Go to charge the battery’Daejeon Tram’… Expert “existing technology is difficult”

Controversy arose when the city of Daejeon promoted the tram (streetcar) power method of urban railroad line 2 by using both a temporary line (power supply line) and a non-ga line (battery). As the Daejeon tram route is the longest in the world, it is difficult to incorporate existing technologies, and various problems such as civil complaints arising from the installation of temporary lines have been raised.

According to the city of Daejeon on the 30th, the city will install trams in the 36.6km section of Seodaejeon Station-Government Complex-Yuseong Oncheon Station-Jinjam-Seodaejeon Station. Build 35 stops and one vehicle base. The total project cost is 749.2 billion won.

Daejeon City plans to complete the detailed design by the end of 2022 and start tram construction immediately. The scheduled opening time is at the end of 2027. The opening period was delayed by two years from 2025 due to several factors, including delays in administrative procedures. The tram has an average speed of 25 km, which is slower than a city bus.

Daejeon City decided to install power supply lines in a third of the entire section (12.2km). An official from Daejeon City said, “There is virtually no tram technology in the world that can run long sections like Daejeon only with batteries.”

An official from the city of Daejeon added, “In some cities around the world, such as Nice in France, Detroit in the US, Santos in Brazil, and Munich in Germany, trams are being operated using a mixed wire and wireless method. The city said that it would run the tram by installing gait lines throughout the entire section and charging it while moving. It is said that the location of the installation site has not yet been confirmed.

The city plans to run the tram on battery power for the remaining 24.4 km. The battery is installed on the roof of the tram and weighs about 3 tons. The total length of the tram is 32m, the size of 5 buses combined.

A railroad expert who asked for anonymity said, “For overseas trams that use a mixed line and a wireless line, the section is short, within 10 km,” and pointed out that it will not be easy to apply mixed technology to a long section like Daejeon.

The expert predicted, “It is not yet known how much charging can be done while running, and civil complaints regarding the installation of electric wires will be difficult.” In response, an official from Daejeon city refuted, saying, “We will resolve the complaints related to the installation of the temporary line with sufficient persuasion.

Some people are skeptical of the Daejeon tram operation itself. One railroad academic expert said, “The traffic jam will be serious because of the 130 intersections in the entire section, and if there is an accident such as a car and a tram colliding, it will not be easy to respond quickly.” This expert advised, “Even now, measures are needed, such as dividing the tram line into two.

In addition, the construction method for some sections has not been decided yet. In Daejeon, the section of the Temi Pass (about 1km) should be constructed as a tunnel. This is because the slope is so strong that it is not easy for the tram to pass through it. This is expected to cost about KRW 31 billion in construction. However, the government confirmed the cost of constructing the tram and cut the cost of constructing the tunnel. Daejeon City said, “The plan will continue to consult with the government for the construction of the Temi Pass Tunnel.”

The Daejeon Metro Line 2 project has been controversial since 2003 over the construction method. In April 2014, Mayor Yeom Hong-cheol decided to use an expensive magnetic levitation train (underground for some sections).

Afterwards, the mayor of Daejeon, elected in the local elections in June 2014, changed to the tram system as soon as he took office. They pointed out that the construction cost is much less than that of the subway. On January 19, 2019, the Moon Jae-in administration allowed the construction of the Daejeon tram to proceed without going through a preliminary feasibility study.

Daejeon = Reporter Kim Bang-hyun [email protected]