Application for Basic Plan Approval to the Major Project Committee on the 2nd
Two Sections Totaling 34.2km... Target Opening in 2027
[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The blueprint for the 'Dongtan Urban Railway Project,' a new transportation mode to be introduced by Gyeonggi Province, has been unveiled.
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 24th that "the basic plan for the Dongtan Urban Railway was submitted for approval to the Metropolitan Transport Committee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on January 22."
As part of the Dongtan 2 New Town's metropolitan traffic improvement measures, the 'Dongtan Urban Railway' is a project to introduce trams along two sections?Suwon Mangpo Station~Dongtan Station~Osan Station and Byeongjeom Station~Dongtan Station~Vehicle Depot?at a total cost of 977.3 billion KRW.
According to the basic plan, there will be 36 stations in total: 19 stations from Mangpo to Osan and 17 stations from Byeongjeom to Dongtan 2, with a total length of 34.2 km. The plan ensures that tram use is sufficiently accessible on foot in most areas.
Additionally, it will connect with major railway networks such as the Bundang Line (Mangpo Station), Line 1 (Osan Station, Byeongjeom Station), and GTX-A·SRT (Dongtan Station), enabling an average travel time of about 30 minutes to Seoul Samsung Station.
The tram, consisting of one train set with 5 modules, can accommodate 246 passengers, which is expected to have better transport capacity than existing transportation modes. It is advantageous in terms of carbon emissions and transportation energy savings and offers convenience for transportation-vulnerable groups.
If the basic plan is approved and announced by the Metropolitan Transport Committee in the first half of this year, construction can begin in 2023 after procedures such as basic and detailed design, aiming for opening as early as 2027. The design, construction, and operation will be led by Hwaseong City, with support from Osan City and Suwon City.
The specific tram vehicle system (battery type, hydrogen fuel cell type, etc.) and station format (open type, closed type) will be decided during the design phase after considering future technological development trends and gathering opinions from residents and experts.
Lee Gye-sam, Director of the Railway, Port, and Logistics Bureau, stated, "As the Dongtan tram is the first project promoted in the province, we will do our best to enhance the dignity of Dongtan New Town and set an example of a European-style pedestrian-friendly city."
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