THE Korean city of Ulsan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) to cooperate in the project to build the world’s first light rail line operated with hydrogen-powered LRVs.
The signing ceremony took place on February 9 and was attended by Ulsan mayor, Mr Kim Doo-gyum and KRRI president, Mr Han Seok-yoon. Under the agreement, KRRI will provide support throughout the project including specialist consultancy, for up to 12 months after the line opens.
The line will be the city’s first rapid transit line. The City of Ulsan says the project is budgeted at Won 328bn ($US 246.3m), 60% of which will be funded by central government and 40% provided locally.
The 11km route will run from Taehwagang station to Sinbok Intersection with 15 stops. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the opening planned for 2029.
A feasibility study for the line was undertaken by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and was approved in August 2023. In November, the project moved into a subsequent feasibility, assessment and planning phase, with a review into the customer experience of the light rail interchange at Taehwagang station currently underway.
The MoU is another milestone for the project aimed at bringing hydrogen-powered LRVs to the city, located on the southeast coast of Korea. Ulsan signed an MoU with Hyundai Rotem in 2020 and the manufacturer has been testing the LRVs on disused tracks near Taehwagang station since 2022.
In mid-November 2023, 200 passengers rode five-section LRVs for 4km during an official demonstration event. The LRVs operate at a top speed of 40km/h and have a range of 200km before they require refuelling.
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