Uijeongbu City Begins Designing 20-Year Future of Light Rail...Launches Mid- to Long-Term Operational Strategy Study

by Lee jonggu

Published 04 Feb.2026 16:29(KST)

Uijeongbu City Explores Operational Direction for the Next 20 Years of the Light Rail
Launch of Comprehensive Diagnosis to Ensure the Sustainability of the Light Rail
Preparation of a Mid- to Long-Term Roadmap Reflecting On-the-Ground Operational Realities
Full-Scale Launch of Study to Establish Mid- to Long-Term Operational Strategies for the Light Rail

On the 3rd, the city of Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province held a kick-off briefing for the study to develop mid- to long-term operational strategies for the Uijeongbu Light Rail at the Uijeongbu Light Rail depot, launching a comprehensive diagnosis of overall light rail operations and the preparation of future mid- to long-term operational directions.

Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu, is inspecting the site after holding a kick-off meeting on the 3rd at the Uijeongbu Light Rail vehicle depot for the Study to Establish a Mid- to Long-Term Operational Strategy for the Uijeongbu Light Rail. Provided by Uijeongbu City

This study was initiated to comprehensively examine facility aging, operational stability, and fiscal burdens related to the Uijeongbu Light Rail, which has been operated for a long period as an automated driverless system since its opening, and to develop mid- to long-term operational strategies that can respond to changes in the transportation environment and system aging. Given that the light rail has become a core mode of transportation firmly embedded in citizens' daily lives, the city placed particular emphasis on setting a direction that takes both sustainability and fiscal soundness into account.

Prior to the kick-off briefing, the city inspected key facilities within the light rail depot, directly observing the sites where rolling stock maintenance and operational management are carried out. At this time, they shared the difficulties experienced on the front lines of light rail maintenance and key pending issues.

In particular, they discussed structural operational constraints such as difficulties in procuring parts due to discontinued systems and rising maintenance costs.

During the on-site inspection, the city listened to explanations from maintenance personnel and closely examined the operational realities. It also stressed that ensuring the stability and safety of light rail operations is of paramount importance, and explained that the voices from the field must be fully reflected in the process of establishing mid- to long-term operational strategies.

Around 30 people attended the kick-off briefing, including the mayor, the director of the Transportation Bureau, the head of the Rail Transportation Division, other city officials, the project implementer and operating company of the Uijeongbu Light Rail, members of the rail policy advisory committee, and officials from the Korea Railroad Research Institute, which is carrying out the study.

The Korea Railroad Research Institute announced that, through this study, it will conduct a phased analysis of overall light rail operations. The main tasks presented include: a comprehensive diagnosis of the automated driverless system currently applied to the Uijeongbu Light Rail and the development of improvement measures; analysis of technical and fiscal risk factors associated with aging; review of the possibility of transitioning to a rail system that can be operated stably over the long term; and examination of the introduction of alternative modes of transportation such as guided buses.

The institute plans to prepare phased alternatives by distinguishing between the short term and the mid- to long term, and to present a mid- to long-term roadmap by comparing and analyzing various scenarios, including maintaining the current system, partial improvements, and introducing alternative modes of transportation. Through this, it intends to derive a rational operational strategy linked to the overall transportation system of Uijeongbu City.

Structural issues surrounding light rail operations were also discussed during the briefing. Participants shared the current operational constraints, including increased maintenance burdens due to the discontinuation of rolling stock, changes in the revenue structure caused by a higher share of senior citizens riding free of charge, and the competitive relationship with bus routes. They agreed that if the current situation is maintained, the maintenance burden could continue to grow.

In addition, they raised the need to respond to future changes in the transportation environment, such as shifts in transportation demand, the trend of population aging, and changes in population distribution resulting from urban development. Participants agreed that the light rail should serve a role that goes beyond a simple means of transportation to one that takes into account the urban structure and citizens' mobility patterns.

Kim Donggeun, mayor of Uijeongbu, is holding the "Kickoff Briefing for the Project to Establish the Mid- to Long-Term Operating Strategy for the Uijeongbu Light Rail" at the Uijeongbu Light Rail depot on the 3rd. Photo provided by Uijeongbu City

A city official said, "The Uijeongbu Light Rail is already a deeply embedded means of transportation in citizens' daily lives," adding, "It is now time to move beyond short-term operations and fundamentally consider how we will carry it forward in the future." The official continued, "Through the establishment of mid- to long-term operational strategies, we need to redefine the role of the light rail and present a responsible direction to citizens."

The official also stated, "There are multiple intertwined challenges, including operating cost burdens, system aging, and changes in the transportation system. We need to take an open-minded approach to reviewing improvements to the current system, the feasibility of localization, and new transportation alternatives," adding, "This study is not a process of pre-determining a specific conclusion, but a process of examining various possibilities to present citizens with the most rational options."

Starting with this kick-off briefing, the city plans to monitor the progress of the study through interim reports and ad hoc consultations, and to continue discussions with experts on matters requiring policy decisions. Based on the study's findings, the city will gradually implement measures to enhance light rail safety, improve operational efficiency, and ease fiscal burdens, and will actively reflect the results in future mid- to long-term transportation policy-making and budget planning.