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Gyeongchun Line

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The Gyeongchun Line is a regional rail line between Seoul and Chuncheon, South Korea, operated by Korail. Its name is derived from Gyeong (京, meaning the capital, Seoul) and Chuncheon. It was completely reconstructed in the 2000s. Service on it has operated between Sangbong station on the Jungang Line in eastern Seoul and Chuncheon station, as part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system, since December 21, 2010. A class of regional rail service named ITX-Cheongchun began operations on February 28, 2012, linking Chuncheon to Cheongnyangni and Yongsan Stations.

Gyeongchun Line
Overview
Native name경춘선(京春線)
Gyeongchunseon
StatusOperational
OwnerKorea Rail Network Authority
LocaleSeoul
Gyeonggi
Gangwon (South Korea)
Termini
Stations20
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Passenger rail
Commuter rail, Intercity rail
SystemSeoul Metropolitan Subway,
Operator(s)Korail
Rolling stockClass 361000, ITX-Cheongchun, Mugunghwa-ho
History
OpenedJuly 20, 1939 (original route)
December 21, 2010 (realigned route)
ClosedDecember 20, 2010 (original route)
Technical
Track length80.7 km (50.1 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification25 kV/60 Hz AC catenary
Operating speed180 km/h (112 mph)

History

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The original Gyeongchun Line was opened along its full length of 87.3 km (54.2 mi) between Kwangwoon University on the Gyeongwon Line to Chuncheon by the privately owned Gyeongchun Railway on 20 July 1939.[1][2] Chuncheon was the most popular destination for students on orientation trips, bringing passengers to the line.[3] Following the Liberation of Korea, all railways, including the Gyeongchun Railway, were nationalised.

Upgrade

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The line was upgraded into an electrified and double-tracked line for 180 km/h (112 mph).[3][4][5] Between Geumgok and Chuncheon, from 1997 until 2010, the line was re-laid in a straighter, 64.2 km long alignment with a budget of 2.151,931 billion won.[6] The remaining 17.9 km of the upgraded line was built with a separate budget of 574.124 billion won.[7] Towards Seoul, after Toegyewon station, this section of the new line diverges from the old alignment that ended in Seongbuk, and connects to the Jungang Line at Mangu station.[7]

The new alignment was originally planned to be opened in 2004, but completion of the works was delayed for various reasons, including lack of funds.[5] The complete new alignment opened and the old one closed on December 21, 2010.[3]

 
Upgrade of Gyeongchun Line
(Former alignment with red line and current alignment with blue line)

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 Gyeongchun Line is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h and may see KTX service.[8] For the longer term, the government also considers to build a parallel high-speed line that would continue beyond Chuncheon to Sokcho on South Korea's east coast.[8]

On November 4, 2016, two trains (one in the morning, one in the night) were added to the line. These trains run to and from Kwangwoon University station, allowing for transfers to Line 1. These trains take the Mangu Line Branch.

On September 26, 2016, the service was extended to Cheongnyangni station to improve access to regional trains (KTX, Seoul Metro Line 1) at the station. However, only 10 trains in each direction travel past Sangbong Station; the majority of the trains still terminate at Sangbong Station, and the two special rush-hour trains still run to and from Kwangwoon University Station.[9]

Services

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Seoul Metropolitan Subway Gyeongchun Line

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Seoul Metropolitan Subway Gyeongchun Line
   
 
Korail Class 361000 EMU
Overview
Service typeHeavy rail, Passenger rail
Commuter rail, Intercity rail
StatusOperating
LocaleSeoul
Gyeonggi
Gangwon (South Korea)
First serviceDecember 21, 2010
Current operator(s)Korail
Route
TerminiSangbong, Kwangwoon University, Cheongnyangni
Chuncheon
Stops21
Distance travelled90.0km
Line(s) usedJungang Line, Gyeongchun Line
On-board services
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
baggage storage
Technical
Rolling stockClass 361000
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification25 kV/60 Hz catenary
Operating speed180 km/h (112 mph)

When the new Gyeongchun Line was opened on December 21, 2010, passenger service was integrated into the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system as a name of Seoul Metropolitan Subway Gyeongchun Line (수도권 전철 경춘선).[10] It brings that the system from Seoul all the way into Gangwon Province.[3] The new service reduced travel time between Chuncheon and Sangbong in Seoul from two hours to 89 minutes, with different trains operating according to different stopping patterns; and increased capacity five-fold.[3] Compared to the previous Mugunghwa-ho train service on the Gyeongchun Line, fares were reduced by half.[3] For the service, Hyundai Rotem supplied Korail with fifteen eight-car Class 361000 EMU trains, out of which only fourteen trains remain in service on the line today.

Currently, Seoul Metropolitan Subway Gyeongchun Line serves mainly Sangbong station to Chuncheon station. Rare service to Cheongnyangni or Kwangwoon University station is also available, making it a Y-shaped line.[9]

ITX-Cheongchun service

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On February 28, 2012, Korail introduced the ITX-Cheongchun service (Intercity Train EXpress), which uses Class 368000 trains with double-deck cars. From Chuncheon Station, the fastest ITX trains take 52 minutes to Cheongnyangni station, and 68 minutes to Yongsan station in Seoul, operating at a maximum speed of 180 km/h (112 mph).[5][11] The base fare is 9,800 won between Chuncheon and Yongsan, but Korail offers 15% discount at all time resulting price of 8,300 won. Basic discount rate was 30% until July 31, 2016, 25% until July 31, 2018, 15% since August 1, 2018.[12]

Mugunghwa service

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Some special Mugunghwa trains which deploy military troops takes the Gyeongchun Line.[13]

Service Route

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Current Services

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Main Line

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The following stations are along the Gyeongui-Jungang Line and the Gyeongchun Line itself.

The negative sign is only a convention for distance notation from Sangbong Station, the terminus of most services.

 
Abandoned platform of Singongdeok station, Gyeongchun line
Station
number 		Station name ITX-Cheongchun (Limited Express) Express Local Transfer Line
name 		Station
dist. 		Total
dist. 		Location
Romanized Hangul Hanja in km
K117 Cheongnyangni 청량리 淸凉里 ● ● ○ Gyeongui–Jungang
(shared) 		     
  Mugunghwa-ho, ITX-Saemaeul and Nuriro services
  		Jungang
Line 		2.4 -2.4 Seoul Dongdaemun-gu
K118 Hoegi 회기 回基 | ● ○   1.4 -2.6
K119 Jungnang 중랑 中浪 | | ○ 1.8 -0.8 Jungnang District
K120 Sangbong 상봉 上鳳 ▲ ● ●    
Mangu Line branch trains
  		0.8 0.0
K121 Mangu 망우 忘憂 | | ●   0.6 0.6
P122 Sinnae 신내 新內 | | ●   Gyeongchun
Line 		2.1 2.7
P123 Galmae 갈매 葛梅 | ● ● 2.6 5.3 Gyeonggi Province Guri-si
P124 Byeollae 별내 別內 | ● ●   1.4 6.7 Namyangju
P125 Toegyewon 퇴계원 退溪院 ▲ ● ● 1.6 8.3
P126 Sareung 사릉 思陵 ▲ ● ● 3.3 11.6
P127 Geumgok 금곡 金谷 | | ● 3.6 15.2
P128 Pyeongnaehopyeong 평내호평 坪內好坪 ○ ● ● 4.0 19.2
P129 Cheonmasan 천마산 天摩山 | | ● 4.2 23.4
P130 Maseok 마석 磨石 ▲ ● ● 2.2 25.6
P131 Daeseong-ri 대성리 大成里 | | ● 7.4 33.0 Gapyeong County
P132 Cheongpyeong 청평 淸平 ○ ● ● 7.5 40.5
P133 Sangcheon 상천 上泉 | | ● 4.8 45.3
P134 Gapyeong 가평 加平 ● ● ● 7.1 52.4
P135 Gulbongsan 굴봉산 屈峰山 | | ● 4.7 57.1 Gangwon Province Chuncheon
P136 Baegyang-ri 백양리 白楊里 | | ● 2.9 60.0
P137 Gangchon 강촌 江村 ○ ● ● 5.3 65.3
P138 Gimyujeong 김유정 金裕貞 | | ● 7.4 72.7
P139 Namchuncheon 남춘천 南春川 ● ● ● 5.9 78.6
P140 Chuncheon 춘천 春川 ● ● ● 2.7 81.3
ITX-Cheongchun: Intercity Train Express, Cheongchun
  • ●: regular stop
  • ▲: limited service (weekdays only)
  • ○: limited service
  • | : all trains pass

Mangu Line Branch (very limited service)

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Station
number 		Station name Transfer Line
name 		Station
dist. 		Total
dist. 		Location
English Hangul Hanja in km
119 Kwangwoon University 광운대 光云大   Mangu
Line 		— -4.3 Seoul Nowon District
K120 Sangbong 상봉 上鳳    
  		0.0 4.3 Jungnang District
 
Seoul Metropolitan Subway Gyeongchun Line

Former alignment

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Trestle on the old Gyeongchun Line
Station name Connecting services Station type
Romanized Hangul Hanja
Kwangwoon Univ. 광운대 光云大   via Gyeongwon Aboveground
Singongdeok 신공덕 新孔德 Aboveground
Hwarangdae 화랑대 花郞臺 Aboveground
Toegyewon 퇴계원 退溪院 Aboveground
Sareung 사릉 思陵 Aboveground
Geumgok 금곡 金谷 Aboveground
Pyeongnaehopyeong 평내호평 坪內好坪 Aboveground
Maseok 마석 磨石 Aboveground
Daeseong-ri 대성리 大成里 Aboveground
Cheongpyeong 청평 淸平 Aboveground
Sangcheon 상천 上泉 Aboveground
Gapyeong 가평 加平 Aboveground
Gulbongsan 굴봉산 屈峰山 Aboveground
Baegyang-ri 백양리 白楊里 Aboveground
Gangchon 강촌 江村 Aboveground
Gimyujeong 김유정 金裕貞 Aboveground
Namchuncheon 남춘천 南春川 Aboveground
Chuncheon 춘천 春川 Aboveground

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gyeongchun Line.

References

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  1. ^ "경영원칙 - 경영공시 - 영업현황 - 영업거리현황". Korail. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  2. ^ 私設鉄道運輸開始, 朝鮮総督府官報(The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea)　Showa Nr. 3754, 26 July 1939
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Historic railway line chugs on into history". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2010-12-09. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  4. ^ "Korea's railways face a bright future". International Railway Journal. 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  5. ^ a b c "South Korea's growing network". Railway Gazette International. 2008-09-08. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  6. ^ "경춘선 복선전철". Korea Rail Network Authority. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  7. ^ a b "망우~금곡 복선전철". Korea Rail Network Authority. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  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 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2016-12-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Gisam, Hong (December 13, 2019). "서울 지하철 6호선 신내역 21일 개통...경춘선과 만난다" [Seoul Metro Line 6 Sinnae station opens - connects Gyeongchun Line]. News1 News (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved January 27, 2021. 서울 지하철 6호선이 신내역 개통을 통해 수도권 전철 경춘선과 만난다.
  11. ^ loveaselin (9 September 2011). "[Full HD] 경춘선 좌석급행 2층열차 / Gyeongchun Line's new trains coming" – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Sanghak, Lee (July 13, 2018). "경춘선'ITX-청춘'8월부터 요금 올라...춘천~용산 8천300원" [Fare of Gyeongchun Line 'ITX-Cheongchun' increases - 8,300 won for Chuncheon to Yongsan]. Yonhapnews (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "[철도] 경춘선 건설무궁화호 남춘천역 통과 영상 (19.02.21)" [[Railroad] Gyeongchun Line Gyeonseol Mugunghwa-ho train passes through Namchuncheon station(19.02.21)]. PDC HANEUL TV. March 2, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
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