Korea - South Korea begins work on high speed rail for 2018 Olympics

Washington Post: South Korea begins work on promised high-speed railway for 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/south-korea-begins-work-on-promised-high-speed-railway-for-2018-pyeongchang-winter-olympics/2012/06/01/gJQAgbUD8U_story.html)
:)

The organizing committee for the games said in a statement that construction will end in 2017 and cost $3.35 billion. The new railway links Wonju in the west of Gangwon Province and Gangneung in the east and includes a stop in Pyeongchang.

I'm not sure if this makes any sense, Korean pork barrel politics apart.

The "high speed" line from Daejeon to Gwangju and on to Mokpo would be in much greater need of improvement. Not to mention several economically important cities on the East and South coasts that have miserable rail connections or none at all.

Article indicates the railway will cut the travel time between ICN and Pyeongchan to just one hour. You can barely get from Incheon to Seoul in an hour!

I'm not sure if this makes any sense, Korean pork barrel politics apart.

The "high speed" line from Daejeon to Gwangju and on to Mokpo would be in much greater need of improvement. Not to mention several economically important cities on the East and South coasts that have miserable rail connections or none at all.
This is all down to the politics.
Yes, it doesn't make any (economical) sense at all.
But that's why Gangwon province tried so hard to hold the winter games; to get the infrastructures built on federal government's dime.

This is all down to the politics.
Yes, it doesn't make any (economical) sense at all.
But that's why Gangwon province tried so hard to hold the winter games; to get the infrastructures built on federal government's dime.

Sounds a lot like Nagano 1998.

Article indicates the railway will cut the travel time between ICN and Pyeongchan to just one hour. You can barely get from Incheon to Seoul in an hour!
43 min, to be precise. But they're planning to boost the line's maximum speed from the current poky 120 km/h to a more respectable 230 km/h, and start running KTX trains directly to the airport.

This sounds great, public transportation there is so easy and this will only improve it!

43 min, to be precise. But they're planning to boost the line's maximum speed from the current poky 120 km/h to a more respectable 230 km/h, and start running KTX trains directly to the airport.

Which would all but kill at least GMP - PUS domestic flights...

43 min, to be precise. But they're planning to boost the line's maximum speed from the current poky 120 km/h to a more respectable 230 km/h, and start running KTX trains directly to the airport.

Even better than the Nagano Shinkansen, which runs to/from Tokyo station, requiring connecting trains to NRT or HND.

So, for the benefit of those of us not familiar with the goegraphy of Korean provinces referenced in this thread, where will this line run? ICN to ??? to Pyeongchan, and apparently onward to Pusan?

I saw the rail station front of ICN few weeks ago still under construction. Connecting from flight to rail is going to be super easy. With no checked bag, it's possible to go through customs and catch your train within 10 minutes in few months.

Having spent considerable time in Seoul, I think its my favorite city in terms of public transportation

Even better than the Nagano Shinkansen, which runs to/from Tokyo station, requiring connecting trains to NRT or HND.

So, for the benefit of those of us not familiar with the goegraphy of Korean provinces referenced in this thread, where will this line run? ICN to ??? to Pyeongchan, and apparently onward to Pusan?

Pyeongchang isn't on the way to Busan, so I'm not sure what the other poster was referring to by killing GMP-PUS flights. The KTX has run from Seoul to Busan for years and it didn't kill the flights (though it did reduce frequency)

Pyeongchang on the map
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Pyeongchang-gun,+Gangwon-do,+South+Korea&hl=en&ll=36.412442,128.803711&spn=4.39344,10.821533&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=28.224119,86.572266&geocode=FWo6OgIdWROnBw&hnear=Pyeongchang-gun,+Gangwon-do,+South+Korea&t=m&z=7

Pyeongchang isn't on the way to Busan, so I'm not sure what the other poster was referring to by killing GMP-PUS flights. The KTX has run from Seoul to Busan for years and it didn't kill the flights (though it did reduce frequency)

Pyeongchang on the map
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Pyeongchang-gun,+Gangwon-do,+South+Korea&hl=en&ll=36.412442,128.803711&spn=4.39344,10.821533&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=28.224119,86.572266&geocode=FWo6OgIdWROnBw&hnear=Pyeongchang-gun,+Gangwon-do,+South+Korea&t=m&z=7

Thank you for clarifying. Helpful map.

The KTX has run from Seoul to Busan for years and it didn't kill the flights (though it did reduce frequency)


Isn't there going to be a direct KTX connection from ICN through Seoul Station to Busan as well?

Isn't there going to be a direct KTX connection from ICN through Seoul Station to Busan as well?

That is the plan. The desired goal is high speed train from ICN to Busan in 2 hours. Currently the KTX (Korea Train Express) runs from Seoul Station to Busan in just under 3 hours. The reason is that the trains do not run on dedicated high speed lines and has to run at lower speeds on some sections of the track. So they still have some infrastructure to build out in order to acheive that goal.

If they finally achieve this, then it will be a good alternative for international travelers with a final destination of Busan. Right now, there are very few domestic flights from ICN-PUS. Korean air has the majority of the flights and they charge you a higher fare if your incoming international flight was on another carrier other than KE. Today, travelers can also take a bus or train to Gimpo airport and then fly domestically from GMP-PUS but it can be a hassle to go through check-in and security again. A proposed 2 hour train ride to Busan would be ideal.

As I do not think there will be enough riders boarding from ICN to head straight to Busan, I believe the high speed train will make a stop at Seoul Station to pick up more passengers before heading south.

Also note that the next generation of high speed train has a designed top speed of 400kph, but operating speed of 350kph.

I saw the rail station front of ICN few weeks ago still under construction. Connecting from flight to rail is going to be super easy. With no checked bag, it's possible to go through customs and catch your train within 10 minutes in few months.

I believe what you saw was the Incheon Maglev under construction. The Maglev line will only be about 6km long initially. It can been seen from the street level. Various reports say they expect to operate the Maglev after Oct 2013.

The AREX (Airport Express) lines are all underneath located on B1 level. Both the Commuter (many stops) and the Express (non-stop) lines are located there. If you look around the platform you will see there are other lines already built out but not being used. I believe that will be for future KTX operations.

10 minutes from plane to train might be a bit optimistic. I would want to stretch my legs for more than 10 minutes if coming off a long international flight. Plus, Incheon airport is one of the best in the world. Why rush it? Enjoy what is has to offer.

Are overnight buses popular between Busan and Seoul/Incheon, or has the train taken care of this? Are there trains 'round the clock?

Also, is Pohang important enough to receive its own rail station (due to POSCO), or will they continue to rely on Shin Gyeongju's presence?

There are still TONS of buses to Busan at all hours. They actually even have a free foreigner bus run by the tourism agency now until 12/31.

The last trains leave their origin around like 11 and, if it's a slow train, get to Busan or vice versa at like 4-5 AM.

Are overnight buses popular between Busan and Seoul/Incheon, or has the train taken care of this? Are there trains 'round the clock?

Also, is Pohang important enough to receive its own rail station (due to POSCO), or will they continue to rely on Shin Gyeongju's presence?

Buses are still popular because it is not much longer time-wise compared to the train. Also, it may stop closer to where you need to be in Seoul or Busan.

High Speed Trains are not 24/7. Typically the last train from Seoul to Busan leaves around 11pm and arrives around 1:45am.

Shin Gyeongju is still the closest station for High Speed KTX service. The station is relatively new and is one of the stops on the way to/from Seoul. Pohang probably has a train station for normal trains, but that would probably take you several hours to get to Seoul, including a transfer or two. But you never know in a few years there might be a new train station built.