A-train to Jeongseon runs to 'Arirang' tune

Jeongseon Arirang Train, or A-train, runs through a mountainous region in Gangwon Province. It offers premium railway tours to Jeongseon and nearby regions of the province. / Courtesy of Korail

Packages link train and tourist destinations in Gangwon Province

By Kim Rahn

Those wanting to travel to the Jeongseon region in Gangwon Province will be able to take a train specially designed for tourists.

Korail, the nation’s railroad operator, launched the Jeongseon Arirang Train, or A-train, on Thursday, aiming to provide a premium tourist railway service. The “A” in the name of the train stands for “Arirang”(a Korean folk song), amazement and adventure.

The train offers a round trip once a day from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul to Jeongseon Station and Auraji Station in Gangwon Province. It departs from Cheongnyangni at 8:10 a.m. Another round trip is offered from Mindungsan Station to Jeongseon Station and Auraji Station, all in the same province.

The train for the two routes runs from Thursday to Monday, as well as on Tuesday or Wednesday if the five-day marketin Jeongseon falls on that day. The market opens on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th of every month.

Vendors sell dried wild herbs at the five-day market in Jeongseon, which is part of Korail’s tour program using the train. / Courtesy of Jeongseon County

The train was designed specifically based on the theme of Arirang, a Korean folk song that is included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Arirang has many variations according to regions, and Jeongseon Arirang is one of them.

Designed by the British company Tangerine, the exterior of the train is decorated with curves that symbolize the Arirang melody, while the interiorrepresent Jeongseon’s well-known geographical features such as the Dong River and the mountain ridges.

The A-train also has windows that can be opened, the first of its kind on a long-haul train. The windows are also wider than other trains’ to allow passengers to have better views of Jeongseon’s natural beauty.

Other events such as photography, magic performances and quiz shows are presented on the train.

A family rides a rail bike on the old train track between Auraji and Gujeolli stations. / Courtesy of Jeongseon County

“The A-train will promote Arirang and Jeongseon to the world and offer convenient trips to the Gangwon region,” Korail CEO Choi Yeon-hye said in a pre-opening ceremony on Jan. 15. “We’ll develop tour packages that include events of 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, so the train service can help boost the regional economy.”

A one-way ticket between Cheongnyangni and Auraji costs 27,600 won and one between Mindungsan and Auraji, 8,400 won. For those having a one-day round trip, the company recommends the A-train Pass, which allows limitless train rides for one day for 48,000 won.

Tour packages in Jeongseon

Jeongseon offers many things to enjoy, including the five-day village market named “Jeongseon Oiljang” and the rail bike, a two- or four-person bike travelling on an old train track.

The Korail Tourism Development, the tourism affiliate of the railway operator, offers three packages linking the A-train service and tourist destinations there.

Course 1

Travelers on Course 1 will take the train from Cheongnyangni to Auraji, where they will have lunch. No specific restaurants are included in the package, but a full-course Korean meal with “gondeurebap” (rice mixed with cirsium setidens) at Oksanjang, a restaurant and inn in the village, is recommended.

They then move from Auraji Station to Gujeolli Station, where they will take the rail bikes back to Auraji Station on an old 7.2-kilometer rail track.

After the biking, patrons can have a guided tour of the village, including a short lesson in singing Jeongseon Arirang at an Arirang museum. Then, they come back to Seoul. The package costs 69,800 wonfor adults, but the price can go up on weekends.

Course 2

Visitors will arrive at Jeongseon Station and move to the Jeongseon village traditional market where Gangwon specialties, such as dried wild vegetables, are sold. As the market is open every five days, those wanting to visit the place are advised to check the date before making reservations.

On market days, visitors will also watch an Arirang performance titled “Menari” after looking around the market. When the market is closed, travelers can instead go to the Byeongbangchi Skywalk, an observatory where they can see the cliff below them through the glass floor.

The last destination is Hwaam Cave, a 1,803-meter-long limestone cavern that used to be a gold mine. Then, travelers will return to Seoul. The package costs 66,300 won.

Course 3

Course 3 is a one-night, two-day trip combining Courses 1 and 2. After the same itinerary as in Course 1, visitors will lodge at Oksanjang and have dinner there. On the second day, they will be of the same itinerary as in Course 2. The package starts from 130,300 won.

For more information about the A-train and the tours, visit www.letskorail.com or call 1544-7788.