Dorasan station
Railway station in South Korea
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Dorasan station (Korean: 도라산역) is a railway station situated on the Gyeongui–Jungang Line, which formerly connected North Korean and South Korean rail systems and has since been restored. Dorasan station is located approximately 650 meters (710 yards) from the southern boundary of the Korean Demilitarized Zone and is currently the northern terminus of Korail's Gyeongui-Jungang Line, which is served by shuttle service to Imjingang station. North of here the former Gyeongui Line continues as the Korean State Railway's P'yŏngbu Line, but this connection is not in regular service. The current purpose of the station is largely symbolic of the hope for eventual Korean reunification.
The entrance to Dorasan station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Korean name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hangul | 도라산역 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanja | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revised Romanization | Dorasannyeok | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McCune–Reischauer | Torasannyŏk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Nosang-ri, Jangdan-myeon, Paju, Gyeonggi Province South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37.898715°N 126.710075°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lines | Gyeongui–Jungang Line, Pyongbu Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 (2 side platforms) (1 not in use) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 (1 not in use) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Surface | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | April 11, 2002 (Southern tracks), December 11, 2007 (Northern tracks) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrified | December 11, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
Dorasan Station was inaugurated on April 11, 2002 by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and his American counterpart George W. Bush.[1]
The first passenger test-train ran between Dorasan and Kaesong on May 17, 2007, but no regular cross-border passenger service was ever established thereafter.[2] On December 11, 2007, freight trains began traveling north past Dorasan station into North Korea, taking materials to the Kaesong Industrial Region, and returning with finished goods. It was scheduled to make one 16-kilometer (9.9 mi) trip every weekday.[3]
On December 1, 2008, however, the North Korean government closed the border crossing after accusing South Korea of a confrontational policy.[4] This coincided with the 2008 South Korean legislative election, and a change to a more conservative government. After that it was opened and closed again repeatedly. Finally, in 2024, North Korea blew up the railroad tracks just north of the demarcation line.
Train services
On April 24, 2026, Korail resumed service to Dorasan Station, which had been suspended since 2019 due to low demand, with support from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification and the city of Paju.[5] A tourist train, called the “DMZ Peace Link,” runs from Seoul Station to Dorasan every other Friday as part of an organized tour. There are plans to increase service to one train per week during the summer peak season. [6]
Gallery
- Outside Dorasan station
- Dorasan station marker
- A view from Dorasan station's parking lot
- Inside Dorasan station
- Gates to the platform
- P'yŏngbu Line tracks that could bring trains to Pyongyang
- Pyeongyang sign in the Dorasan station.
- Commuter Train
- Entrance of Dorasan station
- Hall of Dorasan station
- Map of the Eurasian rail network after Korean reunification in Dorasan station
- platform
