O-Train (Korail)
O-Train | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Service type | Regional rail |
Status | Active |
Locale | South Korea |
Predecessor | Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway Snow Flower Train |
First service | April 12, 2013 |
Current operator(s) | Korail |
Route | |
Termini | Seoul Station |
Stops | 17 |
Line(s) used | Gyeongbu Line Gyeongwon Line Jungang Line Taebaek Line Yeongdong Line |
On-board services | |
Seating arrangements | Car No.1: Eco seats (56 seats): Two-person seats / four-person seats / free viewing seats / etc. Car No. 2: Reserved seats for people with disabilities, café room (37 seats): two-person seats / four-person seats / one-person seat / café room, table seats Car No.3: Family seats (56 seats) – Family seats / couple room / family room / etc. Car No.4: Eco seats (56) – Two-person seats / four-person seats / free viewing seats |
Catering facilities | On-board café |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
O-Train (aka Jungbu Naeryuk Circular Train Korean: 중부내륙순환열차) is a South Korean sightseeing train operated by Korail. The train began operations in 2013 and transports tourists from Seoul, in a circular route, through South Korea's central inland region and back to Seoul.[1]
Overview
The train began operations on April 12, 2013, and is a shuttle train which loops around attractions in the central inland region of Korea, with stops, including Taebaeksan Mountain in Gangwon-do, Yeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Jecheon in Chungcheongbuk-do[1][2] It follows the same route as the older Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway central circular Snow Flower Train (Hangul:환상선 눈꽃순환열차).[3]
The "O" name refers to the train's circular route, and "One", as the three provinces it travels through.[1] The train has four cars,[4][5] observatory rooms, and sightseeing monitors,[6] and departs from Seoul Station, Cheonan Station, and Osong Station daily.[7][8] One of the stops is at Chujeon Station in Gangwon-do, located at an altitude of 855 meters, the highest altitude for any train stop in Korea, for sightseeing and photos.[2]
A sister Korail train, the V-Train, opened on the same day, and travels through the mountainous areas of the provinces of Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do.[5] O-Train passengers can transfer to the V-train at Cheoram, Seungbu and Buncheon Stations.[8]
The train's opening increased tourist interest in Gangwon's coal mining history.[9] Buncheon Station in Gyeongsangbuk-do, where a coal line once ran, showed increased visits in 2013, from both the O-Train and V-Trains, from approximately 10 passengers a day to 1000.[10]
Operations
- Started running: April 12, 2013
- Stations en route to and from "circle": Seoul Station - Cheongnyangni Station - Suwon Station - Cheonan Station - Osong Station[7][11]
- Stations on "circle" route: Jecheon Station - Wonju Station - Yeongwol Station - Mindungsan Station– Gohan Station– Chujeon - Taebaek Station - Cheoram Station - Seungbu Station - Buncheon Station - Chunyang Station – Bonghwa Station – Yeongju Station - Punggi Station - Danyang Station
- Approximate travel time: 5 hours.
References
- ^ a b c Choi, In-jeong (April 19, 2013). "Traveling down memory lane". The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Sohn, Ji-ae (April 1, 2013). "New trains to enrich your journey". Korea.net. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
- ^ Park, Joon Gyu (March 22, 2013). [LET´s/조성하의 철도 힐링투어]<1>백두대간 협곡열차 (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
- ^ Herman, Steve (May 13, 2013). "S. Korea's Newest Trains Take Tracks Less Traveled". Voice of America. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ a b "Exploring South Korea via train". Manila Bulletin. November 3, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ Mohn, Tanya (May 2, 2013). "Riding the Rail, Countryside". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ a b "KORAIL's mountain trains depart from Suwon, Cheonan and Osong". The Korea Herald. May 16, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Limb, Jae-un (May 16, 2013). "O-train, V-train lead to hidden inland wonders". Korea.net. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ Lee, In-Mo (April 14, 2014). 강원 태백시 철암동 방문객 북적… 협곡열차-탄광역사촌 관심 늘어 (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
- ^ Briginshaw, David (February 4, 2014). "Korail hails new tourist services". International Railway Journal. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
- ^ "KORAIL mountain train tickets on sale". The Korea Herald. April 5, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- O-Train at Korail (in Korean)