Pyongbu Line

P'yŏngbu Line
View of Sonha Station near the inter-Korean border
Overview
Native name평부선(平釜線)
StatusOperational
OwnerKorean State Railway
LocaleP'yŏngyang,
North Hwanghae Province,
South Hwanghae Province
Termini
Stations26
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Regional rail
passenger/freight
Operator(s)Korean State Railway
Depot(s)Sariwŏn, Sŏhŭng, P'anmun
History
Opened5 November 1905 (freight)
3 April 1906 (passenger)
Technical
Line length187.3 km (116.4 mi)
Number of trackssingle track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Minimum radius300 m (980 ft)
Electrification3000 V DC Overhead line
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Maximum incline11‰
Route map

0.0
P'yŏngyang
Trams in Pyongyang
(bridge appx 350 m (1,150 ft))
(bridge appx 435 m (1,427 ft))
Rubber Factory
Textile Machinery Plant
2.6
Taedonggang
Trams in Pyongyang
Kim Jŏng-suk Textile Mill
Grain Processing Factory
10.8
Ryŏkp'o
17.8
Chunghwa
(tunnel appx 425 m (1,394 ft))
24.4
Hŭkkyo
31.1
Kindŭng
36.5
Hwangju
2.4
Hwangju Airport
(bridge appx 145 m (476 ft))
46.7
Ch'imch'on
53.8
Chŏngbang
60.5
Sariwŏn Ch'ŏngnyŏn
Sariwŏn Textile Factory
65.1
East Sariwŏn
70.5
Pongsan
77.5
Ch'ŏnggye
coal mine
85.4
Hŭngsu
(bridge appx 105 m (344 ft))
(tunnel appx 170 m (560 ft))
(bridge appx 100 m (330 ft))
90.2
Munmu
(coal mine)
(new tunnel appx 80 m (260 ft))
(old tunnel appx 120 m (390 ft))
(tunnel appx 160 m (520 ft))
100.6
Sŏhŭng
107.4
Sinmak
(new tunnel appx 375 m (1,230 ft))
(old tunnel appx 355 m (1,165 ft))
117.9
Mulgae
(new bridge appx 75 m (246 ft))
(new tunnel appx 95 m (312 ft))
(old tunnel appx 85 m (279 ft))
5.0
Paegol
(fluorspar mine)
126.7
P'yŏngsan
(tunnel appx 180 m (590 ft))
135.3
T'aebaeksansŏng
(tunnel appx 205 m (673 ft))
(tunnel appx 110 m (360 ft))
141.0
Hanp'o
(new bridge appx 405 m (1,329 ft))
(old bridge appx 410 m (1,350 ft))
(tunnel appx 240 m (790 ft))
151.3
Kŭmch'ŏn
(old bridge appx 380 m (1,250 ft))
(old tunnel appx 100 m (330 ft))
(new bridge appx 140 m (460 ft))
(old bridge appx 150 m (490 ft))
5.9
Maeha-dong
Closed
(tunnel appx 505 m (1,657 ft))
163.2
Kyejŏng
(tunnel appx 230 m (750 ft))
170.4
Ryŏhyŏn
178.2
Kaep'ung
(silica mine)
(tunnel appx 360 m (1,180 ft))
187.3
Kaesŏng
191.2
Sonha
195.1
Pongdong
197.6
P'anmun
DMZ north gate
(bridge appx 270 m (890 ft))
(tunnel appx 40 m (130 ft))
DMZ south gate
202.9
Changdan
Closed 1950
204.6
Dorasan
Pyongbu Line
Chosŏn'gŭl
평부선
Hancha
Revised RomanizationPyeongbuseon
McCune–ReischauerP'yŏngbusŏn

The P'yŏngbu Line is an electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the Korean State Railway running from P'yŏngyang to Kaesŏng in North Korea and further south across the DMZ to Seoul in South Korea; the name comes from the two (theoretical) termini of the line: P'yŏngyang and Busan.[1]

The total length of the line from P'yŏngyang to Busan is 719.8 km (447.3 mi); however, due to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, regular operation is restricted to the 187.3 km (116.4 mi) section between P'yŏngyang and Kaesŏng.[1] 22% of the line is laid with concrete sleepers, and it is the only railway line in North Korea capable of speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph). The ruling grade is 11‰, the minimum curve radius is 300 m (980 ft), and there are 99 bridges (total length 4,310 m (14,140 ft)) and 13 tunnels (total length 3,244 m (10,643 ft)).[2]

The P'yŏngyang–Hwangju section is under the jurisdiction of the P'yŏngyang Railway Bureau, whilst the rest of the line from Hwangju south is under the Sariwŏn Railway Bureau. There are 28 stations on the line, and the average distance between stations is 6.7 km (4.2 mi). Along with locomotive depots at Sariwŏn, Sŏhŭng, and P'anmun, there are large freight-handling facilities at Hwangju, Chunghwa, East Sariwŏn, Sŏhŭng, P'yŏngsan and Kaesŏng.[2]

The P'yŏngbu Line connects to the P'yŏngui, P'yŏngnam, and P'yŏngra lines at P'yŏngyang, to the P'yŏngdŏk Line at Taedonggang, to the Songrim Line at Hwangju, to the Hwanghae Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line at Sariwŏn, and the Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn Line at P'yŏngsan.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Kokubu, Hayato (2007), 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), Tokyo, Shinchosha, ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
  2. ^ a b "평부선". terms.naver.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.