Opening at the end of 2024... Expected 7 million users annually
Chungcheong Region Metropolitan Railroad Phase 1 Route Map (Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 20th that it will sign a business agreement with Daejeon City, Chungcheongnam-do, the Korea Rail Network Authority, and Korea Railroad Corporation to ensure the smooth construction and operation of the first phase of the Chungcheong Regional Metropolitan Railroad project connecting Gyeryong and Sintanjin.
The first phase of the Chungcheong Regional Metropolitan Railroad involves upgrading the existing conventional railway lines (Honam Line from Gyeryong to Jungchon, Gyeongbu Line from Ojeong to Sintanjin) to introduce and operate electric trains.
Since being designated as a metropolitan railroad in August 2015, the project has undergone follow-up procedures such as preliminary feasibility studies and basic plan announcements, and basic and detailed designs have been underway since December 2019.
The first phase of the Chungcheong Regional Metropolitan Railroad will install 12 stations along the Gyeryong to Sintanjin section (total length 35.4 km), including 6 new stations and 6 upgraded stations, with a total project cost of approximately 230.7 billion KRW.
Once the section opens, it is expected to operate 65 one-way trips per day, allowing transfers to existing Daejeon urban rail lines such as Yongdu (Daejeon Line 1), Seodaejeon, and Ojeong (Daejeon Line 2). Approximately 7 million passengers are expected to use the service annually.
According to the agreement, the Rail Network Authority will construct the metropolitan railroad, local governments will bear vehicle ownership and operational losses, and the Korea Railroad Corporation will operate the trains and fulfill respective institutional roles.
The first phase of the Chungcheong Regional Metropolitan Railroad plans to complete detailed design and start manufacturing electric trains within this year, begin full-scale construction in 2022, and open by the end of 2024.
Kim Seontae, Director of the Railway Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "This will greatly contribute to regional balanced development by forming a Chungcheong regional economic and living zone through future connections with the Daejeon urban rail and the second phase of the Chungcheong Regional Metropolitan Railroad."
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