No Train Stops for 38 Stations

It is likely that passenger trains will pass, without stopping, through 38 stations across the nation, including six stations on the Kyungbu Line and 12 stations on the Honam Line as early as July 15.

During the “Debate for the Establishment of a Railroad Business Policy” held on May 19 at the Seoul Main Office in Bongrae-dong, Joong-gu, the Office of Railroads announced, “We will run the trains to not stop and pass the stations with fewer than an average of 10 passengers per day.”

The stations with the planned no-stops which the Office of Railroads have tentatively selected are Maepo, Jitan, Jichun, Gomo, Samsung, Shingu stations on the Gyungbu Line, Wonjung, Shindo, Buhwang, Dasan, Waryong, Shinheungri, Ahnpyung, Okjung, Limgok, Hanam, Noan stations on the Honam Line, 13 stations including Chunpo, Ohryu, Bongchun, Suhdo, Sansung stations on the Jeolla-Line, and seven stations including Shinchang, Oga, Wonjuk on the Janghang Line. Currently, only the Mugunghwa train makes a stop once or twice a day at these 38 stations.

The Office of Railroads planned to operate the train without stops at these stations when passengers’ complaints started to grow as the operating time increased with the growing number of stations for coach trains (Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains) since the opening of the Express Railroad on April 1.

Despite the fact that the Saemaeul Train on the Kyungbu Line increased its operating time from Seoul to Busan by approximately 40 minutes after the opening of the Express Railroad, if the Mugunghwa Train, which precedes the Saemaeul Train, passes through six stations without stops, it is estimated that the operating time will be shortened by a maximum of 24 minutes.

The Office of Railroad stated, “It takes 4-5 minutes for a train to stop at a station and start moving again.”

However, the residents’ resistance is expected as the number of passengers at several designated nonstop stations is on the rise.

The number of passengers at Buhwang Station on the Honam Line increased from 2,427 in 2002 to 3,475 last year, and the number of passengers at the Maepo Station on the Kyungbu Line has increased from 1,605 in 2001 to 2,957 last year.

Park Yong-hee (40), head of the Jitan-li Village in Yeewon-myun, Okchun-gun, Chungbuk, demanded an accurate research on the actual condition, saying, “The Jitan Station on the Kyungbu Line is a station where more than 50 elderly citizens from 3-4 myuns use everyday.” According to the Office of Railroads, the number of passengers at Jitan Station was 11 last year.

Lee Sung-gyun, director of the Business Development division at the Office of Railroads, indicated, “We will inform the residents of the inevitability of operating the non-stop stations,” and added, “Even if we have to provide bus fare to the nearest station for the residents, reducing the number of stops is the only way to normalize the operation of the Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains.”

The non-stop stations for the passenger train will not be closed down as they are utilized for freight train stops when necessary.

Seong-Yub Ra cpu@donga.com