View source for Gyeongui Line

{{Short description|Railway line in South Korea}}
{{distinguish|Pyongui Line}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name        = Gyeongui Line
|native_name = 경의선 (京義線)
|color       = 0066b3
|image       = ImjingangRailRoad.jpg
|image_width = 250px
|image_alt   = 
|caption     = The Gyeongui Line crossing the Imjin River in 2006
|type        = [[Passenger rail terminology#Heavy rail|Heavy rail]], passenger/freight<br/>[[regional rail]]
|system      =
|locale      = [[Seoul]]<br/>[[Goyang]]<br/>[[Paju]]
|start       = [[Seoul Station|Seoul]]
|end         = [[Dorasan Station|Dorasan]]
|stations    = 23
|open        = April 28, 1905 (actual opening)<br>April 3, 1906 (passenger service)<br>July 1, 2009 ([[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]] service)
|owner       = [[Korea Rail Network Authority]]
|operator    = [[Korail]]
|depot       = Munsan, Goyang
|character   =
|stock       =
|linelength  = {{Convert|56.1|km|abbr=on}}
|tracks      = [[Double track]] (Seoul–[[Munsan station|Munsan]])<br/>[[Single track (rail)|Single track]]
|gauge       = {{track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
|electrification = 25 kV/60 Hz [[Alternating Current|AC]] [[Overhead lines|catenary]]
|old_gauge   =
|speed       =
|map         = [[File:Korail Gyeongui Line.png|250px]] {{Gyeongui Line route diagram}}
|map_state   = collapsed
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
|hangul=경의선
|hanja ={{linktext|京|義|線}}
|rr=Gyeonguiseon
|mr=Kyŏngŭisŏn
}}
[[File:Dorasan2.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Dorasan Station]]]]

The '''Gyeongui Line''' is a railway line between [[Seoul Station]] and [[Dorasan Station]] in [[Paju]]. [[Korail]] operates the [[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]] service between [[Seoul Station]] and [[Dorasan Station]].

==History==
''For the original line's history and other information prior to 1945, see [[Gyeongui Line (1904–1945)]].''

Originally the line continued to [[Pyongyang|P'yŏngyang]] and [[Sinuiju|Sinŭiju]], where it connected to the [[South Manchuria Railway]], linking the Korean railway system to the rest of [[Asia]] and [[Europe]].

The [[Korean Empire]] intended to build the Gyeongui Line itself at the end of the 19th century, but a shortage of funding resulted in the project's suspension.<ref name="Nakano">{{cite web |last1=Nakano |first1=Akira |title=Korea's Railway Network the Key to Imperial Japan's Control |url=https://apjjf.org/-Nakano-Akira/2533/article.html |website=The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus |date=3 September 2007 |access-date=22 July 2021}}</ref> The [[Empire of Japan]], which gained a concession to build the [[Gyeongbu Line]] from [[Busan]] to [[Seoul]], also sought to gain control of the Gyeongui Line project as its continuation further north, recognizing the trunk route as a means to keep Korea under its influence.<ref name="Nakano"/> The line was also advanced for military considerations in expectation of a confrontation with Russia, which came in 1904 as the [[Russo-Japanese War]].<ref name="Nakano"/> At the start of the war, Japan ignored Korea's declaration of neutrality and transported troops to [[Incheon]], and forced the Korean government to sign an agreement that gave Japan's military control of railway projects if deemed necessary for military operations.<ref name="Nakano"/> Japan's military began to build the Gyeongui Line, while troop bases were established in connection with the railway, the biggest of them next to the terminus of the line, [[Yongsan Station]] in Seoul.<ref name="Nakano"/>

Freight service on the entirety of the Gyeongui Line was started on April 3, 1906.<ref name="lineop">{{cite web |url=http://info.korail.com/2007/kra/ope/ope08000/w_ope08606.jsp |title=경영원칙 > 경영공시 > 영업현황 > 영업거리현황 |publisher=[[Korail]] |access-date=2010-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722192217/http://info.korail.com/2007/kra/ope/ope08000/w_ope08606.jsp |archive-date=2011-07-22 }}</ref>

===Inter-Korea border===
{{see also|Pyongui Line|Pyongbu Line}}
After the [[division of Korea]] in 1945, trains stopped operating between the north and south halves of the country, meaning that southern trains probably terminated at [[Kaesong|Kaesŏng]], which is now in North Korea but was at the time part of the [[United States of America|US]]-administered southern zone. Northern trains would have terminated north of Kaesŏng.

After the end of the [[Korean War]] in 1953, southern trains were cut back to around [[Munsan]] (north of Seoul), with northern trains terminating at Kaesŏng. Around the same time, North Korea renamed the P'yŏngyang-Kaesŏng section of the line as the [[Pyongbu Line|P'yŏngbu]] (''P'yŏng''yang + ''Bu''san) Line and the P'yŏngyang-Sinŭiju section as the [[Pyongui Line|P'yŏngŭi]] (''P'yŏng''yang + Sin''ŭi''ju) Line. The DPRK sector is now 100% electrified, although the double track section spans only from [[Pyongyang]] to [[Pyongyang Sunan International Airport|Sunan Airport]].

Since the summit between the two Koreas in 2000, an effort has slowly been underway to reconnect the Gyeongui Line.<ref name="TransKorea">{{cite journal |url=http://www.irail.net/webzine/krt/20071008/15356_cf_171_KRT_9.pdf |title=Trans-Korean Railway |journal=Korean Rail Technology (English) |volume=9 |pages=09–11 |date=September 2007 |access-date=2010-11-04 |archive-date=2018-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714221847/http://www.irail.net/webzine/krt/20071008/15356_cf_171_KRT_9.pdf |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Southern passenger service has been extended to [[Dorasan]] on the edge of the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|Demilitarized Zone]] (DMZ) and tracks have been built across the DMZ itself. In October 2004, the Northern connection from the DMZ to Kaesŏng was finally completed. Simultaneous test runs along the rebuilt cross-border sections of both the Gyeongui Line and the [[Donghae Bukbu Line]] were set for May 25, 2006, but North Korean military authorities cancelled the plans a day ahead of the scheduled event.<ref name="TransKorea"/> However, at a meeting held in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 22, 2007, North and South Korea agreed to restart the project.<ref name="TransKorea"/> On May 17, 2007, the first train, carrying North and South Korean delegations, travelled from Munsan Station in the South to Kaesong in the North.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/18/world/asia/18korea.html?ref=asia |date=2007-05-18 |access-date=2007-05-18 |title=North and South Send Trains Across the Korean Frontier |author=Choe Sang-hun |work=New York Times}}</ref> The first test run on the [[Donghae Bukbu Line]] took place at the same time.<ref name="TransKorea"/> According to South Korean representatives, the North has agreed in principle to regular passenger and freight service along the two train lines.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/11/16/koreas-rail-connection-markets-econ-cx_jc_1116markets03.html |title=Freight Rail Link Between Two Koreas Seems Imminent |date=2007-11-16 |work=Forbes |access-date=2010-11-04}}</ref> On 30 November 2018 an engineers' inspection train from South Korea crossed the border at Dorasan for an assessment, conducted jointly with North Korean officials, of the North's Kaesong to Sinuiju (P'yŏngŭi) line, and rail routes northwards from [[Mount Kumgang]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

===Upgrade===<!-- [[Korea Train Express#Further upgrades of connecting conventional lines]] links here-->

Meanwhile, work began to upgrade the South Korean section for high-capacity commuter services. Between Seoul and Munsan, the line is converted into an electrified, double-tracked railway in a new, straighter, 48.6&nbsp;km long alignment.<ref name="KRNA_2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.krnetwork.or.kr/service/condition/RouteMapView.do?PA_MAP_ID=12419 |title=용산~문산 복선전철 |publisher=Korea Rail Network Authority |access-date=2010-12-30}}</ref> Work began in November 1999, with a budget originally estimated at 1,970 billion won.<ref name="rgi-korailplans">{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/south-koreas-growing-network.html |title=South Korea's growing network |date=2008-09-08 |publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205072403/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/south-koreas-growing-network.html |archive-date=2012-12-05 |access-date=2010-08-29}}</ref> The section from [[Digital Media City station|Digital Media City]] (DMC) to [[Munsan station|Munsan]] was finished on July 1, 2009.<ref name="KRNA_2010"/> The remaining section will be mostly underground between [[Gajwa Station]] in northwestern Seoul to [[Yongsan Station]] in downtown Seoul.<ref name="KRNA_2010"/> As of 2009, construction progress on the entire Seoul–Munsan section reached 74% of a total budget then estimated at 2,153.271 billion won.<ref name="KRNA_2010"/> The section is to be finished by 2014<ref>{{Cite web | title =[수도권II] 경의선 효창정거장 부지 220m 때문에 | publisher =Chosun | date =August 25, 2011 | url =http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/08/24/2011082402671.html | language = ko | access-date = 15 July 2012}}</ref> and the freed area on the surface was reconstructed into a park known as the '''Gyeongui Line Forest Park'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/11/09/2009110900025.html |script-title=ko:폐철로 위에 핀 '녹색문화공원' |language=ko |date=2009-11-09 |publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |access-date=2010-12-30}}</ref>

The line is to be further upgraded for {{convert|230|kph|mph}}, as part of a government strategic plan to reduce travel times for 95% of Korea to under 2 hours by 2020, which was announced on September 1, 2010.<ref name="plans2020">{{cite web |url=http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2925474 |title=Bullet trains coming to a town near you by 2020 |date=2010-09-02 |publisher=[[JoongAng Daily]] |access-date=2010-10-27}}</ref>

The [[Gyeongui–Jungang Line]] (Munsan–Imjingang) extension opened on March 28, 2020.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

==Services==

===DMZ-Train===
{{main|DMZ Train}}

===Seoul Metropolitan Subway===
{{main|Gyeongui–Jungang Line}}
The Gyeongui Line opened as a part [[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]] on July 1, 2009 from [[Seoul Station|Seoul]] to [[Munsan station|Munsan]]. The line connects [[Seoul]], [[Digital Media City]], [[Ilsan]], [[Paju]], and [[Munsan]], and offers transfers to [[Seoul Subway Line 3|Line 3]], [[Seoul Subway Line 6|Line 6]], and [[AREX]].

The main line terminated at [[Digital Media City Station]] when first opened, while a separate branch continued to Seoul Station. On December 15, 2012, the main line was extended to [[Gongdeok Station]], providing transfers to [[Seoul Subway Line 6|Line 2]] and [[Seoul Subway Line 5|Line 5]]. On December 27, 2014, the main line service was further extended to [[Yongsan Station]] from Gongdeok Station, and the service was renamed to the '''Gyeongui–Jungang Line''' following the merging of the line with the [[Jungang Line]].

The term "subway" in reference to this line is somewhat of a misnomer, as the line runs underground for less than three percent of its length. The upgraded line simply follows alignment of the old line built 100 years ago. The outer portion of the line runs largely through countryside rice paddies, forests, and vegetable fields, and outside of Seoul rarely enters urbanized areas. It is mostly at-grade, and includes several at-grade crossings with local roads, where Korail employees stand by on duty to stop traffic.

===Regular rail service===
Before the integration with the subway system, the most common service on the line was a [[Tonggeun]] train service between Seoul and Imjingang, with one [[Saemaeul-ho]] train. Since the line was integrated with the Seoul Subway system, Tonggeun service had been restricted to a few stations in the north, from Munsan to Imjingang, with a few continuing on to Dorasan, near the North Korean border.

===KTX===
There is a depot for [[Korea Train Express]] (KTX) trains along the Gyeongui Line at [[Haengsin station]].<ref name="LaunchHSR2007">{{cite journal |last=Lee |first=Kyung Chul |url=http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr48/pdf/f30_Lee.pdf |title=Launch of Korean High-Speed Railway and Efforts to Innovate Future Korean Railway |journal=Japan Railway & Transport Review |issue=48 |pages=30–35 |date=August 2007 |access-date=2010-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613154854/http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr48/pdf/f30_Lee.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some KTX services thus continue beyond Seoul respective Yongsan Station and terminate at [[Haengsin station]].<ref name="booking">{{cite web |url=http://www.korail.com/en/rv/pr21100/w_pr21110.jsp |title=Booking |publisher=[[Korail]] |access-date=2010-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713164814/http://www.korail.com/en/rv/pr21100/w_pr21110.jsp |archive-date=2011-07-13 }}</ref>

The line may see more KTX service after the upgrade for 230&nbsp;km/h considered in the government's strategic plan for 2020.<ref name="plans2020"/>

{{Clear}}

==Stations==
This list does not include stations served only by [[Gyeongui-Jungang Line]] services.

{| class="wikitable"
!'''Station number<br><small>(Seoul Subway)</small>'''
!'''Station'''
!'''[[Hangul]]'''
!'''[[Hanja]]'''
!'''Services'''
|-
|P313
|[[Seoul Station|Seoul]]
|{{lang|ko|[[:ko:서울역|서울]]}}
|
|[[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]]: {{rint|seoul|1}} {{rint|seoul|4}} {{rint|seoul|arx}}<br>[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Gyeongbu High Speed Railway|Gyeongbu HSR]]<br>{{nowrap|[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Gyeongbu Line#KTX|Gyeongbu]]}}<br>{{nowrap|[[File:Korail logo.svg|100x12px|link=Korail]] {{small|[[ITX-Saemaeul]] services}}}}<br>{{nowrap|[[File:Korail logo.svg|100x12px|link=Korail]] {{small|[[Mugunghwa-ho]] services}}}}<br>DMZ Train
|-
|K320
|[[Haengsin station|Haengsin]]
|{{lang|ko|[[:ko:행신역|행신]]}}
|{{linktext|幸|信}}
|[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Gyeongbu High Speed Railway|Gyeongbu HSR]]<br>[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Honam High Speed Railway|Honam HSR]]<br>{{nowrap|[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Gyeongbu Line#KTX|Gyeongbu]]}} {{nowrap|[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Honam Line#Honam KTX|Honam]]}}<br>{{nowrap|[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Gyeongjeon Line#Gyeongjeon KTX|Gyeongjeon]]}} {{nowrap|[[File:KTX logo.svg|100x12px|link=KTX]] [[Jeolla Line#Jeolla KTX|Jeolla]]}}
|-
|K335
|[[Munsan station|Munsan]]
|{{lang|ko|[[:ko:문산역|문산]]}}
|{{linktext|汶|山}}
|rowspan =4| [[DMZ Train]]
|-
|K336
|[[Uncheon station|Uncheon]]
|{{lang|ko|[[:ko:운천역 (파주)|운천]]}}
|{{linktext|雲|泉}}
|-
|K337
|[[Imjingang station|Imjingang]]
|{{lang|ko|[[:ko:임진강역|임진강]]}}
|{{linktext|臨|津|江}}
|-
|K338
|[[Dorasan station|Dorasan]]
|{{lang|ko|[[:ko:도라산역|도라산]]}}
|{{linktext|都|羅|山}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Korail]]
* [[Gyeongui–Jungang Line]]
* [[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]]
* [[Pyongui Line]]
* [[Pyongbu Line]]
* [[Transportation in North Korea]]
* [[Transportation in South Korea]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}

{{Public transport in the Seoul Metropolitan Area}}
{{Gyeongui Line}}
{{Korail Lines}}
{{KTX lines and services}}

[[Category:Gyeongui Line| ]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South Korea]]
[[Category:International railway lines]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in South Korea]]
[[Category:Seoul Metropolitan Subway lines]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1905]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in Korea]]