The Busan Metropolitan City announced today that the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan Metropolitan Railway project has been selected for a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance’s Project Evaluation Committee.
This selection comes five years after the conception stage of the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan Metropolitan Railway project. Notably, since its inclusion in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan in July 2021, the project has reached this milestone through active collaboration with local governments, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and regional politicians, including Jeong Dong-man, a member of the National Assembly’s Land Committee.
The Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan Metropolitan Railway is a 48.8 km-long railway line connecting Busan’s Nopo Station, Woongsang in Yangsan-si, and Ulsan’s KTX Station. The total project cost is estimated at KRW 3.424 trillion, with the goal of completion by 2030.
Upon completion, the travel time from Busan’s Nopo Station to Woongsang in Yangsan will be reduced to 10 minutes, to Ulsan’s Sinbok Rotary in 30 minutes, and to Ulsan’s KTX Station in 50 minutes. The railway will serve as part of the infrastructure to create a one-hour living zone in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, in conjunction with the existing Donghae Line and the upcoming Busan-Masan Line.
The city emphasized that the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan Metropolitan Railway is the first metropolitan railway outside the capital region, and its selection for the preliminary feasibility study signifies the securing of a driving force to build a new growth axis for the southern region.
Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The first non-capital metropolitan railway, the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan Metropolitan Railway, has made significant progress with its selection for the preliminary feasibility study.” He added, “We will continue to closely consult and cooperate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Gyeongnam, Ulsan, and other related local governments to ensure the smooth progress of the remaining administrative procedures, such as the preliminary feasibility study.”