railway

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Friday the resumption of tourist rail service to the border with North Korea is a “small” starting point for establishing peace with Pyongyang, as Seoul reopened a long-closed border rail station.

Earlier in the day, South Korea resumed tourist rail service to and from its northernmost Dorasan Station in the border city of Paju, which is a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation that once connected the two Koreas.

“The resumption of train service is a small starting point toward establishing everyday peace, allowing people to experience it in their daily lives,” Chung said in a ceremony marking the event.

“When tourists can visit, see and experience the site of peace at Dorasan Station, peace will finally become an everyday language that breathes in our lives, rather than grand discourse,” he said.

The station, the northern endpoint of South Korea’s rail network just south of the inter-Korean border, was established after the then South and North Korean leaders agreed to connect their railways at a 2000 summit held amid a period of reconciliation between the two Koreas.

Freight trains once ran through Dorasan Station between the two Koreas, carrying materials and finished goods to and from the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a jointly operated factory park in North Korea that was shut down amid inter-Korean tensions in 2016.

Since then, the station had served tourist trains carrying passengers in South Korea to border areas, before closing completely in late 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resumption of the border station comes as Seoul continues efforts to resume dialogue and engagement with North Korea to reduce military tensions and establish peace, despite Pyongyang’s repeated rebuffs.

“Only peace and coexistence, as well as reconciliation and cooperation, are the path to mutual prosperity for the South and the North, not worthless animosity and confrontation,” Chung also noted.

He said he believes the two Koreas can surely establish new relations that accommodate the changing international situation and their respective national interests, expressing hope that their railways could be reconnected in the future.

The resumption of rail service to the station will allow tourists to travel by train beyond the Civilian Control Line, which restricts public access near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

The train, named “DMZ Peace Link,” departs from Seoul Station and stops at Unjeong and Imjingang before reaching Dorasan Station, where tourists can visit a nearby observation post and a tourist village.

It runs once on the second and fourth Fridays each month till May, before expanding to every Friday from June.

Going forward, the government, municipalities and the rail agency plan to add more tourist destinations near the border station to provide various programs aimed at promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

THREE brand-new railway stations have opened in Birmingham city after 80 years.

Trains are returning to communities that have been cut off since World War Two.

Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road are finally back on the map after more than eight decades without passenger services.

The three stations have reopened on April 7 as part of £185million project to reinstate connection to the city centre.

Journeys are expected to be quick with trips from Moseley Village to Birmingham‘s New Street taking as little as 12 minutes.

Travel time from Kings Heath is estimated to be 15 minutes, and 17 minutes from Pineapple Road.

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Passengers can also expect trains every 30 minutes from Monday to Saturday, and hourly services on Sunday.

Modern stations are equipped with new lifts, cycle parking, help points and accessible connections between platforms.

The line originally shut to passengers in 1941 during wartime shortages and has stayed closed ever since.

West Midlands Railway, which operates the stations, says the new line will be a “real gamechanger”.

Sandeep Shingadia, executive director of Transport for West Midlands, said: “These vibrant neighbourhoods of Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley have waited 85 years for a direct rail link to the heart of Birmingham — today, that has changed.

“Restoring passenger services to the Camp Hill line isn’t just about shorter journey times.

“It’s about easing congestion on our roads, cutting carbon emissions and opening up new economic opportunities across the region.”

THERE’S no place like London’s neighbourhood of Chelsea, or is there?

With a plethora of high-end shops and cafés, one destination in Norfolk has earned itself the nickname of ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’, and it’s one of the poshest spots in the area.

The destination in question is Burnham Market, a beautiful 17th-century village in the north of the county.

It’s considered the ‘Chelsea‘ of the area because of how posh it is – in fact, Burnham Market even made it onto the list of Britain’s poshest villages by The Telegraph in 2024.

While doesn’t have the King’s Road, or the Saatchi Gallery, Burnham Market does have over 30 independent shops and boutiques around the green.

It’s also got small galleries and top restaurants.

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Burnham Market also got its nickname because a lot of properties are second homes owned by Londoners.

Some celebrities have even been reported to have homes there, like Stephen Fry, Amanda Holden and Anneka Rice.

Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens, who hails from Norfolk, gives us more of an insight into the posh town.

She said: “I grew up just a few villages away from Burnham Market, the fancy seaside destination dubbed Chelsea-on-Sea.

“Everything here centres around the village high street, lined with premium pubs, shops and boutiques on either side.

“Here you’ll find the famous Gurneys Fish Shop, where it’s well worth picking up some homemade fishcakes to take home. You’ll also find posh coastal-themed clothing and interior decor shops like Barefoot Living, Joules and Jack Wills.

“And when you’re done shopping, you can stop for a coffee and a toastie in the trendy Scandi Coffee Co.

“You’ve also got your pick of fancy restaurants here. Michelin star-rated restaurant Socius is the kind of fine-dining spot you’d book to celebrate a special occasion.

“Or, The Hoste Arms is a posh pub with rooms, where you can slink off to a cosy bed after dining on moules marinière or local venison.

“Approaching spring and summer, head a couple minutes down the road to Burnham Overy Staithe, where you’ll find the best secret spot for paddle-boarding along the coast.

“Wander through wild marshland down to the shore, and you’ll see some of the calmest and shallowest waters, perfect for a paddle. And here you’ll see some incredible sunsets.”

For more places to stay in Norfolk, check out Old Hunstanton…

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Old Hunstanton, Norfolk
This town has some of the best beach walks beside striped limestone cliffs, a Victorian lighthouse and 13th century ruins. The beach has golden sands with rolling dunes and colourful beach huts, backed by a pretty pinewood forest. Stay at a beachfront hotel from £100 per room.

BOOK A STAY

For anyone who wants to visit, there are lots of beautiful hotels and B&B’s to hunker down in.

But one of note is The Railway Hotel which, as you might have guessed, has railway links.

It was originally the Old Station Master’s House, but has been beautifully refurbished into an eight room hotel.

For train fans, the most impressive room is The Carriage which was used as a train carriage up until 1952, and sits on the former station platform.

The Carriage has been restored and still maintains its look from its train days – it even has its original copper sink.

However, it’s got all the mod cons, from a rainfall shower to a drinks cabinet, Nespresso machine and a Smart TV.

It can be booked from £145 per night.

While Burnham Market isn’t a seaside town, it really isn’t far from the coastline.

Just a 15-minute drive away is Holkham which has a beach that’s considered one of the best in the country.

The seaside spot has great reviews on Tripadvisor with a rating of 4.6 out of 5.

Holkham Beach, often called the jewel of the north coast due to its long stretch of golden sand, is also dog-friendly, has lifeguard services and a beach car park.

It’s café, The Lookout, even has binoculars for its customers so they can look at the local wildlife while enjoying snacks and drinks.

For more on Norfolk, check out Travel Reporter Alice Penwill’s favourite town with an award-winning fish and chip shop.

And here’s the pretty English market town home to one of the weirdest hotels in the UK.