You provide the power on the Jeongseon Line

Features

Published: 01 Feb. 2013, 19:58

You provide the power on the Jeongseon Line

Pedal the Rail Bike Road

Top: The Jeongseon train only has two compartments for passengers. When travellers get off at Auraji Station (center), they hop on the rail bikes (above) and go for a spin.

If you like a bit of physical exertion on your trips, you should put the rail package to Jeongseon, Gangwon on your list. This tour is popular among people travelling alone as space is limited. The train only has four cars, with just two reserved for passengers.

The tour stops at Gujeoli and Auraji stations, where you hop off the train and onto a rail bike to power your own way along the tracks for a change. The rail bikes are pedal-powered platforms that sit on the rails and come in two- and four-person options.

Jeongseon Town offers a glimpse into the densely wooded forests and coal mines of Korea’s past. The Jeongseon rail line was once used to transport coal and agricultural products but when the coal mining industry started to wane, so did the Jeongseon Line’s role. In 2005, it was renovated for exclusively recreational use.

The rail bikes have been a big hit, generating more than a billion won (or just over $900,000) in profits and attracting travelers from both in and outside the country since it went into operation.

The service starts running at 8:40 a.m. and continues at two-hour intervals for a total of four trips a day. During the peak summer season, the hours of operation are extended to include a run at around 4 p.m.

[ejpark@joongang.co.kr]

Visitors can reserve tickets for the Jeongseon Rail Bike by going directly to Gujeol-ri Station or at www.railbike.co.kr. The prices are the same on-site and online. A two-seater costs 18,000 won and a four-seater is 26,000 won.