Gangwon-do Introduces New Transportation Mode 'Tram'... Accelerating 'Urban Rail Network Development'

Plans for Urban Accessibility in Major Cities Such as Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung

Tram photo material [Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gangwon Province announced on the 11th that it will "begin establishing an urban railway network using trams as a new transportation mode in major cities within the province."

Before advancing the project, the province will plan the Gangwon Province urban railway network this year and conduct a preliminary feasibility study to review economic viability.

The project areas include Chuncheon, Wonju, Gangneung, Donghae, and Sokcho. The study will take 10 months from the project start date and will cost 200 million KRW (160 million KRW from the provincial government and 40 million KRW from city governments).

The province plans to design an urban railway network linked to major transportation networks within the province, forecast transportation demand by route, and calculate required project and operating costs to assess the project's appropriateness.

In particular, economic feasibility will be intensively analyzed in preparation for the preliminary feasibility study that will determine whether the project will proceed.

Meanwhile, the province intends to establish a comprehensive urban railway plan for Gangwon, including tram projects individually promoted by some cities and counties, to visualize the project and support securing national funding.

According to relevant laws, if the city or provincial governor establishes an urban railway network plan and obtains approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, national funding support can be received, reducing the financial burden on local governments.

The plan is to connect with major railways within the province, such as Chuncheon~Sokcho and Gangneung~Jejin, scheduled to open in 2027, and adjacent regional transportation networks.

Through this, the province aims to promote urban cooperative living zones and create regional tourism belts to establish a "Gangwon-type Mega City."

Son Chang-hwan, Director of the Gangwon Province Construction and Transportation Bureau, said, "Building a railway-centered eco-friendly transportation network to improve accessibility, achieve balanced regional development, and restore the status of Korea’s representative tourist destinations is an urgent issue for Gangwon Province."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.