Chongnyon Ichon Line

Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn Line
Overview
Native name	청년이천선 (靑年伊川線)
Status	Operational
Owner	Korean State Railway
Locale	North Hwanghae Kangwŏn
Termini	P'yŏngsan Sep'o Ch'ŏngnyŏn
Stations	18
Service
Type	Heavy rail, Regional rail passenger/freight
History
Opened	1962−1972
Technical
Line length	141.3 km (87.8 mi)
Number of tracks	Single track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	3000 V DC Catenary
Route map Legend P'yŏngbu Line 0.0 P'yŏngsan (bridge appx 235 m (771 ft)) P'yŏngbu Line 3.8 Uranium refinery (bridge appx 90 m (300 ft)) (tunnel appx 110 m (360 ft)) Ryesŏng River (bridge appx 260 m (850 ft)) 13.2 Kit'an 19.7 Ch'imgyo Kosin'ŭnch'ŏn (bridge appx 85 m (279 ft)) 27.8 Sin'gye Sin'gyech'ŏn (bridge appx 90 m (300 ft)) 41.0 Chŏngbong (tunnel appx 300 m (980 ft)) (bridge appx 75 m (246 ft)) former wye Chihari Materials Corp. 51.4 Chihari (bridge appx 55 m (180 ft)) former factory site 57.3 Chisang (#1 tunnel appx 1,175 m (3,855 ft)) (#2 tunnel appx 300 m (980 ft)) (#3 tunnel appx 665 m (2,182 ft)) (tunnel appx 110 m (360 ft)) (bridge appx 115 m (377 ft)) Rimjin River (bridge appx 70 m (230 ft)) former wye 69.1 Songjŏng (bridge appx 70 m (230 ft)) (tunnel appx 345 m (1,132 ft)) (bridge appx 70 m (230 ft)) (tunnel appx 100 m (330 ft)) (bridge appx 60 m (200 ft)) (bridge appx 75 m (246 ft)) (bridge appx 100 m (330 ft)) (bridge appx 80 m (260 ft)) 74.0 Ich'ŏn Ch'ŏngnyŏn Rimjin River (bridge appx 240 m (790 ft)) 79.6 Haan Closed 86.2 Mundŏng Ch'ŏngnyŏn (tunnel appx 1,630 m (5,350 ft)) Rimjin River (bridge appx 120 m (390 ft)) (bridge appx 260 m (850 ft)) Komit'anch'ŏn (tunnel appx 120 m (390 ft)) 96.0 P'an'gyo (tunnel appx 265 m (869 ft)) abandoned branch 105.0 Kisan Ch'ŏngnyŏn (viaduct appx 90 m (300 ft)) (bridge appx 165 m (541 ft)) 111.0 Hup'yŏng Ch'ŏngnyŏn (tunnel appx 495 m (1,624 ft)) (bridge appx 65 m (213 ft)) (tunnel appx 215 m (705 ft)) (bridge appx 150 m (490 ft)) (tunnel appx 770 m (2,530 ft)) Komit'anch'ŏn Ryongjich'ŏn (bridge appx 240 m (790 ft)) 118.9 Sŏha (bridge appx 150 m (490 ft)) (bridge appx 90 m (300 ft)) (tunnel appx 200 m (660 ft)) (bridge appx 25 m (82 ft)) (tunnel appx 45 m (148 ft)) (bridge appx 130 m (430 ft)) (bridge appx 75 m (246 ft)) 125.9 Yaksu (tunnel appx 150 m (490 ft)) (tunnel appx 240 m (790 ft)) (tunnel appx 385 m (1,263 ft)) 131.1 Paeksan Ch'ŏngnyŏn (bridge appx 50 m (160 ft)) 135.4 Sinsaeng 136.6 Saemaŭl Kangwŏn Line (bridge appx 35 m (115 ft)) 142.0 Sep'o Ch'ŏngnyŏn Kangwŏn Line

The Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn Line is an electrified standard-gauge secondary mainline of the Korean State Railway running from P'yŏngsan on the P'yŏngbu Line to Sep'o on the Kangwŏn Line.^[1] The 141.3 km (87.8 mi) line is the southernmost of the three east-west transversal mainlines in North Korea.^[2]

The Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn line plays an important role in the movement of freight between the east and west coasts of the DPRK, relieving the burden on the P'yŏngra Line. As of 1985, the Sep'o Ch'ŏngnyŏn−Chihari section is under the jurisdiction of the Hamhŭng Railway Bureau, whilst the Chŏngbong−P'yŏngsan section is administered by the Sariwŏn Railway Bureau.^[2]

There are 18 stations, of which 3 are halts. Ich'ŏn Ch'ŏngnyŏn and Chŏngbong stations are designated freight concentration points, where goods to and from counties in the area without rail service are transferred between road and rail. Ich'ŏn Ch'ŏngnyŏn Station handles passenger and freight for Ich'ŏn, Ch'ŏrwŏn, P'an'gyo, and Pŏptong counties, while Chŏngbong Station handles them for Kosan, Sinp'yŏng, Singye and Suan counties.^[2]

As freight movements between the east and west coasts of the DPRK grew in the years after the end of the Korean War, congestion on the P'yŏngra Line became a major issue. To relieve this, the Korean State Railway undertook the construction of a third, more southern transversal line through the mountainous south-central region of the DPRK. Work began in 1957,^[3] and the first section to be completed was the 51.4 km (31.9 mi) section from P'yŏngsan to Chihari, which was opened to traffic in 1962, whilst the rest of the route, 89.9 km (55.9 mi) from Chihari to Sep'o Ch'ŏngnyŏn, was opened in October 1972.^[2]

Electrification of the line was completed in 1980.^[4]

Both passenger and freight trains operate on the Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn Line, with freight being considerably more significant.

In order to reduce congestion on the P'yŏngra Line, much transit freight is routed via the Ch'ŏngnyŏn Ich'ŏn Line. Steel products from the Hwanghae Iron & Steel Complex in Songrim on the Songrim Line and cement from the February 8 Cement Complex in West Pongsan on the P'yŏngbu Line make up a major portion of eastbound through traffic.^[2]

Westbound traffic is 1.6 to 1.9 times greater than eastbound. Westbound, the primary commodities shipped are ore (18.4−18.6%), wood (16.3%), fertiliser (12−13.1%), and marine products (7.3−7.5%); these four commodities make up roughly 56% of westbound cargo. Over half - 50−60% - of eastbound cargo is grain; ores (8.6−11.2%), metals (9.9−10.7%), and cement (3.2−3.7%) accounts for much of the rest. Grain from the rich granary of Hwanghae is shipped east exclusively along this line, whilst the westbound ore is primarily magnetite from the Tŏksŏng and Musan Mining Complexes destined for the Hwanghae Iron & Steel Complex on the Songrim Line.^[2] There is also a uranium concentrate plant at P'yŏngsan.^[5]

In the 2002 passenger timetable there is a single daily long-distance train shown as operating on this line, between Haeju and Hyesan. Train 104•107 from Haeju comes to the line via Sariwŏn, departing P'yŏngsan at 0:54 and Sep'o at 6:06 AM, continuing on to Hyesan via Wŏnsan, Hamhŭng and Kilju. The return trip from Hyesan, train 108•111, departs Sep'o at 4:41 AM and P'yŏngsan at 9:47 AM, continuing on to Haeju via Sariwŏn.^[1] A commuter service is operated between P'yŏngsan and Chihari.^[2]

A yellow background in the "Distance" box indicates that section of the line is not electrified.