A-Train (Korail)

A-Train aka Jeongseon Arirang Train
Overview
OwnerKorail
Termini
Service
TypeRegional rail
SystemKorail
ServicesJungang Line
Taebaek Line
Trim Line
Operator(s)Korail
History
Opened(Prior) November 27, 2002 - December 31, 2007, Jeongseon Arirang excursion trains,
(Current) January 22, 2015 - present

A-Train aka Jeongseon Arirang A-Train (Korean: 정선아리랑열차) is a South Korean tourist train operated by Korail. The train began operations in 2015 and transports tourists through Jeongseon County in central Gangwon-do.[1][2]

Overview

The train opened on January 22, 2015, from Cheongnyangni Station in northeastern Seoul and passes through several stations in Gangwon-do, including Mindungsan and Jeongseon, which hosts the "Jeongseon Five-day Market",[3] and arriving at Auraji Station.[4][5]

The "A" in the train's name comes from "Arirang" (a Korean folk song), and the words "amazement" and "adventure". The song has many variations, and the Jeongseon Arirang is a regional one.[6] The song is listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and sometimes regarded as an unofficial anthem of Korea.[2]

The train has four themed cars with large windows and glass walls; one is a sky room, one a tea room, and two of the cars are decorated in regional colors of red, yellow, blue and purple[7] representing Jeongseon's geographical features such as the Dong River and the mountain ridges.[1] The train's exterior includes a purple color for the pulsatilla, Jeongseon's official flower,[5] and is decorated with curves that symbolize the Arirang melody.[1][8] Activities on the train include storytelling, music, magic shows and quiz games.[7]

The new line to Jeongseon is the first train to be named after a Korean town, and generated additional local interest due to the proximity of the scheduled 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, a nearby town.[2]

A-Train en route Jeongseon-gum, Gangwon-do.

On February 19, 2024, the track was damaged due to a rockfall between Mindungsan Mountain and Byeoleogok, and service between Mindungsan Mountain and Auraji was suspended indefinitely from the 22nd.[9]

Operations

References

  1. ^ a b c Kim, Rahn (January 22, 2015). "A-train to Jeongseon runs to 'Arirang' tune". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Lee, Sun-Min (January 24, 2015). "An active weekend begins on the new A-Train". JoongAng Ilbo. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  3. ^ Lee, Seung-ah (January 23, 2015). "Explore the mountain village of Jeongseon". Korea.net. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  4. ^ 청량리발 ‘정선 아리랑 열차’ 15일 개통 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. January 14, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Lee, Seung-ah (January 22, 2015). "A-Train takes you to birthplace of 'Arirang'". Korea.net. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  6. ^ Yun, Suh-young (February 11, 2015). "Head off on newly launched trains". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  7. ^ a b 코레일 야심작 ‘정선아리랑열차’ 타고 5일장 체험 (in Korean). YTN. February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  8. ^ "아라리 아라리요~" 정선아리랑열차 22일부터 운행 (in Korean). Yonhap. January 5, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  9. ^ (in Korean) 집채만한 바위가 철길 위로 '쿵'…정선역 가는 철로 휘어 정선아리랑열차 중단 강원도민일보 (February 19, 2024)
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