G-Train (Korail)

G-Train aka West Gold Train (Korean: 서해금빛열차) is a South Korean tourist train operated by Korail. The train began operations in 2015 and transports tourists from Seoul along the coastal areas of the West Sea.[1][2]

G-Train aka West Gold Train
Overview
Service typeTourist train
StatusOperating
LocaleSouth Korea
First serviceFebruary 5, 2015
Current operator(s)Korail
Route
StartYongsan
EndIksan
Line(s) usedGyeongbu Line
Janghang Line
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Overview

The train opened on February 5, 2015, and runs from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Iksan Station in Jeollabuk-do and back again.[3] The train travels to several stops located near tourist points, seven of which are Asan Hot Springs in Asan, Sudeoksa Temple in Yesan, Namdang Port Hongseong, Daecheon Beach and mud fields in Boryeong,[1] the National Institute of Ecology in Seocheon, a cultural heritage street, and nearby islands at Gunsan[4] and the Iksan Jewelry Museum in Iksan.[5][6]

The letter "G", in the name, stands for "gold", a reference to seven "golden" destinations on the West Coast, where the train stops.[7] And the exterior of the train is decorated to symbolize those seven regional destinations, with seven shiny jeweled patterns.[3]

The train has five passenger cars, some with heated foot jacuzzis with seats facing the windows in the cafeteria section, the "Footbath Café", for drinking tea.[3] One car has nine rooms, which seat six people, with heated floors, ondol style, like the traditional hanok[8] floor heating, common in Korean homes.[1][9][10]

Activities on the train include an amateur comedian's show, and ecological programs offered by the National Institute of Ecology.[6][11][12]

G-Train interior

Operations

References
  1. Lee, Sun-Min (January 24, 2015). "Planned G-Train offers tourists ultimate comfort". JoongAng Ilbo. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  2. ‘서해금빛열차’ 타고 서해안 추억 여행 떠나볼까 (in Korean). YTN. February 16, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  3. Lee, Song-hoon (February 11, 2015). "Korean Train Line Launched with Heated Carriage Floors". Business Korea. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. Sohn, JiAe (February 4, 2015). "Trip on the West Gold Train: Gogunsan Islands". Korea.net. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  5. Lee, Ji-hye (January 20, 2015). "KORAIL launches 'ondol and Jacuzzi' trains". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  6. Wallace, Allison (January 23, 2015). "Spa train for South Korea". Yahoo! Travel. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  7. Yun, Suh-young (February 11, 2015). "Head off on newly launched trains". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  8. '서해안 보석 여행지로∼' 서해금빛열차 29일 개통 (in Korean). Yonhap. January 27, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  9. Nam, In-Soo (January 22, 2015). "South Korean Train To Feature Foot Spas, Heated Floors". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  10. [충남]저녁노을 바라보며…‘서해금빛열차’ 타보세요 (in Korean). The Dong-A Ilbo. January 23, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  11. Sohn, JiAe (February 2, 2015). "Golden train zips along West Coast". Korea.net. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  12. "저절로 힐링이 되는 서해금빛열차". The Korea Herald. February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
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