A-Train aka Jeongseon Arirang Train | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Owner | Korail |
Termini |
|
Service | |
Type | Regional rail |
System | Korail |
Services |
Jungang 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]
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]