Pyeongtaek-Bupyeol Single-Line Railway Selected as Preliminary Feasibility Study Project

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-seong] On the 24th, the 5th Financial Project Evaluation Committee of 2021, chaired by the Ministry of Planning and Finance, announced that the 'Pyeongtaek-Bupyeol Single-Line Commuter Railway' had been selected as a preliminary feasibility study project for the 2nd round of 2021, prompting Pyeongtaek City and citizens to express their welcome.

According to Pyeongtaek City, the 'Pyeongtaek-Bupyeol Single-Line Commuter Railway' is a railway line departing from Pyeongtaek Station, passing through Anseong, and connecting to Bupyeol in Icheon, linking key regional centers in southern Gyeonggi Province.

The city has been strongly demanding from the central government the construction of this line, which is essential for completing a railway network connecting the Posung-Pyeongtaek Line, Yeoju-Wonju Line, and Gyeonggang Line to create an east-west corridor connecting Pyeongtaek Port to Gangneung.

Additionally, in 2019, the city executed an early promotion cooperation agreement with Gyeonggi Province, Yongin City, Anseong City, and Icheon City to accelerate implementation of the 'Pyeongtaek-Bupyeol Single-Line Commuter Railway' project, and promoted joint recommendations to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. As a result, the project was reflected in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'Fourth National Railroad Network Construction Plan.'

This preliminary feasibility study for the regional issue represents the first procedure for full-scale railroad project implementation. Among railway routes in the Fourth National Railroad Network Construction Plan related to Pyeongtaek City, the 'Pyeongtaek-Bupyeol Single-Line Commuter Railway' was the first to be selected as a preliminary feasibility study project.

Meanwhile, when the 'Pyeongtaek-Bupyeol Single-Line Commuter Railway' is built as a general railway acceleration project, the travel time from Pyeongtaek to Gangneung is expected to be dramatically reduced from approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes to approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, and is anticipated to greatly contribute to passenger and freight transport along the country's east-west corridor.

Mayor Jung Jang-seon stated, "The Pyeongtaek-Bupyeol Single-Line Commuter Railway is an essential line for constructing a railway network connecting Korea's central east-west corridor from Pyeongtaek Port to Gangneung," and added, "Going forward, we will cooperate with relevant local governments including Gyeonggi Province and Anseong City to ensure passage of the preliminary feasibility study."