Pyongyang Tram

Infobox Public transit
name = Pyongyang Tram


imagesize =
locale = Pyongyang, North Korea
transit_type = Tram
began_operation = 1991
ended_operation =
system_length = 53.5 km (33 mi)
lines = 4
vehicles =
stations =
ridership =
track_gauge = RailGauge|sg
RailGauge|1
reporting marks =
operator = Transport and Communication Commission
owner =Infobox Korean name|context=north|tablewidth=260
hangul=궤도 전차|hanja=軌道電車|mr=Kwedo Chŏnch'a|rr=Gwedo Jeoncha

P'yŏngyang Tram is a tram system in P'yŏngyang, North Korea.

From the pre-war time, there were three tramways in Korea, namely in Seoul, Busan, and P'yŏngyang. However, the line in P'yŏngyang was discontinued after the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. Those in Seoul and Busan survived the war, but discontinued later when South Korea had motorization in 1960s, leaving no tramways in the peninsula.

Unlike South Koreans, most people in P'yŏngyang still can't afford personal automobiles, solely relying on public transport. As oil imported to the country is preferentially allocated to its military, P'yŏngyang has electrically powered trolleybuses and subways (P'yŏngyang Metro) as its main public transports. However, as trolleybus lines became overcrowded, the city decided to build tram lines with higher capacity. The first line opened in 1991.

In the late 1990s, the city had frequent power outages due to decrepit power stations and the lack of resources. The tram lines also suffered from outages, but the situation got better in recent years. In 2003, however, the section of Line 1 between P'yŏngyang-yŏk and Songsin was closed, as the bridge over Taedong River got older.

Foreign tourists were not permitted to ride the tram lines before, but some of recent tours started to include tramway rides.

Tram cars were made by Tatra, a Czechoslovak company, during Czechoslovakia's communist period. Various types are used, including low floor cars.

North Korea also has a tramway in Ch'ŏngjin, opened in 1999.

Lines

There are currently three lines in operation.
*Line 1: P'yŏngyang-yŏk ( _ko. 평양역; 平壤驛) — Man'gyŏngdae ( _ko. 만경대; 萬景臺)
*Line 2: T'osŏng ( _ko. 토성; 土城) — Rangrang ( _ko. 락랑; 樂浪) — Munsu ( _ko. 문수; 紋繍)
*Line 3: Sŏp'yŏngyang ( _ko. 서평양; 西平壤) — Rangrang ( _ko. 락랑; 樂浪)

As of 2006, the fare is ₩ 5 for any section. There are also coupon tickets ( _ko. 시내 차표; 市内車票; "sinae ch'ap'yo").

Kŭmsusan Line

There is another tramway used in Kŭmsusan Memorial Palace, a place the late Kim Il-sung is laid. The line, made for the visitors of the palace, is completely different from other lines in P'yŏngyang, and not connected to any of them. The line is free of charge. This tram line uses RailGauge|1 rail gauge, unlike others with RailGauge|ussg rail gauge. Tram cars were made in Switzerland.

ee also

*Transportation in North Korea
*Pyongyang Metro
*List of light-rail transit systems

External links

* [http://www.pyongyang-metro.com/ The Pyongyang Metro] unofficial site

Further reading

*Hayato Kokubu, "Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō: Kitachōsen Tetsudō Jijō" ( _ja. 将軍様の鉄道 北朝鮮鉄道事情; "Railway of the Dear Leader: The Railway Situation in North Korea"), 2007. (ISBN 4103037318)