First tram line in Korea will be operated soon. (image: Nottingham Express Transit trams by geograph.org.uk/Creative Commons)
SEONGNAM, Sep. 24 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea constructs its first electric tram line in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province. Expected to be completed by 2015, the trams that will run for one-point-five kilometers link Pangyo Station to Techno Valley, a district in the satellite city of Pangyo
Regarding the tram line, Gyeonggi Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung signed an agreement about the two local governments’ collaboration on its construction at the governor’s office in the afternoon of September 23.
According to the joint agreement, Seongnam makes a foundational plan for the construction and management of the tram line by investing 90 million won before starting to build the tram line. Gyeonggi makes a partial support of the total construction cost estimated at about 25 billion won.
“The tram line costs low to build, not destroying the landscape, and the odds against developing the city on the basis of public transportation are huge. Also, it is highly likely to become tourist attractions,” said Governor Nam, “and we will put forth our utmost efforts to collaborate with Seongnam to build it as soon as possible.”
“Trams will be more than public transportation in the sense that they will contribute diversely to the local economy. We will show the innovation of new public transportation here in Pangyo,” Mayor Lee said.
Trams vanished into history as the car-oriented public transportation system was prevailing, but many cities around the world have been aware that trams are eco-friendly and passenger-oriented, so Seoul is also considering building a tramline in about 10 cities.
By Eugene Yu (eugene@koreabizwire.com)
