Dorasan station

{{Infobox station

| name = {{Infobox station/Header Korail

|native_name=도라산

|name =Dorasan

|station_number=K338

}}

| style = Korail

| mlanguage = {{Infobox Korean name|child=yes

| hangul = 도라산역

| hanja = {{linktext|都|羅|山|驛}}

| mr = Torasannyŏk

| rr = Dorasannyeok

}}

| image = Dorasan_stationdue.jpg

| image_caption = The entrance to Dorasan station

| address = Nosang-ri, Jangdan-myeon, Paju, Gyeonggi Province

| country = South Korea

| coordinates = {{coord|37.898715|N|126.710075|E|display=inline,title}}

| line = Gyeongui–Jungang Line, Pyongbu Line

| structure = Surface

| platform = 2 (2 side platforms) (1 not in use)

| tracks = 2 (1 not in use)

| opened = April 11, 2002 (Southern tracks), December 11, 2007 (Northern tracks)

| closed =

| rebuilt =

| electrified = December 11, 2021

| code =

| operator = {{rint|kr|rail}} Korail

| services = {{Adjacent stations

|system1=Korail

|line1=DMZ Train|left1=|right1=Imjingang|type1=West

|system2=Seoul Metropolitan Subway

|system3=KSR

}}

Dorasan station ({{Korean|hangul=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.

History

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 {{convert|16|km|mi|adj=on|sp=us}} trip every weekday.{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_re_as/koreas_trains |title=Cargo trains begin service in Koreas – Yahoo! News |access-date=2007-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213200929/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_re_as/koreas_trains |archive-date=2007-12-13 }}

On December 1, 2008, however, the North Korean government closed the border crossing after accusing South Korea of a confrontational policy.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121102205740/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-192099890.html HighBeam] 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, with the most recent reopening having been on 16 September 2013.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/asia/kaesong-korea-complex-reopens/|title=North and South Korea reopen Kaesong Industrial Complex|author=K.J. Kwon|publisher=CNN|date=16 September 2013|access-date=17 January 2014}}

On December 11, 2021, a new 3.7 km (2¼ mile) Gyeongui–Jungang Line shuttle service between Imjingang station and Dorasan station began operations. This service operates only once during weekends and public holidays.

Train services

The station was previously served by four daily trains from Seoul, which were mostly used by tourists.

http://info.korail.com/servlets/renew.sta.sta02000.sw_sta02207_v1Svt?code=0403&name=%B5%B5%B6%F3%BB%EA{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} However, service was halted due to a lack of demand and deteriorating inter-Korean relations.

{{cite news | url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20231123137600060 | title=348억 썼는데…3개월 달린 뒤 21개월째 멈춘 도라산역 관람열차 | 연합뉴스 | newspaper=연합뉴스 | date=24 November 2023 | author1=우영식 }}

Gallery

File:Dorasan station outside.jpg|Outside Dorasan station

File:Korail dorasan station sign mark.jpg|Dorasan station marker

File:Dorasan Station Outside.JPG|A view from Dorasan station's parking lot

File:Dorasan station inside.jpg|Inside Dorasan station

File:Korail dorasan station inside.jpg|Gates to the platform

File:P'yŏngbu Line tracks @ Dorasan station.jpg|P'yŏngbu Line tracks that could bring trains to Pyongyang

File:Dorasan station pyeongyang.jpg|Pyeongyang sign in the Dorasan station. Notice the name of the capital of North Korea written in the Southern dialect.

File:Korail CommutorDieselCar.jpg|Commuter Train

File:Entrance of Dorasan Station.jpg|Entrance of Dorasan station

File:Hall of Dorasan Station.jpg|Hall of Dorasan station

File:Eurasian rail map.jpg|Map of the Eurasian rail network after Korean reunification in Dorasan station

File:Korea_DMZ_Train_15_(14061863659).jpg|platform