Seven Local Governments Including Hwaseong City Resolve for Early Construction of Central Region Expressway Railway (Jamsil~Cheongju)

[Suwon Ilbo=Park Chan-hyeok Reporter] Seven municipalities including Hwaseong Special City, Seongnam City, Gwangju City, Yongin Special City, Anseong City, Jincheon County, and Cheongju City have resolved to urge early promotion of the 'Central Region Expressway Railway (Jamsil~Cheongju)'.

On the 14th, these local governments held a resolution ceremony at Cheongju International Airport with the attendance of Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong Special City; Bang Se-hwan, Mayor of Gwangju; Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin Special City; Kim Bo-ra, Mayor of Anseong; Song Ki-seop, County Governor of Jincheon; Lim Jong-chul, Vice Mayor of Seongnam City; and Shin Byung-dae, Vice Mayor of Cheongju City.

Attendees announced and signed a joint petition for early promotion of the Central Region Expressway Railway, and demonstrated their strong commitment to early project launch through hand printing and slogan performances.

The Central Region Expressway Railway is a private proposal project spanning approximately 134 kilometers connecting Seoul and the local governments. The joint petition contains requests for ▲rapid passage of private investment feasibility studies ▲expedited implementation of relevant administrative procedures ▲active interest and cooperation from related agencies for early project launch. The petition will be delivered to relevant agencies.

Previously, Hwaseong Special City had been promoting the 'Dongtan~Cheongju Airport Metropolitan Railway Project' to strengthen accessibility to Cheongju International Airport and improve mobility between adjacent local governments. The project was reflected in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'Fourth National Railroad Network Construction Plan' in 2021 and completed the Korea Rail Network Authority's preliminary feasibility study in 2024.

Subsequently, after the 'Central Region Expressway Railway (Jamsil~Cheongju) Private Project' was submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2024, the city has continuously proposed to related agencies including the ministry that the connection between Dongtan and Cheongju Airport should be maintained in consideration of the ongoing 'Dongtan~Cheongju Airport Metropolitan Railway Project'.

As a result, the Dongtan connection plan has been included in the Central Region Expressway Railway project, and the 'Dongtan~Cheongju Airport Railway Project' is expected to be advanced as the 'Central Region Expressway Railway Private Project'.

In August, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport commissioned the Korea Development Institute's Public Investment Management Center (PIMAC) to conduct a private investment feasibility study. As the initial stage of project promotion, the project can only proceed after passing this study.

Going forward, the city plans to actively cooperate and provide support with local governments to ensure smooth project promotion as detailed route reviews are expected to proceed through related administrative procedures.

Jeong Myeong-geun, Mayor of Hwaseong Special City, stated, "Hwaseong Special City is a young city with a low average age, and with rising citizen activity levels and leisure demands such as travel increasing sharply, the expansion of railway facilities to address this is essential." He added, "We will successfully promote this railway project to dramatically improve citizens' airport accessibility and mobility convenience."