U Line

     U Line
Overview
Native name 의정부경전철
Uijeongbu-Gyeongjeoncheol
Type Light metro
System Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Status Operational
Termini Balgok
Tapseok
Stations 15[1]
Operation
Opening June 29, 2012 (trial)
July 1, 2012 (revenue)[1]
Operator(s) Uijeongbu LRT Co. LTD.
Technical
Line length 11.2 km (7.0 mi)[1]
No. of tracks 2

The U Line is a completely driverless, fully automatic, grade separated light rail[1] or light metro[2][3] line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" stands for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger 208 trains built by Siemens Transportation Systems. The system is very similar to the Toulouse Metro in France.

The line is 11.2 km (7.0 mi) long on elevated track[1] and offers a transfer to Line 1 at Hoeryong Station. Single rides cost 1,350 won. During rush hours trains come every 3 and a half minutes with trains coming every 6 to 10 minutes during all other hours. Trains are in service 19.5 hours a day, from 5 am until 12:30 am.[4][5] From Balgok Station to Tapseok Station the U Line will take riders 19 minutes and 54 seconds, versus a car at 31 minutes 6 seconds or a public bus taking 40 minutes and 6 seconds.[6] Two extensions are planned.[2]

History

VAL network map

Fares

The U Line is physically connected to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system and allows payment via the T-money smart card. It allows transfer to other lines and buses since 6 December 2014.[8] Discounts are available for youth and free rides exist for those over 65 years of age.

Ridership and finances

In 2006, the line was forecast to serve 57,000 passengers daily, a figure cut to 31,000 in 2011. Built at a cost of 547 billion won ($469 million), the financial viability of the line has been questioned, with one study estimating that it will require subsidies of 10 billion won per year for at least a decade.[9]

As of 2012, 32 million passengers a year are expected, increasing to 55 million by 2040.[2]

Stations

Please note there is no Station #116.

Station
number		 Station name Transfer Line name Station
distance		 Total
distance		 Location
Romanized Hangul Hanja in km
U110 Balgok 발곡 鉢谷
U Line
---
0.0
Gyeonggi-do
Uijeongbu
U111 Hoeryong 회룡 回龍 Line 1
0.8
0.8
U112 Beomgol 범골 범골
0.6
1.4
U113 Uijeongbu 의정부 議政府
1.0
2.4
U114 City Hall 의정부시청 議政府市廳
0.9
3.3
U115 Heungseon 흥선 興宣
0.6
3.9
U117 Uijeongbu Jungang 의정부중앙 議政府中央
1.1
5.0
U118 Dongo 동오 東梧
0.7
5.7
U119 Saemal 새말 새말
0.8
6.5
U120 Gyeonggi Provincial Government North Office 경기도청 북부청사 京畿道廳 北部廳舍
0.6
7.2
U121 Hyoja 효자 孝子
0.6
7.8
U122 Gonje 곤제 昆弟
0.8
8.6
U123 Eoryong 어룡 魚龍
0.9
9.5
U124 Songsan 송산 松山
0.6
10.1
U125 Tapseok 탑석 塔石
0.5
10.6

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit, South Korea". railway-technology.com. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 David Briginshaw (2 July 2012). "Korean city opens automatic light metro". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. ↑ Michael Taplin (March 2013). "Home - World Systems List index - World List K-O - Korea South (KR)". Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA). Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 의정부경전철 개통 및 이용안내 [Opening Info] (in Korean). U Line. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  5. ↑ 운영정보 [Operating Info] (in Korean). U Line. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  6. ↑ 노선안내 [Time differences and station names] (in Korean). U Line. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  7. ↑ 시행사소개 [History page] (in Korean). U Line. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://www.ulrt.co.kr/notice/view.do?wr_id=57
  9. ↑ "Light rail opens in S.Korea amid financial fears". Bangkokpost. AFP News. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.

External links