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Sea Train (Korail)

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Sea Train
Overview
Service typeRegional rail
StatusOperating
LocaleSouth Korea
First serviceJuly 25, 2007
Last serviceDecember 25, 2023[1]
Current operator(s)Korail Tourism Development
Route
TerminiGangneung station
Samcheok Haebyeon station
Stops6
Average journey time1 hour & 10 minutes
Line(s) usedYeongdong Line
Samcheok Line
On-board services
Class(es)First Class (2 cars)
Seating arrangementsIndividual seats and seats for facing the window
Catering facilitiesOn-board café
Technical
Rolling stockKorail CDC
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Track owner(s)Korail

Sea Train (Korean: 바다열차) was a South Korean tourist train operated by the Korail Tourism Development. The train began operations in 2007 and transports tourists along the eastern coast of South Korea.[2][3]

Overview

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The train began running on July 25, 2007,[4][5] and travels 58 kilometers (36 miles) through Gangneung, Donghae, and Samcheok all in Gangwon-do, providing views of the Sea of Japan. These three communities, along with Korail, developed the rail trip, with Korail contributing the passenger train service and the railroad, and the communities investing money to modify ordinary passenger cars into ones with seats that faced the sea.[3][5][6]

Sometimes called the "ocean train", it was one of the industrial-era train renovations and part of Korail's Tourism Development initiative in the mid-2000s to change existing coal industry railway lines, where service had declined, into tour lines.[7][8]

Sea Train arriving at Jeongdongjin station with Sun Cruise Resort & Yacht in background.

The train has four cars, three of them with seats that face the windows, for a full ocean-view and the fourth car has family seats where passengers can face each other.[2] The interior walls are painted in ocean-blue colors to simulate an undersea world. Activities on the train include talks on the Gangneung and Samcheok regions, and music, including passenger requests via text message, and a marriage proposal room.[5][7]

One of the train stops is at Jeongdongjin station, which was made famous by a popular 90's Korean drama, The Hourglass.[9] Jeongdongjin itself is one of the most popular travel destinations for Koreans to view the sunrise and has several off-train local tourist activities like the rail bike which runs from Jeongdongjin Station to local spots.[2][8]

Sea Train interior

Due to the aging isue of the trains, the Sea Train ended its operation on 25 December 2023 after 16 years of service.[10]

Operations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "동해안 바다열차 매진 행렬…"내년부터 못 탄다"". Channel A. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e Yun, Suh-young (July 9, 2014). "Sunrise haven beside the sea". The Korea Times. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Sohn, Min-Ho (July 16, 2010). 기차여행 7 - 바다열차 (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  4. ^ 동해안 바다열차 인기 "짱" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. August 22, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "A train with a view". JoongAng Ilbo. July 24, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Kim, Sujeong (July 18, 2007). 바다열차, 강릉~삼척 ‘비경 80분’ 운행 (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c "Soak up the serenity of the East Sea's scenes". JoongAng Ilbo. February 2, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Seo, Jee-yeon (April 19, 2013). "Industrial railroads reborn as tourist attraction". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  9. ^ Jackson, Julie (July 4, 2014). "Home of 'The Hourglass' looks to expand tourism reach". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "동해안 바다열차 매진 행렬…"내년부터 못 탄다"". Channel A. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  11. ^ "동해안 바다열차 매진 행렬…"내년부터 못 탄다"". Channel A. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
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