![Pyongyang bus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Pyongyang_bus.jpg)
Trams and trolleybuses in North Korea are forms of public transportation for
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...
ns to travel around in urban centres given the shortages on fuel and access to cars for average citizens.
Very few details are known about these
trolleybus
A trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tramin the 1910s and 1920sJoyce, J.; King, J. S.; and Newman, A. G. (1986). ''British Trolleybus Systems'', pp. 9, 12. London: Ian Allan Publishing. .or trol ...
es and
tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
s due to the closed society of North Korea.
Pyongyang
Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populat ...
,
Wonsan
Wŏnsan (), previously known as Wŏnsanjin (), Port Lazarev, and Genzan (), is a port city and naval base located in Kangwŏn Province, North Korea, along the eastern side of the Korean Peninsula, on the Sea of Japan and the provincial capital. ...
and
Chongjin
Chŏngjin (; ) is the capital of North Korea's North Hamgyong Province (함경북도) and the country's third largest city. It is sometimes called the ''City of Iron''.
History
Prehistory
According to archaeological findings near the lower ...
are the only cities known to have tramways.
For a full list of trolleybus systems in North Korea, see
List of trolleybus systems in North Korea.
Trams
Trolleybuses
The
Pyongyang trolleybus system has been operating since 1962, with a large fleet serving several routes. Due to the closed nature of North Korea, the existence of trolleybus networks in other North Korean cities was generally unknown outside the country for many years, but it is now known that around 12 to 15 other cities also possess trolleybus systems, among them
Sariwon
Sariwŏn () is the capital of North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.
Population
The city's population as of 2008 is 307,764.
Administrative divisions
Sariwŏn is divided into 31 ''tong'' (neighbourhoods) and 9 '' ri'' (villages):
Healthcare
...
,
Wonsan
Wŏnsan (), previously known as Wŏnsanjin (), Port Lazarev, and Genzan (), is a port city and naval base located in Kangwŏn Province, North Korea, along the eastern side of the Korean Peninsula, on the Sea of Japan and the provincial capital. ...
,
Chongjin
Chŏngjin (; ) is the capital of North Korea's North Hamgyong Province (함경북도) and the country's third largest city. It is sometimes called the ''City of Iron''.
History
Prehistory
According to archaeological findings near the lower ...
and
Pyongsong
Pyongsong (, , officially Phyongsong) is a city in North Korea, the capital city of South Pyongan province in western North Korea. The city is located about 32 kilometres northeast of Pyongyang, and was formally established in December 1969. It ha ...
.
[Tarkhov, Sergei; and Merzlov, Dmitriy. "North Korean Surprises". ''Trolleybus Magazine'' Nos. 244–6 (July, September and November 2002).] A few other places have very small (in some cases only one or two vehicles) systems for transporting workers from a housing area to a nearby coal mine or other industrial site—or at least did at some time within recent years, such as the city of
Sangnong.
Trolleybuses include both imported and locally made vehicles but are mostly locally made, converted or rebuilt. There are a few local manufacturers of trolleybuses.
In 2020,
NK News speculated that North Korea was likely to start a removal of its trolleybus systems; however, with the revival of the network in
Wonsan
Wŏnsan (), previously known as Wŏnsanjin (), Port Lazarev, and Genzan (), is a port city and naval base located in Kangwŏn Province, North Korea, along the eastern side of the Korean Peninsula, on the Sea of Japan and the provincial capital. ...
during 2018–19,
Sinuiju
Sinŭiju (''Sinŭiju-si'', ; known before 1925 in English as Yeng Byen City) is a city in North Korea which faces Dandong, Liaoning, China across the international border of the Yalu River. It is the capital of North P'yŏngan province. Part of ...
in 2020 and the opening of a new system in
Manpo in 2019 directly contradicts this article, and most of currently not operating systems had its trolleybuses removed prior to 2011. It is also important to note, that according to ''
The Pyongyang Times
''The Pyongyang Times'' is a weekly state-controlled English and French-language newspaper published in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, by the Foreign Languages Publishing House. It is the foreign-language edition of the ''Pyongyang Sinmu ...
'', new trolleybuses are still being constructed.
Pyongyang Trolleybus Factory
Chongjin Bus Factory
Others
See also
*
Pyongyang Metro
The Pyongyang Metro () is the rapid transit system in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. It consists of two lines: the Chollima Line, which runs north from Puhŭng Station on the banks of the Taedong River to Pulgŭnbyŏl Station, and the Hyŏksi ...
*
Pyongyang Tram
*
Transport in North Korea Transport in North Korea is constrained by economic problems and government restrictions. Public transport predominates, and most of it is electrified.
Restrictions on freedom of movement
Travel to North Korea is tightly controlled. The standard ...
*
Trolleybus usage by country
As of 2012 there were around 300 cities or metropolitan areas where trolleybuses were operated,Webb, Mary (ed.) (2012). ''Jane's Urban Transport Systems 2012–2013'', pp. " 3 and " 4 (in foreword). Coulsdon, Surrey (UK): Jane's Information Group. ...
Notes
References
The Pyongyang Metro: Trams
External links
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*
Recording of KCTV 28 December 20:00 news showing new trolleybuses in ChongjinDiscussion on Chongnyonho
{{Tram systems in North Korea
Tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
Korea, North