Suwon Ilbo Project "Pyeongtaek~Bubal Single-Line Railway" Selected as Government Preliminary Feasibility Study Target

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 25th that the "Pyeongtaek~Bubal Single-Line Railway Project" was selected as a target for preliminary feasibility study at the Ministry of Economy and Finance's 5th Financial Project Evaluation Committee for 2021, held on the 24th.

The "Pyeongtaek~Bubal Single-Line Railway Project" is a railroad project connecting Pyeongtaek Station through Anseong and Yongin to Bubal Station in Icheon, and represents a long-cherished wish of residents in four cities in southern Gyeonggi Province.

Going forward, by linking with the Gyeongbu and Gyeonggang lines and connecting the final unconnected section of the east-west inland railroad network spanning Poseung~Pyeongtaek~Bubal~Wonju~Gangneung, it is expected to complete the east-west railroad network and increase transportation convenience in the southeast metropolitan area, a region underserved by railroads.

Particularly noteworthy is that this will be the first railroad project to be built in Anseong City, which is currently the only city in the province without a railroad.

If the project proceeds successfully, it is expected that all 31 cities and counties in the province will enter an era where they can utilize railroad transportation.

The province began with an agreement for early promotion with Yongin, Pyeongtaek, Anseong, and Icheon on May 27, 2019, adopted joint proposals and made recommendations to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In March of this year, the province requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Railroad Corporation to actively pursue the project, cooperating closely with the relevant local governments.

As a result of these efforts, in June of last year, the Pyeongtaek~Bubal Single-Line Railway Project was included in the government's "4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan (2021-2030)."

Going forward, plans are to actively cooperate with local governments, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Railroad Corporation, and KDI to pass the preliminary feasibility study.

Lee Gye-sam, Director of the Railroad, Port and Logistics Bureau, stated, "The Pyeongtaek~Bubal Single-Line Railway is highly significant as it forms the east-west axis of the Republic of Korea connecting Pyeongtaek Port in the west to Gangneung in the east," and continued, "As it connects Pyeongtaek, Anseong, Yongin, Icheon and Gangwon Province, and is an important axis linking the Seohae Line, Gyeongbu Line, and Gyeonggang Line, we will do our best with local governments to pass the Ministry of Economy and Finance's preliminary feasibility study."