Busan New Port rail line to hit 125 percent saturation by 2040, council member warns

Freight rail lines connecting to Busan New Port face severe capacity overload starting in 2040, with warnings that failing to secure an alternative rail network timed to the openings of the new port and a new airport could paralyze port logistics.

The Construction and Fire Committee of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Council on Thursday passed a resolution calling on the central government to include the "CTX-Jinhae Line" in its fifth national railroad network plan. Council member Park Dong-cheol (People Power Party, Changwon's 14th District) sponsored the resolution.

According to the resolution, the daily track capacity of the Busan New Port line stands at 136 trips. Demand, however, is expected to reach at least 171 trips a day by 2040, once the double-track electrified line between Bujeon and Masan opens, Jinhae New Port and Gadeokdo New Airport are developed, and the relocation of the Busanjin container yard is completed. That would exceed capacity by more than 35 trips a day, a saturation rate of 125.7 percent. Once rail capacity hits its limit, container cargo would spill onto surrounding roads, causing traffic congestion and a surge in logistics costs.

The provincial council called on the government to build the CTX-Jinhae Line as an alternative route. The 38.17-kilometer line would run from Changwon Central Station through downtown Jinhae and Jinhae New Port to Gadeokdo New Airport. Once completed, it would directly link the Changwon National Industrial Complex with the port and the airport, easing the transport overload on the Busan New Port line.

A key obstacle to the project — the need to replace military rail lines — has also seen progress. The provincial council and related authorities have completed preliminary consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces Transportation Command over upgrades to the Sabi and Haengam lines, which connect to military facilities in Jinhae. Military authorities have also confirmed that building an alternative transport network is urgently needed to maintain military transport functions and ensure safety.

"The CTX-Jinhae Line is a national strategic railway that would ease the overload on the Busan New Port line while also securing safety for military transport," Park said. "The government should not be bound by simple economic feasibility assessments and must immediately reflect this project in the fifth national railroad network plan from the perspective of logistics, industry and national security."

The resolution will be reviewed at a plenary session of the provincial council before being formally delivered to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other related ministries.