The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or

light metro A medium-capacity system (MCS), also known as light rapid transit or light metro, is a rail transport system with a capacity greater than light rail, but less than typical heavy-rail rapid transit. MCS’s trains are usually 1-4 cars, or 1 lig ...

line in

Uijeongbu Uijeongbu () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Overview Uijeongbu is located north of the Korean capital Seoul; it lies inside a defile, with mountains on two sides, and commands a natural choke point across the main traditional in ...

Seoul Capital Area The Seoul Capital Area (SCA), Sudogwon (, ) or Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2020) is ranked as the fifth largest m ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...

. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses

Véhicule Automatique Léger ''Véhicule Automatique Léger'' () or VAL is a type of driverless (automated), rubber-tyred, medium-capacity rail transport system (people mover). The technology was developed at the Lille University of Science and Technology, was marketed by M ...

(VAL) 208 trains built by Siemens Transportation Systems. The system is very similar to the

Toulouse Metro The Toulouse Metro (french: Métro de Toulouse, oc, Mètro de Tolosa) is a rapid transit system serving Toulouse Métropole, France. It is the only Metro system in Occitanie. The city's public transport system was initially managed by the ''Soci ...

Lille Metro The Lille Metro (french: Métro de Lille) is a driverless light metro system located in Lille, France. It was opened on 25 April 1983 and was the first to use the VAL (french: véhicule automatique léger, en, light automated vehicle) syst ...

and

Rennes Metro The Rennes Metro (french: Métro de Rennes) ( br, Metro Roazhon) is a light metro system serving the city of Rennes in Brittany, France. Opened on March 15, 2002, it made Rennes the smallest city to have a metro system from 2002 to 2008. Curren ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. The line is long on elevated track and offers a transfer to Line 1 at Hoeryong Station. Single rides cost 1,550 won. During rush hours trains come every 3 and a half minutes with trains coming every 6 to 10 minutes during all other hours. Trains are in service 19.5 hours a day, from 5 am until 12:30 am. From Balgok Station to Tapseok Station, the U Line will take riders 19 minutes and 54 seconds, versus a car, at 31 minutes 6 seconds, or a public bus, taking 40 minutes and 6 seconds. Two extensions are planned. After four and a half years of operating at a continual loss, a debt of 240 billion won prompted board members of the Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit Company to file for bankruptcy in late 2016. If the Seoul Central District Court agrees to the filing then operation reverts to the city government. On 5 January 2017, Uijeongbu Mayor Ahn Byung-yong promised the line would continue operation.

History

* 1995 December – Initial planning * 2004 August – GS Construction Consortium is picked * 2005 October – Operating company is established * 2007 July – Construction groundbreaking ceremony * 2007 August – Full construction begins * 2011 Summer – All track has been laid * 2011 Fall – Signal work completion * 2012 February to June- Testing of system * 2012 June 29–30 – Free rides prior to official opening * 2012 July 1 – Revenue service begins * 2014 December 6 – Joins metropolitan unity fare allowing transfers to other lines and buses. Fares start from 1,350, with a flat 300 won extra charge if transferring from Line 1.

Fares

The U Line is physically connected to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system and allows payment via the T-money smart card. It allows transfer to other lines and buses since 6 December 2014. Discounts are available for youth and free rides exist for those over 65 years of age.

Stations

There is no station numbered U116.

References

External links

U Line – official website

U Line Naver Blog
{{South Korea rapid transit Light rail in South Korea Uijeongbu Seoul Metropolitan Subway lines

History

Fares

Stations

See also

References

External links