After a 20-year hiatus, the nostalgic Gyeonggi Line, connecting Goyang, Yangju, and Uijeongbu in northern Gyeonggi Province, is set to resume operations on January 11th.

According to Gyeonggi Province, the first train will depart at 6 AM on the 11th. The Gyeonggi Line, a single-track railway spanning 30.3 kilometers, will serve six stations: Uijeongbu, Songchu, Jangheung, Ilyeong, Wonreung, and Daegok.

Comprised of three five-car trains, each with a capacity of 136 passengers, the line will operate 20 times daily. To encourage ridership, the fare will be discounted to 1,000 won for the first month after the reopening, with the standard fare set at 2,600 won thereafter.

The resumption of the Gyeonggi Line is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Uijeongbu and Goyang, cutting it from 90 minutes to 50 minutes.

Originally constructed in August 1963, the Gyeonggi Line served as a vital transportation route for tourists, passengers, and freight. It was particularly popular among college students traveling to Ilyeong, Jangheung, and Songchu for outdoor activities. However, due to financial difficulties, the line was forced to suspend operations in April 2004.

Following years of requests from residents for the line's reinstatement, the provincial government and the cities of Uijeongbu, Yangju, and Goyang have been working with the National Assembly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, the Korea Railroad Corporation, and other related organizations to resume operations.

The initial target date for the reopening was December 28th, but due to a nationwide railway workers' strike that disrupted essential pre-operation testing, the launch was postponed.

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