By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter


The construction of a bullet train railway linking Seoul and Cholla Province will likely be completed by 2017. A groundbreaking ceremony is expected to be held late next year or in 2007.

In its report, the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) made the construction period projection but discounted the economic viability of the project, citing, among other things, the lack of passengers.

On the basis of these research results, the Ministry of Construction & Transportation will announce its final decision on the country’s second high-speed railway early next year.

The state-run research institute said the number of stations would be five, starting from Seoul, making stops at Osong in North Chungchong Province and Iksan in North Cholla Province before reaching their final destinations of Kwangju City and Mokpo City.

Aside from Seoul Station, passengers may want to start their trips from Yongsan Station in Seoul and Kwangmyong Station in Kyonggi Province, the report said.

The institute estimated that the journey from Seoul to Mokpo on the bullet train would take about 97 minutes.

The institute reported to the ministry that the new Korea Train Express (KTX) railroad between Osong and Kwangju could be finished by 2015.

Osong KTX Station will be used as a junction between Honam line and Kyongbu (Seoul-Pusan) line.

A ministry official said the government will possibly revise the research results and tentative plans suggested by the institute, adding that it would unveil final projects as early as next year.

But he said the government has confidence in the project, despite its lack of economic viability. ``We know that the issue on the Honam high-speed railroad has been a great concern for those in Cholla Province,’’ he said.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr