Evaluation of Eunpyeong-gu as the Optimal Departure Station for the Eurasia Railway at Seoul Northern Station

Seoul Bukbu Station Evaluated as Optimal Site in Feasibility Study... Outperforms Other Candidates in Station Site Expandability, Airport Accessibility, and Cargo Handling

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced on the 17th that Seoul Northern Station was evaluated as the optimal site in the 'Feasibility Study for the Starting Station of the Eurasia Railway.'

The district held a 'Feasibility Study Report Meeting for the Starting Station of the Eurasia Railway at Seoul Northern Station (Susaek-DMC Station)' on the 13th to review the results of the study.

The Eurasia Railway is the world's longest railway with a total length of 18,000 km connecting China, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe. It is an international passenger and freight route linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Seoul Northern Station is a new international railway station to be constructed by combining the current Susaek Station and the nearby DMC Station, with the station name proposed by Eunpyeong-gu. The district conducted this feasibility study to designate Seoul Northern Station as the starting station of the Eurasia Railway in preparation for future continental railway connections via North Korea.

According to the study results, Seoul Northern Station was reviewed as the optimal site based on a self-evaluation analysis of 10 criteria including ▲station site expandability ▲access transportation network ▲passenger and freight handling ▲connection distance ▲vehicle maintenance facilities ▲international demand forecast for nine candidate starting stations nationwide.

In the AHP analysis (Analytic Hierarchy Process) conducted with 10 railway experts, Seoul Northern Station received high scores in nine essential criteria for international station designation, such as international railway line connection convenience, international airport accessibility, track capacity accommodation, and ease of vehicle maintenance, thus being evaluated as the optimal starting station for the Eurasia Railway.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, emphasized, "Recently, the Susaek-Gwangmyeong section of the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line was included in the 4th National Railway Network Plan, which supports the designation of Seoul Northern Station as the starting station of the Eurasia Railway. Since the starting points of the Gyeongbu Line, Honam Line, and Gyeongchun Line are Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, and Cheongnyangni Station respectively, the Eurasia starting station, serving as the gateway to the continent, should be designated as Seoul Northern Station."

She added, "As shown in the study results, Seoul Northern Station, which has excellent competitiveness in many aspects, will be designated as the Eurasia starting station and will grow into a global hub for passenger and logistics. We will continue to consult with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related organizations."