Daegu Line
Encyclopedia
The Daegu Line is a railway line in South Korea
. The line connects Dongdaegu Station
on the Gyeongbu Line
in Daegu
to Yeongcheon
on the Jungang Line
. The line is served by frequent passenger trains between Seoul
(via the Gyeongbu Line), Dongdaegu, and Gyeongju
, Pohang
, and Ulsan
(via the Jungang and Donghae Nambu Line
s).
on October 31, 1918. A branch was opened from Gyeongju
to Ulsan on October 25, 1921.
The sections from Gyeongju to Pohang and Ulsan were integrated into the Donghae Nambu Line
on December 16, 1935; later the section from Yeongcheon to Gyeongju became part of the Jungang Line
, which was established on April 1, 1942.
, lengthening the Dongdaegu–Cheongcheon line distance to 16.5 km (10.3 mi). The Dongdaegu to Cheongcheon rail distance changed to 38.4 km (23.9 mi), line proper from Gacheon to Yeongcheon is 29 km (18 mi) long. The project was launched in August 1997 with a planned completion in 2000, but economic difficulties and planning changes delayed completion, the line relocation was finally inaugurated on November 3, 2005. Part of the project was the replacement of a 1.3 km (0.807784557644749 mi) branch to Daegu Airport
from the old alignment with a 9.04 km (5.6 mi) spur line paralleling the highway west from Cheongcheon to the airport, finished a year later.
The Daegu Line was considered for an upgrade to a double-tracked, electrified railway in a straighter, 34.9 km (21.7 mi) long alignment from 2000. Detailed plans were prepared by 2009, the foreseen budget was 988.042 billion won, and the completion of the project was set for 2017. 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 Daegu Line is to be set out for 230 km/h and may see KTX
service.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. The line connects Dongdaegu Station
Dongdaegu Station
Dongdaegu Station, meaning "East Daegu Station", is a railway station in Daegu, South Korea. It is on the national high-speed KTX railway network, 282 km south of Seoul Station.-History:...
on the Gyeongbu Line
Gyeongbu Line
The Gyeongbu Line is the most important railway line in South Korea and one of the oldest. It was constructed by Japan in 1905, connecting Seoul to Suwon, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan. The Gyeongbu Line is by far the most heavily travelled rail line in South Korea...
in Daegu
Daegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
to Yeongcheon
Yeongcheon
Yeongcheon is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.Yeongcheon is located 350 km southeast of Seoul, in the southeast of North Gyeongsang Province...
on the Jungang Line
Jungang Line
The Jungang Line is a railway line connecting Cheongnyangni in Seoul to Gyeongju in South Korea, traversing central South Korea from the northwest to the southeast.-History:...
. The line is served by frequent passenger trains between Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
(via the Gyeongbu Line), Dongdaegu, and Gyeongju
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
, Pohang
Pohang
Pohang is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River...
, and Ulsan
Ulsan
Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...
(via the Jungang and Donghae Nambu Line
Donghae Nambu Line
The Donghae Nambu Line is a railway line connecting Busan to Pohang in South Korea.The line runs along South Korea's east coast.-History:...
s).
History
The first section of the Daegu Line was opened on November 1, 1917, between Dongdaegu and Hayang. The line was extended to PohangPohang
Pohang is a city in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River...
on October 31, 1918. A branch was opened from Gyeongju
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of 269,343 people according to the 2008 census. Gyeongju is southeast of Seoul, and east of the...
to Ulsan on October 25, 1921.
The sections from Gyeongju to Pohang and Ulsan were integrated into the Donghae Nambu Line
Donghae Nambu Line
The Donghae Nambu Line is a railway line connecting Busan to Pohang in South Korea.The line runs along South Korea's east coast.-History:...
on December 16, 1935; later the section from Yeongcheon to Gyeongju became part of the Jungang Line
Jungang Line
The Jungang Line is a railway line connecting Cheongnyangni in Seoul to Gyeongju in South Korea, traversing central South Korea from the northwest to the southeast.-History:...
, which was established on April 1, 1942.
Upgrade
The 14 km (8.7 mi) section from Dongdaegu to Cheongcheon was replaced by a new alignment that takes the Daegu Line to meet the Gyeongbu Line at GacheonGacheon Station
Gacheon Station is a railway station on Gyeongbu Line....
, lengthening the Dongdaegu–Cheongcheon line distance to 16.5 km (10.3 mi). The Dongdaegu to Cheongcheon rail distance changed to 38.4 km (23.9 mi), line proper from Gacheon to Yeongcheon is 29 km (18 mi) long. The project was launched in August 1997 with a planned completion in 2000, but economic difficulties and planning changes delayed completion, the line relocation was finally inaugurated on November 3, 2005. Part of the project was the replacement of a 1.3 km (0.807784557644749 mi) branch to Daegu Airport
Daegu Airport
Daegu International Airport is primarily a domestic airport in the city of Daegu, South Korea. Asiana Airlines and Korean Air provide international flights to China and occasional charters to Fukuoka and Manila...
from the old alignment with a 9.04 km (5.6 mi) spur line paralleling the highway west from Cheongcheon to the airport, finished a year later.
The Daegu Line was considered for an upgrade to a double-tracked, electrified railway in a straighter, 34.9 km (21.7 mi) long alignment from 2000. Detailed plans were prepared by 2009, the foreseen budget was 988.042 billion won, and the completion of the project was set for 2017. 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 Daegu Line is to be set out for 230 km/h and may see KTX
Korea Train Express
Korea Train eXpress is South Korea's high-speed rail system, operated by Korail. Construction began on the first section of the high-speed line from Seoul to Busan in 1992. The project was later split into two phases and combined with conventional line upgrades, adding a second route from Seoul to...
service.