Relay Campaign for Inclusion in National Plan Concludes with Participation of 13 Cities and Counties
5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan to Be Announced in the Second Half of This Year
Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province has joined forces with 12 other cities and counties to advocate for the inclusion of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad as a new project in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, which is scheduled to be announced in the second half of this year.
The relay campaign urging the inclusion of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad in the national plan began with Mayor Lee Wan-seop of Seosan City on April 30 and concluded with County Governor Son Byung-bok of Uljin County on May 30, marking the end of a month-long journey.
This relay was organized to widely promote the necessity and importance of constructing the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad and to build public consensus. The heads of the 13 local governments through which the railroad will pass, including Uljin County, participated in the campaign.
The East-West Transversal Railroad will connect a total of 13 cities and counties: Seosan City, Dangjin City, Yesan County, Asan City, Cheonan City, Cheongju City, Jeungpyeong County, Goesan County, Mungyeong City, Yecheon County, Yeongju City, Bonghwa County, and Uljin County.
This large-scale national project will traverse the central inland of the Korean Peninsula, spanning a total length of 330 kilometers and with an estimated total project cost of about 7 trillion won. Once completed, it will enable travel from Seosan City to Uljin County in approximately two hours. By connecting the east and west of the central region and eliminating isolated sections, the railroad is expected to become a key infrastructure for balanced national development, moving beyond the current north-south-oriented transportation network to establish an east-west axis.
Last year, a special bill was proposed to support the construction of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad, including provisions such as exemption from the preliminary feasibility study. The 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan is scheduled to be announced in the second half of this year.
The early confirmation of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad, a presidential pledge by President Lee Jaemyung elected in the 21st presidential election, is considered an essential project for establishing a comprehensive metropolitan transportation network. If this pledge is fulfilled and the east-west axis railroad connecting the central region of the Korean Peninsula is constructed, it is expected to serve as a foundation for completing the national railroad network by linking with the existing north-south railroads.
Uljin County anticipates that the completion of this railroad will greatly enhance transportation convenience in each region and significantly contribute to the revitalization of industrial tourism and exchanges.
County Governor Son Byung-bok stated, "The Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad will dramatically improve Uljin's transportation accessibility and become a major driving force for tourism and local economic revitalization. Uljin County will do its utmost to ensure that this project is newly included in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, which will be announced in the second half of this year."
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