Honam high-speed railway

Honam HSR
Route map
Overview
Native name호남고속철도
StatusOperational
OwnerKorea Rail Network Authority
Line number102 (KR)
LocaleSouth Korea
Termini
Service
TypeHigh-speed rail
Operator(s)Korea Train Express
Rolling stockKTX-I, KTX-Sancheon, SRT
History
OpenedApril 1, 2015
Technical
Line length230.99 km (143.53 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV/60 Hz Catenary
Operating speed305 km/h (190 mph)
Honam high-speed railway
Hangul
호남고속선
Hanja
湖南高速線
Revised RomanizationHonam Gosokseon
McCune–ReischauerHonam Kosoksŏn

The Honam high-speed railway, also known as Honam HSR, is a high-speed rail between Osong (on the existing Gyeongbu high-speed railway) and Mokpo in South Korea. The line is a part of Korail's Korea Train Express (KTX) system, accelerating Seoul–Mokpo and Seoul–Gwangju KTX high-speed services which currently use the existing conventional Honam Line. On April 1, 2015, the line was inaugurated by the South Korean President Park Geun-hye with the attendance of 1200 invited guests and members of the public at Gwangju Songjeong Station in Gwangju, the line's terminus. The line diverges from Osong station on the Gyeongbu high-speed railway, and stops at Gongju, Iksan, Jeongeup Stations. Journey times between Seoul and Gwangju has been cut from 2 h 40 min to just 90 min, making daily commuting possible. The Honam HSR is intended to bring business, and economic opportunities to the province of Jeollanam-do, which has seen slower development than other parts of South Korea. The line has been open to the public since April 2, 2015 for revenue service.