The Era of Rail Public Transportation Opens in Ulsan... Hydrogen Tram Feasibility Reassessment Passed

One of Ulsan City's long-cherished projects, the construction of Ulsan Urban Railway Line 1, has gained momentum as it passed the feasibility re-evaluation by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Ulsan City announced that the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Financial Project Evaluation Committee, held at 10 a.m. on the 23rd, reviewed and approved the feasibility re-evaluation of the 'Ulsan Urban Railway Line 1 Construction Project.' This comes about two years and eight months after the feasibility re-evaluation was requested from the Ministry at the end of December 2020.

During this feasibility re-evaluation process, the city sought to improve economic efficiency by changing the project plan, including vehicle type, headway, and vehicle depot location, but the outcome was uncertain as it did not achieve the expected results.

In response, Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom personally attended the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Financial Project Evaluation Committee subcommittee meeting held on the 14th, presenting the policy analysis of the project and responding to inquiries in an all-out effort.

Mayor Kim emphasized that Ulsan is the only metropolitan city without an urban railway, the citizens' strong desire for the introduction of trams, the public transportation modal share of 11.6% in 2020?the lowest among metropolitan local governments?and that Ulsan is the optimal location to implement hydrogen mobility due to hydrogen pipelines connected to the city center.

Ulsan Urban Railroad Line 1 Route Map.

The 'Ulsan Urban Railway Line 1' project involves a total budget of 329.7 billion KRW (60% national funding of 197.8 billion KRW, 40% local funding of 131.9 billion KRW) and is being promoted over a total length of 10.99 km from Taehwagang Station to Sinbok Rotary. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and the line is expected to open in 2029, with Lines 2, 3, and 4 planned to be developed sequentially.

The city plans to introduce the world's first hydrogen tram on Urban Railway Line 1. It is expected to highlight Ulsan's new tourism product utilizing hydrogen infrastructure and serve as a future-oriented eco-friendly transportation mode with air purification functions, minimal noise and vibration, and urban landscape improvements through a catenary-free system.

The introduced tram will consist of 5 cars, manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, with a total length of about 35 meters and a capacity of 245 passengers. The estimated daily ridership is about 24,000, and it is expected to operate 200 km on a single charge.

An official from Ulsan City stated, "With the feasibility re-evaluation approval of the Ulsan Urban Railway Line 1 construction project, the tram will connect the Ulsan-Yangsan-Busan metropolitan railway and the Donghae Line at Taehwagang Station, opening an era of rail-centered public transportation in Ulsan."

He added, "The introduction of the tram will not only revitalize the downtown commercial district and dramatically improve residential conditions but also provide citizens with comfortable and safe public transportation services."

Aerial view of Ulsan Urban Railroad.

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