Is it possible to promote the construction of the Busan Urban Railway Busan Port Line?
Busan City and the People's Power Busan Party announced a large-scale project called the ‘Busan Urban Railway Busan Port Line’ at the 'Local Issues Cooperation Council' in the old town area. This is expected to accelerate the expansion of the urban rail network.
This project is a large hydrogen tram initiative that integrates the Yeongdo Line, Uam Gamman Line, and C-Bay Line. It aims to incorporate eco-friendly technology and revitalize the old city area. However, uncertainties still exist regarding the feasibility of this project.
Integration of lines centered around C-Bay... the direction is right but the reality is complex
Busan City has announced a new transportation plan. This plan includes the 'Busan Port Line,' which integrates three lines: Yeongdo Line, Uam Gamman Line, and C-Bay Line.
This line is expected to have a total length of 24.21 km with 41 stations and two depots. The project cost is estimated at around 724 billion won.
Notably, it is expected to operate along the coastline using an overhead-free system with eco-friendly hydrogen fuel cell trams. This is anticipated to greatly contribute to the improvement of Busan's transportation environment.
This integration seems to be a strategy to improve the economic viability of each line and enhance operational efficiency. Given that the B/C ratios for each line have not exceeded 1.0, synergy effects from the integration are expected.
However, the Busan Port Line project is expected to require gradual advancement.
The reality of phased advancement... the 'Central-Dong to North Port Tram' is confirmed
First, one confirmed aspect is the C-Bay tram section that connects Central-Dong and North Port. This section is already actively linked with the Phase 1 redevelopment of the North Port, and its connection to tourism and logistics hubs makes early realization possible.
The line design for the Yeongdo Line has some shortcomings. It does not pass through Nampo-dong, heavily used by Yeongdo residents, and is structured to connect Central Station and Korea Maritime University, raising doubts about its ability to meet actual demand. It is necessary to establish a stop at the Lotte Tower station in Nampo.
Additionally, following the low-demand maritime road instead of Taejongro and routing through the industrial complex raises questions about the line's utilization potential. It is necessary to consider whether this design will truly enhance the transportation convenience for local residents.
Uncertainty of North Port Phase 2 and Uam Gamman Line
The section connecting Busan Station and Munhyeon, which leads to the North Port Redevelopment Phase 2 area that connects to Uam and Gamman, can only be realized when the North Port Phase 2 project is activated.
However, as the current project progress is sluggish, early commencement of this section is not expected to be easy.
A new transportation line connecting Uam-dong and Daeyeon Station is currently being discussed. The existing line suffers from low demand in the Yongdang area, and the route connecting Kyungsung University and Gamman is inefficient.
Therefore, there is a possibility that a direct connection from Uam-dong to Daeyeon Station will be proposed instead of the existing line. This could serve as a more practical solution reflecting the area's transportation demand and living zones, and if this change is realized, it is expected to have a positive impact on local residents.
The silence of Munhyeon to Citizen Park and Oryukdo Line
It is noted that a significant section has been omitted from this line plan: the segment from Munhyeon to Citizen Park.
This area is already served by both Line 1 and Line 2 of the urban railway, and it seems that it has been excluded due to concerns over efficiency if a new line is added.
I personally anticipated low demand and returns versus investment, and this prediction has ultimately proven to be correct.
The Oryukdo Line was entirely omitted from this announcement. Currently, the Oryukdo tram line project is undergoing a feasibility reassessment due to increased project costs. If it does not pass, concerns regarding the project’s future progress are likely to grow. It is assessed that delays have occurred due to issues with project viability.
Busan Port Line: An attractive concept, but many obstacles to overcome
The Busan Port Line project presents a future vision for urban redevelopment in Busan's old city, expansion of maritime tourism infrastructure, and introduction of eco-friendly transportation means. Notably, the integrated line design and the introduction of hydrogen trams are attracting attention as innovative approaches.
However, there are areas throughout the line that do not evenly reflect demand, and various challenges and variables need to be addressed at several stages. Complex elements such as demand forecasting, local residents' opinions, the pace of urban development, and passing feasibility assessments are essential for successful advancement.
Therefore, this project should be approached as a long-term plan that fundamentally restructures Busan's urban framework rather than merely expanding lines. Some sections may need to be flexibly adjusted according to public opinions and development situations, making this strategic approach essential.
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