K27/28 Beijing-Dandong-Pyongyang through train

China Railways K27/28 is an international train running between Beijing and Pyongyang. It commenced operations on the 21 May 1954. The train is numbered differently depending on the section of its journey. The cross-border section is numbered 95/85 and the Sinuiju–Pyongyang section 51/52. The train, operated by China Railway, departs Beijing on Mondays and Thursdays, taking about 24 hours to arrive, and returns from Pyongyang every Wednesday and Saturday, taking about 23 hours. Since 10 October 1983, the Korean State Railway also contributes trains to this service, departing every Monday and Thursday from Pyongyang, and returning from Beijing every Wednesday and Saturday.^[1]

On 16 December 1953, China and North Korea agreed to commence operations of a through train service between Beijing and Pyongyang from June 1954, with China Railway as the operator.^[2]: 5 The agreement came into effect on 1 April 1954, when the Korean State Railway began international train operations.^[2]: 6 The direct express train 13/14 between Beijing and Dandong commenced operations on 21 May 1954, with services operated by China Railway. On 3 June, train 13/14 carried 2 soft sleepers and a hard seat-luggage coach to Pyongyang for the first time, marking the beginning of the Beijing–Pyongyang international train. ^[2]: 6

On 1 February 1955, a resolution adopted between China and Soviet Union regarding the Moscow–Pyongyang through train service agreed that the coaches would be attached to train number 13/14 at Shenyang.^[2]: 8

The coaches were changed to hard and a soft sleeper coach in 1957.

On 11 June 1959, a mass reschedule by the Chinese Railway Ministry renumbered the train to 27/28.

The Chinese border station was renamed to Dandong in 1965.^[2]: 48

By an agreement between China and North Korea, all train crew are issued a 3-month approval instead of a single journey approval.^[2]: 56

27/28 was elevated to general fast train in 1981.

By an agreement in 1982, the Beijing–Pyongyang through train services would be jointly operated with the Korean State Railway.^[2]: 81 The first service by KSR commenced on 10 October 1983, since then the train service has been rotated between CR and KSR.^[2]: 84

In 1985, the train was rescheduled from twice weekly to four times a week, with both operators running two trains.

In 1991, it became obligatory to report if the train was delayed or additional coaches were carried.^[2]: 117

During the third acceleration campaign, in 2000, 27/28 was elevated to a fast train, as K27/28.^[3]

During the fifth acceleration campaign, in 2004, K27/28 was rerouted on the Shanhaiguan–Shenyang section. It returned to the original route during the sixth acceleration campaign in 2007.

From 2008 on, the Type 25G air-conditioned and German-made type 18 coaches were replaced with type 25T coaches, with the Korean coaches being replaced from October 2012. KSR type 31 (25K) coaches were replaced by type 30 (25G) coaches.

From 16 November 2014, CR changed the domestic coaches to Type 25G, the international coaches remain unchanged. The replaced Type 25T coaches are reserved in depot and serve as backup.

Due to COVID-19, the Dandong–Pyongyang section of K27/28 is suspended, while the Chinese section remains in operation.^[4]

From 12 March 2026, the train will resume operations for Dandong-Pyongyang section.^[5]

The trains are operated by China Railway type 25G coaches, usually as a 16-coach train between Beijing and Dandong, with 9 hard sleepers, 4 hard seating, and one soft sleeper, canteen and luggage coach each, operating daily. The international coaches are two type 25T coaches attached to the train, one hard sleeper and one soft sleeper. Trains operated KSR attach two Type 30 hard sleeper coaches (Korean：일반침대30, lit. "standard sleeper"). These coaches are coupled to the Dandong–Pyongyang through train at Dandong station.^[6]

K27 used to attach two coaches from the Moscow–Pyongyang train at Shenyang station, which were also decoupled at the same station on the return trip. Due to technical issues and low ridership, by agreement between RZD, CR and KSR the coaches for Pyongyang are no longer be attached to the Vostok train and then to the train from Beijing and instead are carried by the train to Vladivostok, with the coaches operated by KSR. ^{[2]: 167 [7]}

Attendants of K27/28 are provided by CR Beijing and KSR Pyongyang depending on the train operator.

K27/28 is hauled by a CR Shenyang HXD3D from Beijing to Shenyang, and DF11G from Shenyang to Dandong.

At the border the train is hauled by CR Shenyang or KSR DF5 (Korean：내연100) for the cross border section, then a DF4 or DF4B (Korean：내연200) from KSR is used to haul the train to Pyongyang.

• Schedule updated as of 12 March 2026

• Pyong-ui Line
• Visa policy of North Korea
• China Railways 95/85
• Vostok (Russian train)

• (in Japanese)中國鐵道俱樂部 國際列車