TKR-TSR rail connection test scheduled for next year

The Trans-Korea Railway (TKR) and the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR) connection may be ready for test operations from next year.

The Ministry of Construction and Transportation (MOCT) revealed on November 6 that the above plan would be confirmed in ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) held in the Grand Intercontinental Hotel on November 12.

MOCT expected that the trans-Asia railway would be in operation, starting from Pusan at the end of next year or the early 2003 if the Kyoung-gui rail is completed during the next year.

During the meeting, MOCT will sign an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with neighboring countries including Russia, China and Mongolia to handle the process efficiently. The test operation will be conducted at five departure points on the trans-Asia railways, at Vostochny in Russia, Lianyungang and Tianjin in China, Pusan in South Korea, and Najin in North Korea. The new rail network is scheduled to kicks off from early next year with the exception of Pusan.

ESCAP will last for six days up to November 17, with 650 delegates from 52 countries. It will mainly discuss traffic and telecommunications networks and private capital investment for them.