between 1924 - 1966
Technical
Line length	115.2 km (71.6 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map Template:BS-map

Gyeongbuk Line
Hangul	경북선
Hanja	慶北線
Revised Romanization	Gyeongbukseon
McCune–Reischauer	Kyŏngbuksŏn

Southbound freight on the Gyeongbuk Line, south of Jeomchon Station

The Gyeongbuk Line (Gyeongbukseon) is a railway line serving North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. The line runs from Gimcheon on the Gyeongbu Line via Sangju, Yeomchon (junction with the Mungyeong Line), and Yecheon to Yeongju on the Jungang Line.

History

The first section of the line was opened on October 1, 1924, between Gimcheon and Jeomchon. Still under Japanese occupation, the line was extended to Andong in October 1937, but that section was dismantled to use the material elsewhere as Japan's military faced material shortages during 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, to foster economic growth. Under the program, the Gyeongbuk Line was extended to Yeongju, to create a connection both with the Jungang Line and the Yeongdong Line, allowing the transport of coal from the latter. Work began in May 1962, the 28.9 km (18.0 mi) from Jeomchon to Yecheon was opened in January 1966, the 29.7 km (18.5 mi) from Yecheon to Yeongju was opened on October 10, 1966. The complete line is 115.2 km (71.6 mi) long, and remains single-tracked and unelectrified.

A 22.3 km (13.9 mi) long branch from Jeomchon to Mungyeong, the Mungyeong Line, was opened on May 10, 1969.

Operation

As of 2010, the line is served by both passenger and freight trains along its entire length, as is the Mungyeong branch. As of November 2010, the line is served by Mugunghwa cross-country trains from Busan and Dongdaegu, which travel in 2 hours 12 minutes from Gimcheon to Yeongju.

See also

• Korean National Railroad
• List of Korea-related topics