Route map of the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province metropolitan railway. [Daegu City]
Route map of the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province metropolitan railway. [Daegu City]

Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province announced Wednesday that their joint metropolitan railway construction project has cleared a preliminary feasibility review by the Ministry of Planning and Budget's Fiscal Investment Evaluation Committee.

The railway was included in the Fourth National Railway Network Development Plan in 2021 as a leading metropolitan rail project outside the capital region.

The double-track line will run 70.06 kilometers from Daegu through Dong-gu and Gunwi — home to the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province integrated new airport — and on to Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province. The total project cost is 3.18 trillion won ($2.3 billion).

The line will operate express metropolitan railway vehicles capable of speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour, comparable to the GTX standard.

Once the line opens, travel time from Daegu to the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province integrated new airport will be cut to under 30 minutes.

The two local governments plan to work with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and relevant agencies to accelerate the project following the feasibility clearance.

Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said the metropolitan railway "will play a pivotal role not just as a construction project, but in supporting the future growth of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province and ushering in the new airport era."

North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo said he would do his utmost to lead balanced national development by expanding the rail network, deepening economic integration between Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, and building a megacity across the broader region.


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