Demo train to run along Khasan-Rajin rail section in October

PYONGYANG, September 19 (Itar-Tass) - A demo train in October will run
across the rail section of the Trans-Korean Railway that will link
Russia's Khasan with North Korea's port of Rajin, a well-informed source
told Itar-Tass on Monday.
At present, the construction works to ensure the movement of trains
are underway.
The subcommission on transport of the Russian-North Korean
intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical
cooperation took a decision on launching a demo train.
At present, Russia and North Korea are implementing the Khasan-Rajin
pilot project that includes the reconstruction of a 52 kilometer rail
section, the construction of a container terminal in the port of Rajin and
the operation of the yet-to-be-created infrastructure.
In October 2008 North Korea's station of Tumangan on the border with
Russia hosted a rail-laying ceremony of the modernized railway section
running to North Korea's Rajin. Experts say this non-freezing port has
developed infrastructure, ensures high security of freighters and provides
privileges for entrepreneurs. Thanks to its geographic location the port
can be used by South Korean, Chinese and Japanese companies.
In general, the reconstruction of the Trans-Korean Railway will allow
cargo trains run at a high-speed from Rajin to Khasan and along the
Trans-Siberian Railway.
In the future when the railway service along the whole Trans-Korean
Railway from South Korea's Busan through North Korea to Russia becomes
operational, most cargos that are now shipped by sea from Busan to Europe
can be transported along Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway.
The southern sea route from Asia to Western Europe is three times
longer than the railway transit through Russia.
Experts forecast that modernization of the Trans-Korean Railway will
allow to create Eurasia's longest transport corridor - over 10,000
kilometers, which main competitive advantage will be reliability and
high-speed of cargo shipment.