Pyongyang Metro
Encyclopedia
The Pyongyang Metro ( P'yŏngyang Chihach'ŏl) is the metro
system in the North Korea
n capital Pyongyang
. It consists of two lines: the Chŏllima
line runs from Kwangbok station in the southwest to Ragwŏn station in the northeast, and the Hyŏksin line runs north, from Puhŭng station on the banks of the Taedong
to Pulgŭnbyŏl station. The two lines intersect at Chŏnu station. Daily ridership is estimated to be between 300,000 and 700,000.
. In 1971, there was a major accident during the construction of a tunnel under the Taedong River
for the Ponghwa station. Some sources say at least 100 workers died in the accident. This particular piece of tunnel was never completed; the metro network is now completely located on the western side of the river.
Pyongyang Metro is the deepest metro in the world—the track is approximately 110 meters (about 360 feet) deep underground. (The Saint Petersburg Metro
also claims to be the deepest, based on the average depth of all its stations. The Arsenalna station on Kiev Metro's
Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line
is currently the deepest station in the world at 105.5 metres.) The Pyongyang Metro has a museum devoted to its construction and history.
For the most part, the stations' names do not refer to the locations of the stations; instead, stations are named after themes and characteristics from North Korea's revolution. But Kaesŏn ("Triumph") is located at the Arch of Triumph
.
The network is completely underground. The design of the network was based on metro networks in other communist countries, in particular the Moscow Metro
. Both networks share many characteristics, such as the great depth of the lines (100 meters plus) and the large distance between stations. Another common feature is the Socialist realist art that can be found in the stations such as murals and statues. Staff of the Metro have a military-style uniform that is specific to these workers.
In times of war, the metro stations can serve as bomb shelter
s. For this purpose, the stations are fitted with large steel doors. Some sources claim that large military installations are connected to the stations, and of secret lines solely for government use.,
One station—Kwangmyŏng —is reported to be closed since 1995, due to the mausoleum of Kim Il-Sung
located at that station. Trains do not stop at that station.
The Hyŏksin line is reported to have two new stations planned or under development, Yŏngung and Ch'ilgok . The map of the Hyŏksin line shows these two additional stations after Kwangbok station.
The map of the Chŏllima line shows two additional stations, Ryŏnmot , Sŏp'o , Ch'ŏngch'un and Mangyŏngdae , at each end of this line which are planned or under development.
Each Metro station has a free toilet for use by patrons. Stations also broadcast the programs from state radio and have a display of the newspaper Rodong Sinmun
.
It is also one of the cheapest in the world to ride, at only 5 KP₩
(about $0.03 USD) per ticket. The Metro used to utilize an aluminium token, with the emblem of the Metro minted on it and the Korean "". However, it now uses a paper ticket system also with printed on it. Smoking and eating inside the subway system is prohibited, and punishable by a large fine.
in 1972. Altogether 345 vehicles were built, of the whole, only 112 cars were actually used. In 1998, some of these trainsets were sold to the Beijing Subway
, where they served in three car formations on line 13
(they have since been replaced by newer DKZ5 and DKZ6 trainsets; it is unknown if the DK4 units have been returned to Pyongyang).
Since 1998, the Pyongyang metro has used former German rolling stock from the Berlin U-Bahn
. There are two different types of rolling stock:
The trainsets received a new red and cream livery
in Pyŏngyang. All advertising was removed and replaced by portraits of the leaders, Kim Il-sung
and Kim Jong-il
.
Recent travelers have only seen type D in operation; the GI-type has been replaced by the Dora-stock. GI-trains are used at the railway network around Pyongyang.
Foreign tourists visiting North Korea can only see the metro as part of guided tours of Pyongyang. However, a BBC
reporter who was covering the visit of U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright
in 2000 was able to walk around the city without his minder and saw "old East German trains complete with their original German graffiti." Recent photographs taken by visitors all show the same handful of type D trains, so it is possible that only a few type D trains have been repainted and that these are the only ones shown to foreigners on guided tours. A visitor in 2004 noted 40 cars at one line, divided in ten trains.
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Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system in the North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n capital Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. It consists of two lines: the Chŏllima
Chollima
Chollima is the Korean name for a mythical horse. Its name roughly means "thousand-mile horse", is often portrayed as a winged horse and several such statues are found in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. It is also the nickname of the North Korean national football team. The Chollima Movement...
line runs from Kwangbok station in the southwest to Ragwŏn station in the northeast, and the Hyŏksin line runs north, from Puhŭng station on the banks of the Taedong
Taedong River
The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north. It then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o. In between, it runs through the country's capital, Pyongyang. Along the river are landmarks such as the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung...
to Pulgŭnbyŏl station. The two lines intersect at Chŏnu station. Daily ridership is estimated to be between 300,000 and 700,000.
Construction
Construction of the metro network started in 1968, and was opened in September 1973 by former President Kim Il-sungKim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
. In 1971, there was a major accident during the construction of a tunnel under the Taedong River
Taedong River
The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north. It then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o. In between, it runs through the country's capital, Pyongyang. Along the river are landmarks such as the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung...
for the Ponghwa station. Some sources say at least 100 workers died in the accident. This particular piece of tunnel was never completed; the metro network is now completely located on the western side of the river.
Pyongyang Metro is the deepest metro in the world—the track is approximately 110 meters (about 360 feet) deep underground. (The Saint Petersburg Metro
Saint Petersburg Metro
The Saint Petersburg Metro is the underground railway system in Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It has been open since November 15, 1955.Formerly known as the V.I...
also claims to be the deepest, based on the average depth of all its stations. The Arsenalna station on Kiev Metro's
Kiev Metro
The Kiev Metro is a metro system that is the mainstay of Kiev's public transport. It was the first rapid transit system in Ukraine and the third one built in the USSR . It now has three lines with a total length of 63.7 kilometres and 49 stations...
Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line
Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line
The Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska Line , is the first line of the Kiev Metro, dating back to 1960. It includes some of the system's more historically significant stations, like Arsenalna, which at 105.5 meters is the deepest in the world and the next station Dnipro, which although the tunnel follows a...
is currently the deepest station in the world at 105.5 metres.) The Pyongyang Metro has a museum devoted to its construction and history.
Network
The Pyongyang Metro network consists of two lines:- Ch'ŏllima line, named after a very fast horseChollimaChollima is the Korean name for a mythical horse. Its name roughly means "thousand-mile horse", is often portrayed as a winged horse and several such statues are found in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. It is also the nickname of the North Korean national football team. The Chollima Movement...
from ancient Korean mythology. It spans about 12 km (~8 mi). Construction started in 1968, and the line was opened on September 6, 1973. - Hyŏksin line, which literally means renewal, spans about 10 km (~6 mi). Regular service started on October 9, 1975.
For the most part, the stations' names do not refer to the locations of the stations; instead, stations are named after themes and characteristics from North Korea's revolution. But Kaesŏn ("Triumph") is located at the Arch of Triumph
Arch of Triumph (Pyongyang)
The Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang was built to commemorate the Korean resistance to Japan from 1925 to 1945.Built in 1982 on the Triumph Return Square at the foot of Moran Hill in the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang, the monument was built to honour and glorify President Kim Il-sung's role...
.
The network is completely underground. The design of the network was based on metro networks in other communist countries, in particular the Moscow Metro
Moscow Metro
The Moscow Metro is a rapid transit system serving Moscow and the neighbouring town of Krasnogorsk. Opened in 1935 with one line and 13 stations, it was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union. As of 2011, the Moscow Metro has 182 stations and its route length is . The system is...
. Both networks share many characteristics, such as the great depth of the lines (100 meters plus) and the large distance between stations. Another common feature is the Socialist realist art that can be found in the stations such as murals and statues. Staff of the Metro have a military-style uniform that is specific to these workers.
In times of war, the metro stations can serve as bomb shelter
Bomb shelter
A bomb shelter is any kind of a civil defense structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.-Types of shelter:Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives. For example, an Air-raid shelter...
s. For this purpose, the stations are fitted with large steel doors. Some sources claim that large military installations are connected to the stations, and of secret lines solely for government use.,
One station—Kwangmyŏng —is reported to be closed since 1995, due to the mausoleum of Kim Il-Sung
Kumsusan Memorial Palace
The Kumsusan Memorial Palace, sometimes referred to as the Kim Il-sung Mausoleum, is a building located northeast of downtown Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea . The palace is the former official residence and office of North Korea's president and founder,...
located at that station. Trains do not stop at that station.
The Hyŏksin line is reported to have two new stations planned or under development, Yŏngung and Ch'ilgok . The map of the Hyŏksin line shows these two additional stations after Kwangbok station.
The map of the Chŏllima line shows two additional stations, Ryŏnmot , Sŏp'o , Ch'ŏngch'un and Mangyŏngdae , at each end of this line which are planned or under development.
Each Metro station has a free toilet for use by patrons. Stations also broadcast the programs from state radio and have a display of the newspaper Rodong Sinmun
Rodong Sinmun
Rodong Sinmun is a North Korean newspaper and the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, published by the Rodong News Agency. It is the most widely read newspaper in the country...
.
Chŏllima Line
| Stations of the Pyongyang Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Chŏllima 천리마선 Line | |||
| Station | Literal meaning | Transfer | Opened |
| Pulgŭnbyŏl 붉은별 | Red Star | 6 September 1973 | |
| Chŏnu 전우 | Comrade | #2 Chŏnsŭng | |
| Kaesŏn 개선 | Triumph | ||
| T'ŏngil 통일 | Reunification | ||
| Sŭngni 승리 | Victory | ||
| Ponghwa 봉화 | Torch/Beacon | ||
| Yŏnggwang 영광 | Glory | 10 April 1987 | |
| Puhŭng 부흥 | Revitalization | ||
Hyŏksin Line
| Stations of the Pyongyang Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 Hyŏksin 혁신선 Line | |||
| Station | Literal meaning | Transfer | Opened |
| Kwangbok 광복 | Restoration/Independence | 9 September 1978 | |
| Kŏn'guk 건국 | National Foundation | ||
| Hwanggŭmbŏl 황금벌 | Golden Soil | 6 September 1978 | |
| Kŏnsŏl 건설 | Construction | ||
| Hyŏksin 혁신 | Innovation | 9 September 1975 | |
| Chŏnsŭng 전승 | Complete Victory(in Battle) | #1 Chŏnu | |
| Samhŭng 삼흥 | Three Rejuvenations | ||
| Kwangmyŏng 광명 | Shine/Enlightenment | ||
| Ragwŏn 락원 | Paradise | ||
Operation
The Pyongyang Metro was designed to operate every few minutes. During the rush hours, the trains can operate at a minimum interval of 2 minutes. Until recently, many foreign tourists were only allowed to travel between Puhŭng Station and Yŏngwang Station. However, foreign students have been allowed to freely use the entire metro system. These two stations in this line that were completed in 1987, while the others in this line were all completed in 1973, suggesting that they may be less modern. It has also been suggested that foreign tourists are limited to the Puhŭng and Yŏngwang stations because these two stations are typically less crowded due to their location at the end of a line, therefore reducing interactions between foreigners and locals. It is noted by more recent tourists, traveling with Koryo Tours, have been allowed five station rides.It is also one of the cheapest in the world to ride, at only 5 KP₩
North Korean won
The won is the currency of North Korea . It is subdivided into 100 chon. The won is issued by the Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
(about $0.03 USD) per ticket. The Metro used to utilize an aluminium token, with the emblem of the Metro minted on it and the Korean "". However, it now uses a paper ticket system also with printed on it. Smoking and eating inside the subway system is prohibited, and punishable by a large fine.
Rolling stock
When operation of the metro started in the seventies, newly built rolling stock was used. Although North Korea insists it was built in Korea, the four-car formations, known as DK4, were built in China by Changchun Car CompanyChangchun Car Company
Changchun Railway Vehicles Company Ltd. is a Chinese rolling stock manufacturer under China CNR Corporation. While the CRV emerged in 2002, the company's roots date back to the establishment of the Changchun Car Company in 1954....
in 1972. Altogether 345 vehicles were built, of the whole, only 112 cars were actually used. In 1998, some of these trainsets were sold to the Beijing Subway
Beijing Subway
The Beijing Subway is a rapid transit rail network that serves the urban and suburban districts of Beijing municipality. It is owned by the city of Beijing and has two operators, the wholly state owned Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp., which operates 12 lines, and the Beijing MTR...
, where they served in three car formations on line 13
Line 13, Beijing Subway
Line 13 of the Beijing Subway , also known as the CityRail Line , is a metro line that serves the northern suburbs of Beijing. On a map, Line 13's route is shaped like an inverted U that arcs north of the city and connects residential suburbs in Haidian, Changping and Chaoyang Districts with the...
(they have since been replaced by newer DKZ5 and DKZ6 trainsets; it is unknown if the DK4 units have been returned to Pyongyang).
Since 1998, the Pyongyang metro has used former German rolling stock from the Berlin U-Bahn
Berlin U-Bahn
The Berlin is a rapid transit railway in Berlin, the capital city of Germany, and is a major part of the public transport system of that city. Opened in 1902, the serves 173 stations spread across ten lines, with a total track length of , about 80% of which is underground...
. There are two different types of rolling stock:
- GI ("Gisela"), former East Berlin stock, built between 1978 and 1982.
- D ("Dora"), former West Berlin stock, built between 1957 and 1965.
The trainsets received a new red and cream livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
in Pyŏngyang. All advertising was removed and replaced by portraits of the leaders, Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
and Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
.
Recent travelers have only seen type D in operation; the GI-type has been replaced by the Dora-stock. GI-trains are used at the railway network around Pyongyang.
Foreign tourists visiting North Korea can only see the metro as part of guided tours of Pyongyang. However, a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reporter who was covering the visit of U.S. Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Korbelová Albright is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0...
in 2000 was able to walk around the city without his minder and saw "old East German trains complete with their original German graffiti." Recent photographs taken by visitors all show the same handful of type D trains, so it is possible that only a few type D trains have been repainted and that these are the only ones shown to foreigners on guided tours. A visitor in 2004 noted 40 cars at one line, divided in ten trains.
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See also
- Transportation in North KoreaTransportation in North KoreaThe standard route to and from North Korea is by plane or train through Beijing, People's Republic of China. Transport directly to and from South Korea has been possible on a limited scale from 2003 until 2008, when a road was opened...
- Pyongyang TramPyongyang TramPyongyang Tram is a tram system in Pyongyang, North Korea.In the pre-war era, there were three tramways in Korea, in Seoul, Busan, and Pyongyang. However, the system in Pyongyang was discontinued after the Korean War of 1950 to 1953...
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of rapid transit systems
- Seoul Metropolitan SubwaySeoul Metropolitan SubwayThe Seoul Metropolitan Subway or Metropolitan Subway in Seoul, in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world, with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's thirteen lines...
Literature
- Pyongyang Metro, Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1980
- Пхеньянский метрополитен. Путеводитель. — КНДР: Издательство «Корея», 1988.
External links
- Video showing the Metro in North Korea
- Comprehensive site about the Pyongyang Metro
- Pyongyang at Urbanrail.net
- Pyongyang Metro photos from 2008
- Photos and information
- Photos and information
- Photos and information
- Video showing the Pyongyang Metro Museum
- Video showing ticket collection
- Video of the Exit to the "Glory" station
- Video showing Newspaper Use in the Metro
- Network map
- http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/09/2009120900263.html "Kim Jong-il 'Has Secret Underground Escape Route'"] Chosun Ilbo