There are 42 stations on the line, of which Chasŏng, Hwap'yŏng, P'op'yŏng Ch'ŏngnyŏn, and Mint'ang are dedicated freight consolidation points; the stations of Chŏnp'yŏng, Tuji, Sinp'a Ch'ŏngnyŏn, Ryanggang Sinsang, and Insan are served only by passenger trains.

[3] To alleviate the burden, President Kim Il Sung ordered the construction of a new, northern east–west transversal line in August 1980.

[3] Kim Jong Il ordered the formation of youth work brigades who, moving over 10,000,000 m3 (350,000,000 cu ft) of earth and blasting millions of cubic metres of rock,[4] completed construction of the final 102.5 km (63.7 mi) section between Chasŏng and Huju in 1988.

Electrification of the existing portion of the line was begun in 1991 with the goal of completing it in time for Kim Il Sung's 80th birthday on 15 April 1992;[2] however, it wasn't until 1993 that the electrification of the entire Manp'o–Hyesan line was completed.

[4] By the end of the 2000s, the line was in such poor condition that the operation of trains was nearly impossible; citing this, in April 2011 Kim Jong Il once again mobilised work brigades of the Kim Il-sung Socialist Youth League to undertake the reconstruction of the line; the refurbishment work was completed in November 2013.

[6] Ore from the March 5 Youth Mine is delivered to Chasŏng Station for loading onto trains by means of a ropeway conveyor.