The first scheduled passenger train from Beijing to Pyongyang since services were halted in 2020 departed Beijing Railway Station on Thursday, re-establishing a direct rail link between the capitals after a six-year interruption. China’s railway authority identified the service as Train K27.
According to the railway authority, Train K27 is due to arrive in Pyongyang at 6:07 p.m. (0907 GMT) on Friday, completing a journey of 24 hours and 41 minutes. The route runs north of the Bohai Sea and includes a stop in the border city of Dandong.
A foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters that China and North Korea are "friendly neighbours" and that the reinstated cross-border passenger train service helps facilitate people-to-people exchanges. The spokesperson also said China supports stronger channels of communication between the two sides to ease such exchanges.
The direct service between the capitals was suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Travel agencies that organise visits to North Korea say the country has remained largely closed to foreign tourism, with limited exceptions predominantly for Russian tour groups under restricted arrangements.
Service frequency and ticketing
China’s railway authority said the Beijing-Pyongyang service will operate four days a week in both directions - on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Ticket sales for the Thursday departure were reported as sold out by a Beijing travel agency, with seats for March 18 still available. Access to tickets for the capital-to-capital run is limited to holders of business visas, per the notices and travel agency comments.
In addition to the longer-capital link, a shorter daily service between Dandong and Pyongyang will run in both directions. Xinhua reported that the first Dandong departure left at 10 a.m. on Thursday and is scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang at 6:07 p.m.
Cross-border flights between China and North Korea were also suspended during the pandemic. North Korea’s state carrier, Air Koryo, restarted flights to China in 2023 and currently lists twice-weekly services between the capitals, operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays according to the airline’s website booking system.
The resumption of the passenger rail service restores a direct overland link that had been unavailable for six years and does so under constrained schedules and entry requirements. Officials emphasised the role of the service in enabling exchanges between the two nations while travel agencies noted the continued limitations on foreign visitors to North Korea.