Inter-Korean Trains Will Debut Next Year
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Korail, Korea’s national rail service, is looking to introduce two cross-border trains to carry South and North Korean supporters to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games; one accommodating a maximum 78 passengers and the other, 144.
The trains will consist of 10 cars equipped with seven cabins, two dining rooms and an event room. ``We will decorate the trains with an image of exclusiveness and traditional Korean style. After the Beijing Olympics, we will use the trains for domestic services,’’ a Korail spokesman said.
Korail will decide on the trains’ names in December after collecting ideas from citizens. The trains will be shown to the public next June two months ahead of the Beijing Olympics, slated for August 2008.
Beijing and Pyongyang already operate a cross-border train and the railway from Gaeseong to Pyongyang needs refurbishment for the Olympic trains. The two Koreas have already agreed to conduct a feasibility study on updating North Korea`s old railway facilities.
Korail CEO Lee Chul first proposed the inter-Korean train _ the two Koreas conducted a test-run between Munsan and Bongdong in May. South Korean freight will soon be delivered to Bongdong Station near the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
Last October, Lee accompanied President Roh Moo-hyun to the 2007 South-North Korean summit to further developed his ambitious plan. Based on an agreement at the summit, work on the Olympic train project is in process.
It is estimated to take about 30 hours to travel from Busan to Beijing _ eight hours from Busan to Pyongyang and 22 hours from Pyongyang to Beijing.
Korail expects the inter-Korean train project to be not only economically profitable, but also to promote the image of a peaceful Korean Peninsula to the world.