Pyongyang Tram
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| Pyongyang Tram | |
| Locale | Pyongyang, North Korea |
|---|---|
| Transit type | Tram |
| Began operation | 1991 |
| System length | 53.5 km (33 mi) |
| Number of lines | 4 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3⅜ in) |
| Operator(s) | Transport and Communication Commission |
| Pyongyang Tram | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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P'yŏngyang Tram is a tram system in P'yŏngyang, North Korea.
From the pre-war time, there were three tramways in Korea, namely in Seoul, Busan, and P'yŏngyang. However, the line in P'yŏngyang was discontinued after the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. Those in Seoul and Busan survived the war, but discontinued later when South Korea had motorization in 1960s, leaving no tramways in the peninsula.
Unlike South Koreans, most people in P'yŏngyang still can't afford personal automobiles, solely relying on public transports. As oil imported to the country is preferentially allocated to its military, P'yŏngyang has electrically powered trolleybuses and subways (P'yŏngyang Metro) as its main public transports. However, as trolleybus lines became overcrowded, the city decided to build tram lines with higher capacity. The first line opened in 1991.
In the late 1990s, the city had frequent power outages due to decrepit power stations and the lack of resource. The tram lines also suffered from outages, but the situation got better in recent years. In 2003, however, the section of Line 1 between P'yŏngyang-yŏk and Songsin was closed, as the bridge over Taedong River got older.
Foreign tourists were not permitted to ride the tram lines before, but some of recent tours started to include tramway rides.
Tram cars were made by Tatra, a Czechoslovak company, during Czechoslovakia's communist period. Various types are used, including low floor cars.
North Korea also has a tramway in Ch'ŏngjin, opened in 1999.
Contents |
[edit] Lines
There are currently three lines in operation.
- Line 1: P'yŏngyang-yŏk (평양역; 平壤驛) — Man'gyŏngdae (만경대; 萬景臺)
- Line 2: T'osŏng (토성; 土城) — Rangrang (락랑; 樂浪) — Munsu (문수; 紋繍)
- Line 3: Sŏp'yŏngyang (서평양; 西平壤) — Rangrang (락랑; 樂浪)
As of 2006, the fare is ₩ 5 for any section. There are also coupon tickets (시내 차표; 市内車票; sinae ch'ap'yo).
[edit] Kŭmsusan Line
There is another tramway used in Kŭmsusan Memorial Palace, a place the late Kim Il-sung is laid. The line, made for the visitors of the palace, is completely different from other lines in P'yŏngyang, and not connected to any of them. The line is free of charge. This tram line uses 1,000 mm (3 ft 3⅜ in) rail gauge, unlike others with 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) rail gauge. Tram cars were made in Switzerland.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Pyongyang Metro unofficial site
[edit] Further reading
- Hayato Kokubu, Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō: Kitachōsen Tetsudō Jijō (将軍様の鉄道 北朝鮮鉄道事情; "Railway of the Dear Leader: The Railway Situation in North Korea"), 2007. (ISBN 4103037318)
