Bujeon–Masan Double-Track Railway to Partially Open on April 1, 2027: Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do Within 30 Minutes
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□ In accordance with the implementation plan for the Bujeon–Masan Double-Track Railway Project outlined by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on August 25, 2026, part of the railway will start operating on April 1, 2027.
○ The initial opening will exclude the Sasang Station–Gangseo Geumho Station section, which is undergoing a review by MOLIT’s Accident Investigation Board. As a result, the finished sections will be put into service to alleviate travel inconveniences as early as possible.
□ The 32.7-kilometer Bujeon–Masan Double-Track Railway stretches from Bujeon Station in Busanjin-gu, Busan, to Jillye Signal Box in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do. It is under a Build-Transfer-Lease scheme, under which a private developer constructs the facility and hands it over to the government upon completion.
○ Once fully operational, the railway will provide a direct link between Bujeon and Masan, significantly reducing the journey time from 90 to 30 minutes compared with the existing Bujeon–Samnangjin–Masan route. It is anticipated to become a key rail network along the southern coastal corridor between Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do.
□ The sections scheduled to open in phases on April 1, 2027, are Bujeon Station–Sasang Station and Gangseo Geumho Station–Jillye Signal Box.
○ The Bujeon Station–Sasang Station section will integrate with the Jungang Line and the Donghae Line, extending access to Cheongnyangni and Dongdaegu. The Gangseo Geumho Station–Jillye Signal Box section will join the Gyeongjeon Line, with through trains continuing toward Changwon and Masan.
□ For the unopened Sasang Station–Gangseo Geumho Station section, the city will coordinate with MOLIT and relevant agencies to run a shuttle bus connecting Gangseo Geumho Station, Seobusan Yutongjigu Station, and Sasang Station, thereby improving passenger transfers and mobility.
□ Operation of the entire line is targeted for the end of 2028, with securing the safety of the Nakdong 1 Tunnel section as a priority. Thorough verification will be conducted upon the findings of MOLIT’s Accident Investigation Board.
□ Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “The Bujeon–Masan Double-Track Railway is a vital metropolitan transportation artery that spans from Busan to western Gyeongsangnam-do and will facilitate the creation of a super-regional living and economic zone in southeastern Korea. We will work in partnership with MOLIT and concerned authorities to ensure that the project proceeds smoothly until the full opening at the end of 2028 after rigorous inspections, while giving residents of Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do greater ease of movement sooner through the partial opening next year.”
