The Korea Rail Network Authority announced on the 5th that it will establish the "Railway Undergrounding Promotion Team" to jointly take charge of overall development tasks, including the formulation of a comprehensive plan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The Promotion Team will consist of a team leader and two teams. The teams will be organized as the Railway Undergrounding Project Team (1 team leader and 5 members) and the Railway Undergrounding Development Team (1 team leader and 2 members).
The comprehensive plan will include measures for aboveground development, construction plans for the underground railway network, relocation of connected underground railway lines, and the establishment of integrated stations and linked transportation transfer systems. The Rail Network Authority plans to begin full-scale formulation of the comprehensive plan starting this month.
In particular, proposals will be received by region focusing on government pledge projects such as the Gyeongin Line, and sections with high plan completeness will be selected as pilot projects within the year. Following this, the Authority plans to commence the establishment of basic plans for each route in the first half of next year.
Lee Seong-hae, Chairman of the Rail Network Authority, stated, “Railway undergrounding is meaningful in that it constructs railways underground to connect previously disconnected areas and develops the aboveground space, thereby providing new services and conveniences to the public.” He added, “With the establishment of the Railway Undergrounding Promotion Team, the Authority will form a dedicated workforce to accelerate project implementation.”
He also said, “The government plans to distribute guidelines by June this year to allow proposals for ‘desired undergrounding routes,’” and added, “We hope for active interest and participation from local governments through which urban railways pass.”
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