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EverLine

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EverLine
Overview
Native name에버라인
Everline
StatusOperational
OwnerYongin EverLine Co,. Ltd., Neo Trans
Termini
  • Giheung
  • Jeondae - Everland
Stations15
Service
TypePeople mover
Depot(s)Samga
Rolling stock30 × Bombardier Innovia ART 200 Y100
History
OpenedApril 26, 2013 (2013-04-26)[1]
Technical
Line length18.143 km (11.274 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC Third rail
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
SignallingBombardier CITYFLO 650 CBTC

The Yongin EverLine (or EverLine; Korean에버라인, Yongin Light Rail Transit) is a fully automated driverless 18.1-kilometer (11.2 mi)[2] people mover line in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Seoul Capital Area connecting Everland, South Korea's most popular theme park, to the Suin-Bundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, a system which it is arguably a part of. The system is identical to the AirTrain JFK people mover and airport rail link in New York City, using single-car Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit vehicles[3] controlled by Bombardier CITYFLO 650 automatic train control technology.

Planning for the line started in April 1996.[2] Ground was broken for construction in November 2005. Starting in November 2009, the operating company conducted test runs of the trains. The opening was delayed several times but finally opened for service on April 26, 2013.[1][4] A physical transfer to the (underground) Suin-Bundang line at Giheung Station opened on January 9, 2014 and a transfer discount to the line was introduced on September 20 of the same year.

Operation

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Trains run every 6 minutes (9 minutes on Sundays and holidays). One-car trains are operated, a feature unique to this Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) system; trains can be lengthened to two cars if necessary, similar to the AirTrain JFK. Despite being a medium capacity system, at 3.2 meters (10 ft 6 in),[5] they are ironically the widest trains in South Korea. Each car has a capacity of 133 passengers.[5]

Stations

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All stations are in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. The line is 18.1 km (11.2 mi) long.[2]

Station
Number
Station Name
English
Station Name
Hangul
Station Name
Hanja
Transfer Distance
in km
Total
Distance
Station Type Location
Y110
Giheung
(Nam June Paik Art Center)
기흥
(백남준아트센터)

(아트센터)
Suin–Bundang Line
---
0.000
Elevated
Y111
Kangnam University 강남대 - 1.044 1.044
Ground level
Y112
Jiseok 지석 - 1.062 2.106
Elevated
Y113
Eojeong 어정 - 0.918 3.024
Y114
Dongbaek 동백 - 1.185 4.209
Y115
Chodang 초당 - 1.097 5.306
Y116
Samga 삼가 - 2.591 7.897
Y117
City Hall·Yongin University 시청·용인대 · - 1.045 8.942
Y118
Myongji University 명지대 - 1.034 9.976
Y119
Gimnyangjang 김량장 - 0.755 10.731
Y120
Yongin Jungang Market
(Yongin Arts&Science Univ.)
용인중앙시장
(용인과학예술대)

()
- 0.945 11.676
Y121
Gojin 고진 - 0.935 12.611
Y122
Bopyeong 보평 - 1.750 14.361
Y123
Dunjeon 둔전 - 1.027 15.388
Y124
Jeondae·Everland 전대·에버랜드 ·에버랜드 - 2.626
18.014
Ground level

Ridership

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Ridership was lower than expected on opening day; around 9,000 people per day in April 2013.[6]

Daily ridership totals eventually grew to around 30,000 people by the middle of 2015.[7] The increase is touted to be the result of a fare integration program introduced on September 20, 2014.[8]

After a period of unstable patronage caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, daily ridership rose to 40,000 by May 2024.[9]

Expansion

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There are plans to extend the line 6.8 km (4.2 mi) from Giheung Station to Gwanggyo Station on the Shinbundang Line.[10]

Additionally, Neo Trans, the operator of the Shinbundang Line, took over operations in 2016.[11] Operation of the trains was transferred back to Yongin Light Rail Co., Ltd on August 1, 2023.[8]

Controversy

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Ridership estimates

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Initial forecasts from 2001 expected daily ridership to reach 140,000 people per day at the time of opening.[2] However, later estimates revealed that this number would instead be closer to 32,000 riders per day due to the improvement of existing transportation options and construction delays on the Suin–Bundang Line at Giheung station (which would not open until 2011).[2][7]

As a result, the city government of Yongin was ordered to pay the consortium ₩7.79 billion in compensation at the behest of the International Chamber of Commerce.[2] The city of Yongin and Yongin Light Rail Co., Ltd. re-negotiated a new operating contract in 2012, which required the city to pay approximately US$20,000,000 per year to cover for losses.[7]

Bombardier Transportation corruption allegations

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South Korean authorities investigated possible corruption by Bombardier Transportation officials over the building of this line and concerns that ridership was exaggerated to have the technology preferentially chosen over other contenders. No charges were filed due to a lack of presented evidence and the case reaching its statute of limitation.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b '용인 경전철' 오늘부터 달린다 (in Korean). Simin Ilbo. April 25, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Park, Jin Young; Mun, Jinsu (2014). "Korea's Railway PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Projects" (PDF). The Korea Transport Institute. ISBN 978-89-5503-658-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 15, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Bombardier Transportation accused of corruption in South Korea". CBC News. January 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  4. ^ "YONGIN EVERLINE LRT: 5TH FULLY AUTOMATED METRO LINE IN SOUTH KOREA". UITP. April 29, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "차량도감 - 철도산업정보센터" [Vehicle Guide]. Korea Railway Industry Information Center (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  6. ^ "[용인경전철 2년-상]하루 이용객 3만명 시대 명암" [[Yongin Light Rail Transit 2-year-old] Contrast in the era of 30,000 daily passengers]. Newsis. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER". PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  8. ^ a b "Key Milestones". ever-line.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  9. ^ Jang, Byeong-geuk (2024-05-13). "용인에버라인, 하루평균 승객 4만명 넘어...개통 11년만". Rail Economy News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  10. ^ "(경기도 도시철도) 용인경전철 연장" (in Korean). Future Rail Database. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  11. ^ "History". www.neotrans.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
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