{{Short description|Tourist train in South Korea}} {{Infobox rail service | box_width = | name = ''DMZ Train''<br />(Peace Train) | color = Blue | logo = DMZ Train Logo.png | logo_width = 100 | image = Korea DMZ Train 01 (14061927467).jpg | image_width = 220px | caption = The DMZ Train, or Peace Train, waiting at a platform. | type = Tourist train<br/>Excursion train | status = Ended | locale = South Korea | predecessor = | first = May 4, 2014 (west)<br>August 1, 2014 (east) | last = December 28, 2023 | successor = | operator = Korail | formeroperator = | ridership = | ridership2 = | website = | start = Seoul Station | stops = Western route: 5<br />Eastern route: 8 | end = Dorasan station<br />Baengmagoji station | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = | trainnumber = | line_used = Gyeongui Line<br />Gyeongwon Line | class = | access = | seating = | sleeping = | autorack = | catering = | observation = | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities = | stock = Korail CDC | gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}} | el = | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | maintenance = | sharing = | map = | map_state = }}
'''DMZ Train''' (aka Peace Train, {{korean|평화열차}}) is a South Korean excursion train operated by Korail. The train began operations in 2014 and transports tourists from Seoul to train terminals closest to the Korean Demilitarized Zone.<ref name="Korea Times">{{cite web|last=Yun|first=Suh-young|title=Train ride to the DMZ|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/02/631_164693.html|date=September 17, 2014|publisher=The Korea Times|access-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="nkchosun">{{cite web|script-title=ko:"통일위해 달린다" 평화열차 DMZ트레인 타보니… |url=http://nk.chosun.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=156999|date=May 13, 2014 |publisher=NK Chosun|language=Korean|accessdate=December 4, 2016}}</ref> The service was suspended in 2019 with the official end of operations being 28 December 2023. It resumed in 2026, between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station under the new name DMZ Peace Link Train.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-09 |title=Gov't resumes tourist train service to Dorasan Station after 6-year suspension - The Korea Times |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/northkorea/20260409/govt-resumes-tourist-train-service-to-dorasan-station-after-6-year-suspension |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=www.koreatimes.co.kr |language=en}}</ref>
==Overview== The first train opened on May 4, 2014, and travels on the Gyeongui Line, in South Korea's northwest, running from Seoul Station to Dorasan station.<ref name="Hani">{{cite web|last=Song|first=In-geol|title=Peace Train goes to DMZ, but can't take Koreans home|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/641855.html|date=June 11, 2014|publisher=The Hankyoreh|accessdate=February 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Yonhap">{{cite web|script-title=ko:경의선 평화열차 DMZ-트레인 연계관광 확대|url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/10/20/0200000000AKR20141020058400063.HTML|date=October 20, 2014|publisher=Yonhap/Reuters|language=Korean|accessdate=February 25, 2015}}</ref> The train crosses the Imjingang Railroad Bridge on the Imjin River and arrives in Paju, Gyeonggi close to the DMZ.<ref name="Korea Herald">{{cite web|last=Crawford |first=Matthew C.|title=Craving peace on the DMZ train|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140808000874|date=August 8, 2014|publisher=The Korea Herald|accessdate=February 24, 2015}}</ref> The North Korean city of Kaesong, where the defunct Kaesong industrial park is located, is {{cvt|15|km}} away.<ref name="distance">{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Chi-dong|title=(Yonhap Feature) DMZ Train takes tourists to inter-Korean border|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/feature/2017/02/23/79/0900000000AEN20170223008300320F.html|date=February 24, 2017|publisher=Yonhap|accessdate=April 29, 2018}}</ref> At the Imjingang station passengers must debark for an identification check and head count because Dorasan is the only train station located within the civilian-restricted area.<ref name="Korea Times"/>
The DMZ train ended a four-year break of passenger service to Dorasan station, started in April 2002 under the Sunshine Policy, and suspended by the Ministry of National Defense in 2010 after a person attempted crossing the DMZ into North Korea.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jeon Ick-jin and Jo Soo-min|title=Train to Dorasan station in DMZ resumes|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2989040|date=May 13, 2014|publisher=Korea JoongAng Daily|accessdate=April 29, 2018}}</ref><ref name="BBCnews">{{cite web|last=Evans|first=Steve|title=The Seoul train that goes to the border and back|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-40631452/the-seoul-train-that-goes-to-the-border-and-back|date=July 17, 2017|publisher=BBC News Online|accessdate=April 29, 2018}}</ref> The station is {{cvt|205|km}} from Pyongyang and {{cvt|56|km}} from Seoul and a sign there reads, "This is not the last station from the South, but the first station toward the North".<ref name="distance"/> Some tourist activities at the final stop are bus and walking tours to the Dorasan Peace Park, the Third Tunnel, and the Dora Observatory.<ref name="Korea Times"/><ref name="nkchosun"/><ref name="korea.net #1">{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Seung-ah|title=DMZ Train takes you to the border|url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Travel/view?articleId=119589|date=May 26, 2014|publisher=Korea.net|accessdate=February 24, 2015}}</ref>
The second route opened on August 1, 2014,<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Sun-ho|title=Battles of White Horse Hill|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2014/10/162_166773.html|date=October 22, 2014|publisher=The Korea Times|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref> and travels {{cvt|100|km}} on the Gyeongwon Line northeast from Seoul Station to Baengmagoji station, in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province.<ref name="Cherwon">{{cite web|last=|first=|title=S. Korea puts 'peace train' to Cherwon in service|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/search1/2603000000.html?cid=AEN20140731006700315|date=July 31, 2014|publisher=Yonhap|accessdate=February 24, 2015}}</ref> It is the last station currently open on that line, followed by the now closed Woljeong-ri station in the DMZ, where visitors may tour, and Wonsan station, now located in North Korea, where trains used to arrive from Seoul in the early 20th century, but stopped after Korea's division.<ref name="Cherwon"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Yang|first=Bo-ra|title=Train to Cheorwon takes visitors back to the past : Visit the northernmost station in South Korea for only 1,000 won|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3037901|date=September 2, 2017|publisher=Korea JoongAng Daily|accessdate=April 29, 2018}}</ref> Some other off-train tour visits are White Horse Hill and Cheorwon Peace Observatory.<ref>{{cite web|title=DMZ Unification Train, dreaming of running freely from Seoul to Cherwon and far beyond|url=https://www.dmz.go.kr/english/doshare/postscript/view/2918|date=October 4, 2016|publisher=Ministry of the Interior and Safety (South Korea)|accessdate=April 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219141846/http://dmz.go.kr/english/doshare/postscript/view/2918|archive-date=December 19, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="korea.net #2">{{cite web|last=Yoon|first= Sojung |title=New train line to North Korea|url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Travel/view?articleId=120808|date=July 28, 2014|publisher=Korea.net|accessdate=February 24, 2015}}</ref> thumb|right|DMZ Train interior thumb|right|Imjingang Railroad Bridge
The train had three themed cars: "Peace Car" with a rusty steam train motif symbolizing the separation of the Korean peninsula, "Harmony Car", with paintings of red and blue figurines holding hands, and "Love Car" with paintings of adults and children from across the globe, also, holding hands. Inside the cars, ceilings are covered with pinwheels, and walls display photographs of the DMZ, with themes of war, trains, and ecology.<ref name="nkchosun"/><ref name="korea.net #1"/>
==Reception== Soon after the opening of the first route to Dorasan station, on June 11, 2014, Song In-geol of The Hankyoreh reported ridership of around 10,000 for the first month, and the trip's significance, "...for South Koreans who moved here from the North, it is the road home, as well as memory lane; for young people and families, it is a way to experience the separation of the peninsula; for visitors from overseas, it is a journey motivated by curiosity".<ref name="Hani"/>
In July 2017, BBC News journalist Steve Evans called it "one of the most bizarre train journeys in the world", and said, "It is a political journey, it is designed to make the point that the train goes and can go no further".<ref name="BBCnews"/>
==Operations== Western - Gyeongui Line *Started running: May 4, 2014 *Stations: Seoul Station - Munsan station - Uncheon station - Imjingang station - Dorasan station. *Approximate one-way travel time: 1 hour, 20 minutes.
Eastern - Gyeongwon Line *Started running: August 1, 2014 *Stations: Seoul Station - Cheongnyangni station - Uijeongbu station - Dongducheon station - Soyosan station - Yeoncheon station - Sintan-ri station - Baengmagoji station. *Approximate one-way travel time: 2 hours.
=== Suspension and resumption === On April 1, 2019, the eastern service was suspended due to construction of the new double tracked & electrified alignment of the Gyeongwon Line between Dongducheon station and Yeoncheon station.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mnews.joins.com/article/23426811#home|script-title=ko:동두천~백마고지 경원선 열차 다음달부터 2년간 올 스톱|date=March 30, 2019|accessdate=July 8, 2019}}</ref> On October 2, 2019, the western service was suspended due to concerns about an outbreak of African swine fever, as requested by Paju.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letskorail.com/ebizcom/event/total/EbizcomEventTotallw_cus06101_detail.do?searchKeyword2=1563|script-title=ko:"[공지] DMZ-train(용산↔도라산) 운행조정 알림"|date=October 2, 2019}}</ref>
A new tourist train, renamed DMZ Peace Link, began operating between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station on April 24, 2026, with financial support from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification and the city of Paju and with a frequency of one train every two weeks, which may be increased to one train per week during peak season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-10 |title=Paju City Resumes Seoul–Dorasan Train Service After 6 Years... Launches 'DMZ Peace Link Train' |url=https://www.asiae.co.kr/en/article/2026041014150427453 |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=The Asia Business Daily |language=en}}</ref> The ride is part of a tour package by Korail that includes visits to tourist sites within the Civilian Control Zone, and the train cannot be boarded independently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=기차여행은 코레일관광개발 |url=https://www.korailtravel.com/ |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=www.korailtravel.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|DMZ Train}} *[https://www.korailtravel.com/web/goods_view/index.asp?page_nm=goods_day&strApart=&strBpart=&strCpart=&goodsNum=21331 DMZ Peace Link Train at Korail] {{in lang|en}} {{Korail passenger train services}} {{Korail Tourist train Services}}
Category:Passenger trains of the Korail Category:Tourist trains in South Korea