Select sections of the double-track railway linking Busan and Masan will open on April 1 next year. The segments include the 6.85-kilometer stretch between Bujeon Station and Sasang Station, and the 40-kilometer stretch from Gangseo Geumho Station through Jillye Signal Box to Masan.
The 3.35-kilometer Nakdong Tunnel No. 1 section between the two segments remains closed after a collapse during construction in 2020, but the entire line is expected to open fully by the end of 2028.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Tuesday it plans to open the completed sections of the Bujeon-Masan double-track railway — a key rail link in the southeast region — ahead of the rest of the line, to improve transport access for residents of Busan and Masan in South Gyeongsang Province.
The two sections opening first are the Bujeon-Sasang segment and the Gangseo Geumho Station-Jillye Signal Box segment. The Bujeon-Sasang section will connect to Cheongnyangni and Dongdaegu via the Jungang Line and Donghae Line, while the Gangseo Geumho-Jillye Signal Box section will link to Masan via the existing Gyeongjeon Line.
For the unopened Nakdong Tunnel No. 1 section between Sasang Station and Gangseo Geumho Station, the ministry plans to run shuttle buses and other transport options to minimize inconvenience for rail passengers. The tunnel section has been delayed since an emergency connecting passage collapsed during construction in 2020.
Following the accident, the ministry formed a Construction Accident Investigation Committee to determine the cause and review options for a full opening. The committee's final findings are expected in the second half of this year.
The committee is conducting data analysis and various investigations and tests to expedite the opening of the accident section. It is also reviewing a range of measures to ensure safety both during future train operations and throughout any additional construction work.
Oh Yeong-seok, chair of the committee, said it is "analyzing various factors that could affect tunnel stability — including the ground characteristics of the accident site and conditions at the time of construction — and reviewing specific, workable alternatives," adding that the committee would "announce a plan as soon as possible."
The ministry said it worked closely with project operator Smart Rail, Korea National Railway and Korail to identify sections where construction has been completed and normal operations are possible, and decided on a partial opening to improve mobility for residents of the southeast region.
The ministry also said it would pursue a full opening of the Bujeon-Masan double-track railway as quickly as possible after thorough safety verification.
Oh said that if the committee maintains ongoing communication with contractors before releasing its findings, and if coordination with the project operator proceeds smoothly through the remaining construction and comprehensive test runs, "the entire line can be safely opened by the end of 2028." A full opening of the Bujeon-Masan line would cut travel time from one hour and 30 minutes to just 30 minutes.
Land Minister Kim Yun-deok said the ministry is "deeply grateful to residents of Busan and South Gyeongsang Province for their patience despite the significant inconvenience caused by the delayed opening," and pledged to "open the completed sections first to deliver better transport service as soon as possible, and then complete a railway with no safety concerns whatsoever, making the vision of a 30-minute southeast region a reality."
smh@heraldcorp.com
