The KTX-Eum train, with a maximum speed of 260 km/h, will start operating on the Donghae Line between Gangneung and Busan, and new stops such as Shin Haeundae will be added to the existing Seoul (Cheongnyangni) to Busan route. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that from the 30th, the KTX-Eum will be fully deployed on the Jungang Line (Cheongnyangni to Bujeon) and Donghae Line (Gangneung to Bujeon) to enable travel within 3 hours in the central and east coast regions.
The Jungang Line is a route that traverses the inland of the Korean Peninsula from Seoul to Busan. Utilizing the speed increase effect from the signal system improvement between Andong and Yeongcheon, additional trains and new stops will be introduced. The number of operations on the Cheongnyangni to Bujeon route will increase threefold from 6 to 18 times a day, and the Cheongnyangni to Andong route will also increase from 18 to 20 times, significantly improving passenger convenience.
The travel time for the Cheongnyangni to Bujeon route will be reduced from the previous 3 hours and 56 minutes to 3 hours and 38 minutes with the KTX-Eum. To enhance transportation convenience for local residents and visitors, some trains will stop at stations such as Deokso, Buk-Ulsan, Namchang, Gijang, Shin Haeundae, and Centum. The number of stops will be adjusted based on future passenger demand at each station.
Additionally, six new KTX-Eum trains will be introduced on the Donghae Line between Bujeon (Busan) and Gangneung, which opened in January this year and is currently operated by ITX-Ma-eum. This will reduce the average travel time from 5 hours and 4 minutes to 3 hours and 54 minutes. The introduction of KTX-Eum is expected to connect Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon regions into a one-day living area, boosting tourism demand and regional development.