Sinhung Line

Railway line in North Korea
title: "Sinhung Line" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["railway-lines-in-north-korea", "standard-gauge-railways-in-north-korea", "2-ft-6-in-gauge-railways-in-north-korea"] description: "Railway line in North Korea" topic_path: "general/railway-lines-in-north-korea" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhung_Line" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Railway line in North Korea ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail line"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| box_width | 300px |
| name | Sinhŭng Line |
| native_name | 신흥선(新興線) |
| native_name_lang | ko |
| color | |
| type | Heavy rail, Passenger/Freight rail |
| Regional rail | |
| status | Operational |
| locale | South Hamgyŏng Province |
| start | Hamhŭng |
| end | Pujŏnhoban |
| stations | 16 |
| planopen | |
| open | 10 June 1923 (Hamhŭng—Yŏnggwang) |
| 25 August 1923 (Yŏnggwang—Changp'ung) | |
| 1 October 1926 (P'ungsang—Sinhŭng) | |
| 1 February 1928 (Sinhŭng—Songhŭng) | |
| 10 September 1932 (Songhŭng—Pujŏnhoban) | |
| operator | Sinhŭng Railway (1923–1938) |
| Chosen Railway (1938–1945) | |
| Korean State Railway (since 1945) | |
| depot | Sinhŭng, Hamhŭng |
| linelength_km | 91.6 |
| tracks | Single track |
| gauge | |
| (Hamhŭng – Sinhŭng) |
(Sinhŭng – Pujŏnhoban) |
| electrification | 3000 V DC Overhead line Hamhŭng−Sinhŭng
1500 V DC Overhead line Sinhŭng−Pujŏnhoban |
| map | [[Image:DPRK-Sinhung Line.png|300px]] |
| inline | 1 |
| BL\STRl\hKRZWaeq\RP1!BUEq\STR+r\~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|45|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\\STR!LOCK3u\~ ~~ ~~cable-hauled section, {{convert|550|m|ft|abbr | on}}'' |
| BL\\WASSER\STR\~~ ~~ (bridge appx {{convert|35|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\WASSERl\WASSERq\hKRZWae\WASSER+r\ ~~ (bridge appx {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\\STR\WASSER\ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|145|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\ABZg+l\STRq\hKRZWaeq\STRr~~ ~~ (bridge appx {{convert|280|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\SHI1r!~uv-KDSTa\uKBSTa\WASSER\WORKS ~~ (bridge appx {{convert|210|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\vKBHFe-!~uv-BHF\WASSER\{{BSsplit|41.0|0.0|align | left|line=yes}}Sinhŭng |
| BL\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\uhKRZWae\WASSERq\WABZg+r\ ~~ (bridge appx {{convert|95|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\uhKRZWae\WASSERq\WABZg+r\ ~~ (bridge appx {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\uhKRZWae\WASSERq\WASSERr!~WASSER\ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|65|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\\uhKRZWae\WASSER!WASSERr\RP1~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| BL\WASSER+l\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERr\RP1\uSTR~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx {{convert|415|m|ft|abbr | on}}) |
| map_state | collapsed |
::
| box_width = 300px | name = Sinhŭng Line | other_name = | native_name = 신흥선(新興線) | native_name_lang = ko | color = | logo = | logo_width = | logo_alt = | image = | image_width = | image_alt = | caption = | type = Heavy rail, Passenger/Freight rail Regional rail | system = | status = Operational | locale = South Hamgyŏng Province | start = Hamhŭng | end = Pujŏnhoban | stations = 16 | routes = | daily_ridership = | planopen = | open = 10 June 1923 (Hamhŭng—Yŏnggwang) 25 August 1923 (Yŏnggwang—Changp'ung) 1 October 1926 (P'ungsang—Sinhŭng) 1 February 1928 (Sinhŭng—Songhŭng) 10 September 1932 (Songhŭng—Pujŏnhoban) | event1label = | event1 = | event2label = | event2 = | event3label = | event3 = | close = | owner = | operator = Sinhŭng Railway (1923–1938) Chosen Railway (1938–1945) Korean State Railway (since 1945) | character = | depot = Sinhŭng, Hamhŭng | stock = | linelength_km = 91.6 | tracklength_km= | tracklength_mi= | tracklength = | tracks = Single track | gauge = (Hamhŭng – Sinhŭng)
(Sinhŭng – Pujŏnhoban)
| old_gauge =
| load_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| routenumber =
| linenumber =
| electrification = 3000 V DC Overhead line Hamhŭng−Sinhŭng
1500 V DC Overhead line Sinhŭng−Pujŏnhoban
| speed =
| elevation =
| maxincline =
| website =
| map = [[Image:DPRK-Sinhung Line.png|300px]]
| inline=1
| map=
\\\\STRq~~ Sinhŭng Line (narrow gauge)
\\\\uSTRq Sinhŭng Line (standard gauge)
\\\\STRq_ruby Changjin Line
\\\\fSTRq P'yŏngra Line
\\\\STRq_orange Sŏho Line
\\\\STRq_azure Pinallon Line
\\WCONTg\\ ~~ Pujŏn River
ELCa\KHSTaq\STR+r\WASSERl\WASSER+r\RP1\47.950.6Pujŏnhoban
BL\RP1q\RP1+r!~STRl\BSTq\STR+r\WASSER\RP1\WORKSToan
BL\RP1l\RP1q!~RP1s\SKRZ-G1BUE\RP2oWq!~RP1q\RP1wRP1\
BL\STR+l\RP1!~BUEq\STRr\WASSER\RP1\
BL\HST\RP1l\RP1q!~BUILDING\RP2oWq!~RP1q\RP1wRP1\Pujŏllyŏng
BL\\\BST\~~25.4~~Paegamsan
BL\\\STR!40.0Pujŏn
BL\STR\WASSER+l\WASSERq\WASSERr\RP1\
BL\STR\WASSER\RP1+l\RP1q\RP1rf\
BL\STR\WASSER\RP1\\
BL\STRl\hKRZWaeq\RP1!BUEq\STR+r\~ ~~ (bridge appx 45 m)
BL\RP1q\RP1q\RP2oWq!Hamjiwŏn
BL\\WASSER\RP1eRP1\SKRZ-G1BUE\RP1q\RP1qRP1q\RP1wRP1\STR\33.7
BL\\WASSER\RP1\HST\~
BL\WASSERq-!~RP1q\WASSERq-!~RP1q\WASSERr-!RP1q\RP1rf\STR\27.1
BL\\\STR\
BL\\\HST\~LOCK1u\~ ~~ ~~top of cable-hauled section
BL\\\STR!LOCK3u\~ ~~ ~~cable-hauled section, 550 m
BL\\\tSTRa@g!LOCK2u\ ~~ ~~Kŭmsilch'ŏn
BL\\WASSER\STR\~~ ~~ ~~(bridge appx 35 m)
BL\\WASSER+l\WASSERr\BHF\~~20.0~~Songhŭng
BL\\WASSER\exKBSTaq\eABZgr\\exWORKS
BL\\WASSER\eHST\~~19.0
BL\\\nBST!PORTALg\~ ~~ ~~bottom of cable-hauled section
BL\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSER+r\STR\
BL\\WABZg+l\hKRZWae\WASSERq\WASSERq~Hasonghŭng Closed
BL\\WASSERl\WASSERq\hKRZWae\WASSER+r\ ~~ (bridge appx 30 m)
BL\\\STR\WASSER\
BL\\tSTReq\ABZgr!~lHST-\WASSER\underground facility
BL\\STR+l\STRr\WASSER\
BL\\HST\WASSER\14.9Songha13.1Kyŏnghŭng
BL\\STRl\STR+r\WASSER\
BL\\\STR\WABZg+l\WASSERq~~ ~~ Sŏngch'ŏngang
BL\\\HST\WASSER\ ~~ 6.9Tonghŭng
BL\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\hKRZWae\WABZg+r\Tonghŭngch'ŏn
BL\\\STR\WASSER\ ~~ (bridge appx 145 m)
BL\\\eHST\WASSER\2.8Kilbong ~~Closed
BL\\STR+l\STRr\WASSER\KBSTa~~1.5~~P'ungdŏk
BL\\ABZg+l\STRq\hKRZWaeq\STRr~~ ~~ (bridge appx 280 m)
BL\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\hKRZWae\WASSERq\WABZg+r\ ~~ Sŏgoch'ŏn
BL\\SHI1r!~uv-KDSTa\uKBSTa\WASSER\WORKS ~~ (bridge appx 210 m)
BL\\uvSTR-ABZg+l!~vSTR-\uSTRr\WASSER\
BL\\vKBHFe-!~uv-BHF\WASSER\~~~~Sinhŭng
BL\\uSHI1+l\WASSER\
BL\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\uhKRZWae\WASSERq\WABZg+r\ ~~ (bridge appx 95 m)
BL\\uSTRl\uSTR+r\WASSER\
BL\\uSTR+l\uSTRr\WASSER\ ~~ Ch'ŏnbulsanch'ŏn
BL\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\uhKRZWae\WASSERq\WABZg+r\ ~~ (bridge appx 80 m)
BL\\uHST\WASSER\28.233.5Ch'ŏnbulsan
BL\\ueHST\WASSER\30.7Chŏndong
BL\\uexKBHFa\uSTR\WASSER\Changpung Closed
BL\\uexSTRl\ueABZg+r\WASSER\
BL\\uhKRZWae\WASSERq\WASSERr!~WASSER\ ~~ (bridge appx 65 m)
BL\\uBHF\WASSER+l\WASSERr\RP1+l\RP1q25.9~~P'ungsang
BL\\uSTR\WASSER\RP1~~ ~~ Sanch'angch'ŏn
BL\\uhKRZWae\WASSER!Yŏnggwang
BL\CONTgq_ruby\STRq_ruby!WASSERr\RP1~ ~~ (bridge appx 80 m)
BL\\uBHF\WASSER\RP1+l\RP1rf\WORKS17.0lELC\STRq_ruby\STRr_ruby!12.3~~Changhŭng
BL\WASSER\RP1\uSTR+l\uHSTq\uSTRq\uSTRq\uSTRr~~9.3~~Pumin
BL\WASSER\RP1\uSTR\\uSTRl\uhKRZWaeq\RP1! ~~ ~~(bridge appx 415 m)
BL\WASSER\RP1+l\RP1q\RP1q\RP1q\RP1rf\uHST~uBUEq\uSTR+r~ ~~ ~~Changjin Line
BL\WASSER+l\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERq\WASSERr\RP1\uSTR~
BL\WASSER\RP1\uHST\\~~6.6Kadam
BL\WASSER\RP1l\RP1q!~uBUE\RP1+r\\
BL\WASSER\uSTR+l\uSTRr!West Hamhŭng
ELCe!~fCONTgq\fhKRZWaeq\fSTRq!~uSTRl\STR_orange!~uhSTRaeq\uSTRq\STRl_orange!~uSTRq\fSTRq!RP1+l\RP1rf\\
BL\hRP2oWq\uSKRZ-G2hr\RP1n!0.0RP2q\RP2q\RP2q\RP2q\RP2q~ ~~ ~~Chongsŏng Street
BL\WASSER\uSTR\STR+l_orange\BHFq_orange\STR+r_orange\~uKBHFeq\fSTR+r~0.0Hamhŭng←to P'yŏngyang
\WASSER\STR_orange\\fDST~~-3.9~~Hamhŭng Choch'ajang
\WASSER\STR_orange!~lELC\STR+l_azure\STRq_azure\STRq_azure\STRr_azure!fSTR ~~ ~~to Rajin
| map_state = collapsed
|hangul=^신흥선
|hanja=新興線
\WASSER\CONTf_orange\STR_azure!lELC\\fSTR~ ~~ ~~Sŏho Line to Sŏho
\WASSER\\CONTf_azure\\fSTR!lELC~ ~~ ~~Pinallon Line to Hŭngnam
\WCONTf\\\fCONTf~
The Sinhŭng Line is an electrified narrow gauge railway line of the Korean State Railway in South Hamgyŏng Province, North Korea, running from Hamhŭng (Hamhŭng-si) to Pujŏnhoban (Pujŏn-gun) on Lake Pujŏn via Sinhŭng (Sinhŭng-gun).
Between Hamhŭng and Sinhŭng, a distance of 40.9 km, the line is standard gauge, but the remaining 50.6 km from Sinhŭng to the terminus at Pujŏnhoban is narrow gauge; the narrow gauge section is also electrified.
Though primarily an industrial railway connecting to the Pujŏn River hydroelectric power plant, it also plays an important role in passenger transportation in the region. There is a 550 m section between Songhŭng and Pujŏllyŏng that is cable-hauled.
History
During the Japanese colonial era, the privately owned Sinhŭng Railway built a network of narrow-gauge lines north of Hamhŭng. These were the Hamnam Line (not to be confused with the line of the same name of the Chosen Magnesite Development Railway, nowadays called Kŭmgol Line), to assist in the construction of the Pujŏn River hydroelectric power plant and to exploit forestry and other resources in the area. When complete, the Hamnam Line ran from Hamhŭng to Hamnam Sinhŭng (nowadays called simply Sinhŭng) via Oro (nowadays Yŏnggwang), with a branch from Oro to Sang'tong. Later, the Sinhŭng Railway opened the Songhŭng Line from Sinhŭng to Pujŏnhoban. The Sinhŭng Railway was bought by the Chosen Railway on 22 April 1938.
Between 1934 and 1936, the Sinhŭng Railway opened a line south from Hamhŭng, the Namhŭng Line.
::data[format=table]
| Section | Opening date | Length | Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamhŭng - Oro (Yŏnggwang) | 10 June 1923 | 17.0 km | Hamnam Line | |
| Oro - Changpung | 25 August 1923 | 11.2 km | Hamnam Line | Changp'ung Station subsequently closed. |
| West Hamhŭng Station | 25 August 1923 | Hamnam Line | ||
| P'ungsang - Hamnam Sinhŭng (Sinhŭng) | 1 October 1926 | 15.1 km | Hamnam Line | |
| Hamnam Sinhŭng - Hamnam Songhŭng (Songhŭng) | 1 February 1928 | 20.0 km | Songhŭng Line | |
| Kilbong Station | 12 April 1932 | Songhŭng Line | Subsequently, closed. | |
| Hamnam Songhŭng - Pujŏnhoban | 10 September 1932 | 31.6 km | Songhŭng Line | |
| Chŏndong Station | 16 October 1933 | Hamnam Line | Subsequently, closed. | |
| :: |
After the establishment of the DPRK and the nationalisation of its railways, the Hamnam Line was split up, with the Hamhŭng - Oro - Sinhŭng section becoming the Sinhŭng Line, and the Oro - Sangt'ong section becoming part of the Changjin Line. At the same time, the Songhŭng Line was merged into the Sinhŭng Line, extending it to its current length. Originally built entirely as a narrow gauge line, frequent accidents on the line led the Korean State Railway to convert the Hamhŭng—Sinhŭng to standard gauge for greater safety and increased transportation capacity. After the regauging of this section, West Hamhŭng station was disconnected from the Hamhŭng—Sinhŭng, leaving Hamhŭng as the only direct junction point with the Sŏho Line. Electrification of the line to Pujŏnhoban was completed in 1992.
Services
Freight
The primary outbound freight shipped on the Sinhŭng Line is wood; potatoes and metals are also shipped out. Goods arriving onto the line from elsewhere include coal (anthracite and bituminous), fertiliser, aquatic products, grains and cement.
Passenger
Though primarily an industrial railway connecting to the Pujŏn River hydroelectric power plant, it also plays an important role in passenger transportation in the region. A pair of local passenger trains, 880/881, operate on the standard gauge section of this line between Hamhŭng and Sinhŭng; there are also passenger trains on the narrow-gauge section north of Sinhŭng.
Route
A yellow background in the "Distance" box indicates that section of the line is not electrified; a pink background indicates that section is narrow gauge; an orange background indicates that section is non-electrified narrow gauge.
::data[format=table] | Distance (km) | Station Name | Former Name | Total | S2S | Transcribed | Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) | Transcribed | Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) | Connections (Former) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | -3.9 | 0.0 | Hamhŭng Choch'ajang | 함흥 (咸興) | | | Pinallon Line | | | | | Although part of the P'yŏngra Line and not Sinhŭng Line, all (standard-gauge) Sinhŭng Line trains travel to/from Hamhŭng Choch'ajang. | | | | | | | | | | | 0.0 | 3.9 | Hamhŭng | 함흥 (咸興) | | | P'yŏngra Line, Sŏho Line | | | | | 1.0 | 1.0 | Sŏhamhŭng (West Hamhŭng) | 서함흥 (西咸興) | | | (Sŏho Line). No longer on Sinhŭng Line. | | | | | 6.6 | 6.6 | Kadam | 가담 (-) | Hŭngsang | 흥상 (興祥) | | | | | | 9.3 | 2.7 | Pumin | 부민 (富民) | | | Closed. | | | | | 12.3 | 3.0 | Changhŭng | 장흥 (長興) | | | | | | | | 17.0 | 4.7 | Yŏnggwang | 영광 (榮光) | Oro | 오로 (五老) | Changjin Line | | | | | 25.9 | 8.9 | P'ungsang | 풍상 (豊上) | | | | | | | | 28.2 | 2.3 | Changp'ung | 장풍 (長豊) | | | Closed. | | | | | 30.7 | 4.8 | Chŏndong | 전동 (典洞) | | | Distance from P'ungsang. | | | | | 33.5 | 2.8 | Ch'ŏnbulsan | 천불산 (千佛山) | | | | | | | | 41.0 0.0 | 7.5 0.0 | Sinhŭng | 신흥 (新興) | Hamnam Sinhŭng | 함남신흥 (咸南新興) | | | | | | 2.8 | 2.8 | Kilbong | 길봉 (吉峰) | | | Closed. | | | | | 6.9 | 4.1 | Tonghŭng | 동흥 (東興) | | | | | | | | 13.1 | 6.2 | Kyŏnghŭng | 경흥 (慶興) | | | | | | | | 14.9 | 1.8 | Songha | 송하 (松下) | | | | | | | | 19.0 | 4.1 | Hasonghŭng | 하송흥 (下松興) | | | Closed. | | | | | 20.0 | 1.0 | Songhŭng | 송흥 (松興) | Hamnam Songhŭng | 함남송흥 (咸南松興) | | | | | | 25.4 | 5.4 | Paegamsan | 백암산 (白岩山) | | | Service halt | | | | | 27.1 | 1.7 | Pujŏllyŏng | 부전령 (赴戰嶺) | | | | | | | | 33.7 | 6.6 | Hamjiwŏn | 함지원 (咸地院) | | | | | | | | 40.0 | 3.8 | Pujŏn | 부전 (赴戰) | | | | | | | | 47.9 | 7.9 | Toan | 도안 (道安) | Hamnam Toan | 함남도안 (咸南道安) | | | | | | 50.6 | 2.7 | Pujŏnhoban | 부전호반 (赴戰湖畔) | | | | | | | ::
References
References
- Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), {{ISBN. 978-4-10-303731-6
- "신흥선".
- 朝鮮總督府官報 (The Public Journal of the Governor-General of Korea), Shōwa No. 3385, 3 May 1938
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