Cheonan City, South Korea – Cheonan City is intensifying its efforts to advocate for the Jungbu-Transverse Railroad project's inclusion in the national railway network plan. Kim Seok-pil, Acting Mayor of Cheonan, has spearheaded an SNS relay challenge involving 13 cities and counties, demonstrating a unified front in calling for the critical infrastructure development. This collaborative initiative, which concluded after approximately a month, aimed to highlight the project's necessity and feasibility while fostering broader public consensus.
The Jungbu-Transverse Railroad is a monumental railway infrastructure undertaking, projected to cost approximately 7 trillion KRW (approximately $5.1 billion USD). The proposed line would stretch across the central region of South Korea, connecting 13 cities and counties from west to east. This includes Seosan, Dangjin, Yesan, Asan, Cheonan, Cheongju, Jeungpyeong, Goesan, Mungyeong, Yecheon, Yeongju, Bonghwa, and Uljin. The project seeks to create a vital east-west transportation artery, addressing a historical imbalance in South Korea's predominantly north-south oriented railway network.
Cheonan, strategically positioned as a transportation hub and a gateway city connecting the Seoul Metropolitan Area with the Chungcheong Province, anticipates significant positive ripple effects from the railroad's construction. Experts predict a substantial impact on urban transit and regional connectivity, facilitating smoother movement of people and goods.
One of the most compelling arguments for the Jungbu-Transverse Railroad is its potential to drastically reduce travel times between the western and eastern coasts. The proposed line is expected to shorten the journey between the Yellow Sea (West Sea) and the East Sea to approximately two hours. This significant time reduction is crucial for promoting balanced regional development, fostering the formation of non-metropolitan and wider living zones, and alleviating the overconcentration of population and resources in the Seoul metropolitan area.
The project has garnered considerable political support. Last year, a special bill was introduced in the National Assembly, advocating for measures such as an exemption from preliminary feasibility studies for the Jungbu-Transverse Railroad's construction. Furthermore, Lee Jae-myung, who was elected as the 21st President, notably included the expedited construction of the Jungbu-Transverse Railroad as a key pledge in his presidential campaign, underscoring the project's national importance.
Cheonan City is actively focusing on expanding its railway network, aligning the Jungbu-Transverse Railroad with other major projects such as the extension of GTX-C (Great Train Express-C) to Cheonan, the establishment of a new Buseong Station, and the expansion of Cheonan Station. The completion of the Jungbu-Transverse line is expected to solidify Cheonan's status as a central pillar of the Chungcheong Megacity initiative, further enhancing its regional influence and economic vitality.
Acting Mayor Kim Seok-pil emphasized the transformative nature of the project. "The construction of the Jungbu-Transverse Railroad is a pivotal undertaking that moves beyond the traditional north-south centric railway services," Kim stated. "It will strengthen east-west transportation networks, bridge regional disparities, and realize balanced national development." The collective call from the 13 participating cities and counties underscores the widespread recognition of the Jungbu-Transverse Railroad's necessity for the future prosperity and equitable development of South Korea's central region.
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