SEOUL, KOREA- Korea’s newest train just begs to be ridden. The ITX 청춘 (Cheong-chun) makes the journey from Yongsan station in central Seoul to Chuncheon in an hour and nineteen minutes, making several stops along the Gyeongchun line. While more expensive than the subway that runs the exact same line, this train reminds us getting there is half of the fun.
Beyond being the first two-story train in Korea, the train combines elements from older Mugunghwa trains, newer Nooriro trains, and the subway. Just like on Mugunghwa trains, a pair of chairs can swivel around so you can face another duo. This is perfect for you travelers in groups of four or eight (but see important note at bottom). Electricity is available in the front and back of single-story cars. Audio announcements are identical to those found on the subway, while the well-lit interior is also seen in the Nooriro trains.
Both ends of a single-story car have a small room with subway straps and fold down chairs – perhaps expecting the standing-room-only crowd or for an overflow of passengers. Tip: head to the back of the main section of a single-story car. In some cases, the last couple of rows have only one seat, and there’s plenty of space behind them.
The caveats come quickly as well. The train has precisely two two-story cars, and both levels have a low ceiling. Although it has a predictable schedule, leaving only once an hour from Yongsan Station moves it into the category of ’plan ahead’ versus ’just wait for the next one’. The train won’t feel like it’s flying until it’s out of Seoul – using the same tracks as two lines of the subway requires some track-hopping. While facilities are surprisingly spacious, each train has only two bathrooms – expect lines for most of the trip.
It’s not the first Korean train to be handicapped accessible, but it looks like the first that was designed from the start to be wheelchair-friendly.
Since the ITX uses the same subway lines and access points, signs are around to remind riders to pay for the connecting subway ride with their transit card. This is a very trusting move on their part, since you’re already (legitimately) inside the gate. At Seoul and Chuncheon, the entry gate is the former handicapped / wide gate, rebranded with a green sign. It feels a little counter-intuitive, to be honest.
Within Chuncheon station, the ITX gets its own ticket booths instead of the more standard ones you’ll find across the country. As of this post’s date, there was no English option I could find, so be prepared to read through some Korean. The Yongsan-to-Chuncheon ride costs 6,800 won (interestingly, the ticket shows the original price as being 9,800 won), while standing room costs 5,700 won (original price 8,300 won).
Since there was no express type of train to reach Chuncheon, this train system services the area quite nicely. Unless you need the speed or the novelty, the Gyeongchun subway line leaves more often and costs less – and is less of a hassle to get a ticket.
