U Line

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{{Short description|Light rail line in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea}}

{{Infobox rail line

| box_width = 22em

| color = {{rcr|Seoul Metropolitan Subway|U}}

| name = U Line

| native_name = {{Lang|ko|의정부경전철}}
Uijeongbu-Gyeongjeoncheol

| logo = x40px x40px

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| image = 265px

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| type = Rubber-tyred light metro

| system = Seoul Metropolitan Subway

| status = Operational

| locale =

| start = Balgok

| end = Depot Temporary Platform

| stations = 16

| routes =

| daily_ridership =

| open = 29 June 2012 (trial)
1 July 2012 (revenue)

| close =

| owner =

| operator = Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit Co., Ltd

| character =

| depot =

| stock = 15 × Siemens VAL 208 U100

| linelength = {{convert|11.3|km|abbr=on}}

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| tracks = 2

| gauge = {{convert|1,620|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=32}}

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| electrification = {{750 V DC|conductor=y}}

| speed = {{convert|80|km/h|abbr=on}}

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| map_state = collapsed

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The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated{{cite web |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/uijeongbu-light-rail-transit/ |title=Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit, South Korea |website=railway-technology.com |access-date=22 February 2014|quote=The 11.2km-long elevated light metro covers 15 stations}} light metro{{cite web |author=Michael Taplin |url=http://www.lrta.org/world/worldk-o.html#KR |title=Home – World Systems List index – World List K-O – Korea South (KR) |publisher=Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA) |date=March 2013 |access-date=7 August 2014 |archive-date=6 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406174747/http://www.lrta.org/world/worldk-o.html#KR |url-status=dead }} line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains built by Siemens Transportation Systems. The system is very similar to the Lille Metro, Toulouse Metro and Rennes Metro in France. The line color is amber.

The line is {{convert|11.2|km|abbr=on}} long on elevated track and offers a transfer to Line 1 at Hoeryong Station. Single rides cost 1,550 won. During rush hours trains come every 3 and a half minutes with trains coming every 6 to 10 minutes during all other hours. Trains are in service 19.5 hours a day, from 5 am until 12:30 am.{{Cite web | url = https://www.ulrt.co.kr/notice/view.do?wr_id=27 | script-title = ko:의정부경전철 개통 및 이용안내 | publisher = U Line | language = ko | trans-title = Opening Info | access-date = 2 July 2012 | archive-date = 28 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140228173307/https://www.ulrt.co.kr/notice/view.do?wr_id=27 | url-status = dead }}{{Cite web | url = https://www.ulrt.co.kr/guide/guide_04.do | script-title = ko:운영정보 | publisher = U Line | language = ko | trans-title = Operating Info | access-date = 2 July 2012 | archive-date = 28 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140228172542/https://www.ulrt.co.kr/guide/guide_04.do | url-status = dead }} From Balgok Station to Tapseok Station, the U Line will take riders 19 minutes and 54 seconds, versus a car, at 31 minutes 6 seconds, or a public bus, taking 40 minutes and 6 seconds.{{Cite web | url = https://www.ulrt.co.kr/guide/guide_01.do | script-title = ko:노선안내 | publisher = U Line | language = ko | trans-title = Time differences and station names | access-date = 2 July 2012 | archive-date = 6 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160406071307/https://www.ulrt.co.kr/guide/guide_01.do | url-status = dead }} Two extensions are planned.{{cite journal |author=David Briginshaw |url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/metros/korean-city-opens-automatic-light-metro.html?channel=542#.T_yoifVQT2k |title=Korean city opens automatic light metro |date=2 July 2012 |journal=International Railway Journal |access-date=10 July 2012}}

After four and a half years of operating at a continual loss, a debt of 240 billion won prompted board members of the Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit Company to file for bankruptcy in late 2016. If the Seoul Central District Court agrees to the filing then operation reverts to the city government. On 5 January 2017, Uijeongbu Mayor Ahn Byung-yong promised the line would continue operation.{{Cite web | url= http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3028539&cloc=etc%7Cjad%7Cgooglenews | newspaper=Korea JoongAng Daily | language = en | title = Uijeongbu light rail files for bankruptcy |date=12 January 2017 | access-date = 13 January 2017}}