Honam Line

Honam Line
Overview
Native name	호남선(湖南線)
Type	Heavy Rail, Passenger/freight rail Regional rail, Intercity rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Daejeon South Chungcheong North Jeolla South Jeolla Gwangju
Termini	Daejeon Rail yard Mokpo
Stations	48
Operation
Opened	Stages between 1911-1914
Owner	Korea Rail Network Authority
Operator(s)	Korail
Technical
Line length	252.5 km (156.9 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV/60 Hz AC catenary
Route map Legend Gyeongbu Line 0.0 Daejon Rail Yard Gyeongbu Line Daejeon Line National Route 32 5.7 Seodaejeon National Route 4 National Route 4 11.8 Gasuwon Daejeon South Ring Expressway 17.3 Heukseong-ri 20.7 Wonjeong (1955–2006) Daejeon Gyeryong Honam Expressway Branch 25.4 Gyeryong National Route 1 28.0 Sindo (1966–2006) Gyeryong Nonsan 34.7 Gaetaesa 39.6 Yeonsan 44.5 Buhwang National Route 4 50.8 Nonsan 56.5 Chaehwa (1967–1974) Ganggyeong Line Honam Expressway 57.5 Chaewoon (Signal Box) National Route 23 60.7 Ganggyeong National Route 23 Nonsan Iksan 66.7 Yongdong National Route 23 71.8 Hamyeol 75.4 Dasan (1967–2006) 81.2 Hwangdeung Honam High Speed Railway Under Construction National Route 23 87.9 Iksan Janghang Line National Route 27 Jeolla Line National Route 23 Honam High Speed Railway Mangyeong River | Iksan Gimje National Route 26 National Route 21 95.3 Buyong 98.5 Waryong Honam High Speed Railway 105.6 Gimje Gimje Jeongeup 112.4 Gamgok National Route 30 117.9 Sintaein 123.5 Chogang Honam Expressway Honam High Speed Railway 131.4 Jeongeup National Route 29 Honam High Speed Railway National Route 1 137.4 Cheonwon 141.6 Noryeong Jeongeup Jangseong 148.6 Baegyangsa Honam Expressway 154.3 Sinheung-ri until 2006 Gochang-Damyang Expressway 160.1 Anpyeong Jangseong Line (for freight) 163.8 Jangseong National Route 24 169.6 Okjeong (1959–2006) Jangseong Gwangju 174.7 Imgok Honam High Speed Railway 181.2 Hanam For North Songjeong Gyeongjeon Line National Route 22 185.7 Gwangju Songjeong Gwangju Naju 195.0 Noan since 2001 Noan until 2001 National Route 13 National Route 1 For LG Chemical 201.5 Naju National Route 13 203.2 Yeongsanpo until 2001 208.9 Dasi 212.1 Gomagwon since 2001 Gomagwon until 2001 Naju Hampyeong 218.7 Hampyeong since 2001 National Route 23 Hakkyo until 2001 Hampyeong Muan 226.3 Muan 230.3 Mongtan 234.9 Myeongsan until 2001 241.2 Illo until 2001 239.3 Illo National Route 2 Daebul Line Muan Mokpo 245.2 247.9 Imseong-ri East Mokpo (1953–2003) 252.5 Mokpo 253.2 Mokpo Seaside

The Honam Line is a major railway line serving the Honam region (North and South Jeolla Provinces) in South Korea. The line is served by frequent passenger trains from Seoul (via the Gyeongbu Line) to Gwangju and Mokpo.

History

A Honam Railway from Seoul to Mokpo was first proposed in 1896 by a French company.^[1] After the start of the Russo-Japanese War, in May 1904, Imperial Japan forced Korea to sign an agreement granting the Japanese military control over railways, including the right to seize land.^[1] Japan the seized much of the fertile Honam plain in advance of a planned Honam Line.^[1]

The construction of the line started in 1910.^[1] The first 39.9 km (24.8 mi) between Daejeon and Yeonsan was opened in July 1911.^[1] The line was extended to Ganggyeong in November 1911, to Iri (today Iksan) in March 1912, to Gimje in October 1912 and to Jeongeup in December 1912.^[1] Construction continued from the other end of the line, with the section from Mokpo to Hakgyo (today Hampyeong) opened in May 1913; and extended to Naju in July 1913, to Songjeong-ri (today Gwangju·Songjeong) in October 1913, and finally to Jeongeup,^[1] completing the line on January 11, 1914.^[2]

Upgrade

The Honam Line was upgraded to an electrified and double-tracked line for higher speeds in stages. Double-tracking construction work started in 1968.^[3] Double-tracking of the last remaining single-track section, Songjeong–Mokpo,^[3] and the electrification of the whole line, including the Gwangju spur,^[4] was finished for the start of Korea Train Express (KTX) services on April 1, 2004.^[5] The present line length from Daejeon to Mokpo is 252.5 km (156.9 mi),^[2] the line distance from Seoul to Mokpo is 407.6 km (253.3 mi).^[5]

Major Stations

Major stations and junctions along the line include:

• Daejeon, junction with the Gyeongbu Line to Seoul and Busan;
• Seodaejeon, the Daejeon passenger station for Honam Line trains;
• Iksan (formerly named Iri), the terminus of the Jeolla and Janghang Lines;
• Gwangjusongjeong, the major station in Gwangju for through trains to Mokpo, and the junction with the Gyeongjeon Line;
• Naju, the major station in Naju.
• Mokpo, a seaport on the south coast.

Services

The Honam Line is served by freight trains, as well as cross-country Mugunghwa-ho, intercity Saemaul-ho and high-speed KTX passenger trains.

As of October 2010, minimum travel time from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Mokpo is a minimum 4 hours 42 minutes by Saemaul and a minimum 5 hours 2 minutes by Mugungwha. On the Honam Line itself, from Seodaejeon to Mokpo, travel time is a minimum 2 hours 51 minutes by Saemaul and a minimum 3 hours 5 minutes by Mugungwha.^[6]

Honam KTX

When Honam KTX services started on April 1, 2004, the shortest rail travel time between the capital and Mokpo was reduced from 4 hours 32 minutes to 2 hours 58 minutes. between Seoul and Gwangju, the time reduced from 3 hours 53 minutes to 2 hours 38 minutes.^[5]

At the Seoul end, since the December 15, 2004, timetable change, most Honam KTX services don't terminate in Seoul Station, the terminus of the Gyeongbu KTX services, but in nearby Yongsan Station,^[7] from where the travel distance to Mokpo Station is 404.4 km. In addition, some services are extended beyond Yongsan, passing Seoul Station and continuing for 14.9 km along the Gyeongui Line to terminate at Haengsin Station,^[6] next to which KTX trains have a depot.^[8]

The service uses the Gyeongbu HSR until Daejeon, and the upgraded Honam Line from there. The service calls at the following stations:^[9][10]

Station	Travel distance[10]
Haengsin Station	0.0 km	-
Yongsan Station	18.1 km	0.0 km
Gwangmyeong Station	36.9 km	18.8 km
Cheonan Asan Station	110.9 km	92.8 km
Osong Station	139.5 km	121.4 km
Seodaejeon Station	175.7 km	157.6 km
Gyeryong Station	195.4 km	177.3 km
Nonsan Station	220.8 km	202.7 km
Iksan Station	257.9 km	239.8 km
Gimje Station	275.6 km	257.5 km
Jeongeup Station	301.4 km	283.3 km
Jangseong Station	333.8 km	315.7 km
Gwangju Station (spur line)	367.7 km	349.6 km
Gwangju·Songjeong Station	355.7 km	337.6 km
Naju Station	371.5 km	353.4 km
Mokpo Station	422.5 km	404.4 km

The frequency of Honam HSR services was increased in steps from the initial 34 daily runs in 2004,^[5] and changes between a minimum 38 services a day on weekdays and a maximum 40 on weekends from the November 1, 2010 timetable.^[9]

Ridership

The predicted first-year average daily ridership of the Honam KTX Line was raised from 22,818 in a November 1999 estimate to 36,085 in the final August 2003 forecast.^[12] Actual first-year numbers were about a half of the original estimate, but rose significantly in the second and third year.^[11]

In its first year of operation, the Honam KTX service also underperformed in seat occupation relative to the Gyeongbu KTX service.^[12] By 2005, KTX fares were selectively reduced for relations under-performing most, especially on the Honam Line:^[5]

Standard class one-way ticket price for adults (won)

Fare system	Seoul to...			Yongsan to...
	Iksan	Gwangju	Mokpo	Iksan	Gwangju	Mokpo
Plans in early 2004[13]	28,600	38,200	42,900	(28,300)	(37,900)	(42,600)
Valid from April 1, 2004[14][15]	27,000	36,600	41,400	26,700	36,300	41,100
Valid from April 25, 2005[15]	-	-	-	25,500	33,300	38,000

Following general ticket price increases and the separation of weekday and weekend fares, as of November 2010, the standard one-way Seoul to Mokpo ticket price stands at 40,500 won on weekdays and 43,300 won on weekends, but with significant reductions on newly introduced non-reserved seats.^[10] Another problem passenger surveys in the first months found was station access and the limited capacity of bus connections, leading to the frequent use of taxis.^[16]

Modal share

After its first year of operation, on relations with significant distances along the conventional Honam Line, the Honam KTX service gained market share mostly at the expense of conventional trains, while the total share of rail was stagnant on some relations.^[5] By 2008, between Yongsan and the cities mid-way along the Honam Line, rail's total modal share passed 50%.^[17] Strong gains at the expense of air transport and private cars were seen between Yongsan and Honam KTX service endpoints Mokpo and Gwangju, too.^[17]

Evolution of modal shares on selected relations with Honam KTX service

Future improvements

Starting from April 2011, the new Jeolla KTX service will share tracks with the Honam KTX until Iksan, and diverge from there to reach Yeosu along the Jeolla Line.^[18] Korail also plans to run some through KTX services to Incheon International Airport on the AREX line from 2012.^[19] The planned travel time between Incheon International Airport and Gwangju is 3 hours.^[20]

From 2014, the Honam KTX Line is to transfer to the future Honam High Speed Railway between Osong on the Gyeongbu HSR and Gwangju·Songjeong. By 2017, the service will transfer to the new line on the remaining section to Mokpo, too.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Transportation in South Korea
• Korail

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honam Line.

Korail lines
KTX	Gyeongbu HSR Honam HSR Suseo HSR
Main	Gyeongbu Gyeongjeon Honam Jungang
Regional	Chungbuk Daegu Donghae Donghae Nambu Gwangju Gyeongbuk Gyeongui Gyeongwon Janghang Jeolla Jinhae Taebaek Yeongdong Seohae (u/c) Gyeonggang Line (u/c)
Urban/Rapid	● Bundang ● Gyeongchun Mangu ● Gyeongui–Jungang Yongsan ● Seoul Line 1 Byeongjeom Gyeongin ● Seoul Line 3 Ilsan ● Seoul Line 4 Ansan Gwacheon ● Suin Bujeon–Masan (u/c) Byeollae (u/c) Daegok–Sosa (u/c) Donghae Nambu (u/c) Hanam (u/c) Indeogwon–Suwon (u/c) Jinjeop (u/c) Sinansan (u/c) Sosa–Wonsi (u/c) Gyeonggang (u/c)