Honam high-speed railway

The most progressed plans for a second high-speed line were for the Honam high-speed railway, a connection from Seoul to Mokpo in southwest Korea, accelerating the service on the existing route that was eventually established in KTX's first phase.

The first feasibility study in 2003 came to the conclusion that the construction of a full line is not justified by demand, and proposed a two-stage construction.[1] The first stage, to be realised by 2015, would involve a connection from a second Seoul terminus in the southeast part of the city to the Gyeongbu HSR, and a branch from the Gyeongbu HSR to Iksan, paralleling the existing Honam Line.[1] The second phase, to be realised by 2020, would include the separate tracks on the section paralleling the Gyeongbu Line, and the extension from Iksan to Gwangju and Mokpo, paralleling the existing Honam Line. The cost of the entire project was estimated at 10,378.6 trillion won.[1]

On January 14, 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hae Chan met local representatives in Gwangju, who requested an early implementation of the project. Lee pointed to the failure of the first phase of the KTX in meeting ridership forecasts during its first months, expressed skepticism regarding the profitability of the Honam HSR, and described it as a long-term project.[2] However, in December the same year, in the light of low approval in the affected provinces, the government reversed its stance and agreed to complete the project to Gwangju by 2015.[3]

In plans made official in August 2006[4] in spite of a benefit–cost ratio below 1,[5] the budget for the 182.75 km (113.56 mi) first stage (from the new Osong station on the Gyeongbu HSR to Gwangju) was set at 8,569.5 billion won.[1] The second stage, the 48.74 km (30.29 mi) remaining to Mokpo, was to be finished by 2017 with a budget of 2,002.2 billion won. The altogether 230.99 km (143.53 mi), 10,571.7 billion won project would enable Seoul–Mokpo travel times of 1 hour 46 minutes.[5] Ahead of the 2007 Presidential elections, eventual winner Lee Myung-bak promised to accelerate the project by 3 years (with the first section finished by 2012). While this date was deemed unrealistic by the responsible ministry, a one-year acceleration (first phase in 2014) was announced in January 2009.[6] The Osong-Iksan section of the first phase is also intended for use as high-speed test track for rolling stock development, to be fitted with special catenary and instrumented track.[7]

The project is financed to 50% by direct government funds and 50% loans.[8]

By December 2009, construction began on three sub-sections of the 182 km (113 mi) line from Osong to Gwangju, which shall enable Seoul–Gwangju travel times of 1 hour 30 minutes.[9] The ground-breaking ceremony was held at Gwangju·Songjeong Station in the attendance of President Lee Myung-bak on December 4, 2009, when total project costs were estimated at 11.3 trillion won (US$9.8 billion).[10] As of September 2010, progress was 9.6% of the project budget then estimated at 10,490.1 billion won for the first phase, while the estimate for the entire line stood at 12,101.7 billion won.[8]

The entire line from Osong to Mokpo includes a total of 111.7 km (69.4 mi) of viaducts (48.35%) and 49.12 km (30.52 mi) of tunnels (21.26%).[8]

When Honam KTX services started on April 1, 2004, the shortest rail travel time between the capital and Mokpo was reduced from 4 hours 32 minutes to 2 hours 58 minutes. between Seoul and Gwangju, the time reduced from 3 hours 53 minutes to 2 hours 38 minutes.[5]

At the Seoul end, since the December 15, 2004, timetable change, most Honam KTX services don't terminate in Seoul Station, the terminus of the Gyeongbu KTX services, but in nearby Yongsan Station,[11] from where the travel distance to Mokpo Station is 404.4 km (251.3 mi). In addition, some services are extended beyond Yongsan, passing Seoul Station and continuing for 14.9 km (9.3 mi) along the Gyeongui Line to terminate at Haengsin station, next to which KTX trains have a depot.[12]

The service uses the Gyeongbu HSR until Daejeon, and the upgraded Honam Line from there. The service calls at the following stations:[13][14]

The frequency of Honam HSR services was increased in steps from the initial 34 daily runs in 2004,[5] and changes between a minimum 38 services a day on weekdays and a maximum 40 on weekends from the November 1, 2010 timetable.[13]

The predicted first-year average daily ridership of the Honam KTX Line was raised from 22,818 in a November 1999 estimate to 36,085 in the final August 2003 forecast.[16] Actual first-year numbers were about a half of the original estimate, but rose significantly in the second and third year.[15]

In its first year of operation, the Honam KTX service also underperformed in seat occupation relative to the Gyeongbu KTX service.[16] By 2005, KTX fares were selectively reduced for relations under-performing most, especially on the Honam Line:[5]

Following general ticket price increases and the separation of weekday and weekend fares, as of November 2010, the standard one-way Seoul to Mokpo ticket price stands at 40,500 won on weekdays and 43,300 won on weekends, but with significant reductions on newly introduced non-reserved seats.[14] Another problem passenger surveys in the first months found was station access and the limited capacity of bus connections, leading to the frequent use of taxis.[20]

After its first year of operation, on relations with significant distances along the conventional Honam Line, the Honam KTX service gained market share mostly at the expense of conventional trains, while the total share of rail was stagnant on some relations.[5] By 2008, between Yongsan and the cities mid-way along the Honam Line, rail's total modal share passed 50%.[21] Strong gains at the expense of air transport and private cars were seen between Yongsan and Honam KTX service endpoints Mokpo and Gwangju, too.[21]

Evolution of modal shares on selected relations with Honam KTX service

Starting from April 2011, the new Jeolla KTX service will share tracks with the Honam KTX until Iksan, and diverge from there to reach Yeosu along the Jeolla Line.[22] Korail also plans to run some through KTX services to Incheon International Airport on the AREX line from 2012.[23] The planned travel time between Incheon International Airport and Gwangju is 3 hours.[24]

From 2014, the Honam KTX Line is to transfer to the future Honam High Speed Railway between Osong on the Gyeongbu HSR and Gwangju·Songjeong. By 2017, the service will transfer to the new line on the remaining section to Mokpo, too.