Pyongyang Metro facts for kids

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Pyongyang Metro

Pyongyang subway train.jpg

Info

Locale

North Korea, Pyongyang

Transit type

Rapid transit

Number of lines

Number of stations

16 (Chollima Line : 8, Hyoksin Line : 8)

Daily ridership

400,000 (Weekdays)
700,000 (Holidays)
(July 2019)

Headquarters

Pyongyang Metro,
City Metro Unit,
Railway Section,
Transport and Communication Commission,
Pyongyang,
Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Operation

Began operation

September 1973; 51 years ago

Operator(s)

Pyongyang Metro Administration Bureau [ko]

Number of vehicles

224 (Type D : 216, Type 1 : 8)

Train length

Headway

3 minute (peak)
5 minute (off-peak)

Technical

System length

22.5 km (14.0 mi)

Track gauge

1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge

Top speed

70 km/h (43 mph) (Type D)

Route Map of Pyongyang Metro

Pyongyang Metro
Chosŏn'gŭl	평양 지하 철도
Hancha	平壤地下鐵道
Revised Romanization	Pyeongyang Jihacheoldo
McCune–Reischauer	P'yŏngyang Chihach'ŏldo

The Pyongyang Metro (Chosŏn'gŭl: 평양 지하철도; MR: P'yŏngyang Chihach'ŏlto) is a rapid transit system in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea. It has two main lines: the Chollima Line and the Hyŏksin Line. These lines connect different parts of the city, helping many people travel every day.

The two lines meet at Chŏnu Station. Around 300,000 to 700,000 people use the metro daily. North Korea built the metro, and it first used trains from China. Later, trains from East Germany were brought in. The Pyongyang Metro even has a museum about how it was built and its history.

Building the Metro
- Deep Underground Stations
- Future Plans and Updates
How the Metro Works
- Metro Lines
- Metro Design and Features
Metro Trains
Visiting the Metro
- Metro Museum
Gallery
Network Map
See also

Building the Metro

Construction of the metro began in 1965. The first stations opened between 1969 and 1972. Most of the 16 public stations were built in the 1970s. Two grand stations, Puhŭng and Yŏnggwang, were finished later in 1987. There were reports of accidents during construction in the 1970s.

China helped with building the metro. They sent experts to install equipment, including escalators that were 64 meters (210 feet) tall.

Deep Underground Stations

The Pyongyang Metro is one of the deepest in the world. Its tracks are more than 110 meters (360 feet) underground. There are no parts of the metro system that are above ground. Because it is so deep, the stations can also be used as bomb shelters. They have strong blast doors in the hallways.

It takes about three and a half minutes to ride the escalator from the ground down to the platform. The metro is so deep that the temperature on the platform stays around 18°C (64°F) all year. Other deep metro systems include the Saint Petersburg Metro and the Arsenalna station in Kyiv, which is the deepest station at 105.5 meters (346 feet).

Future Plans and Updates

In 1999, there were plans for two new lines, but their progress is unclear. In 2012, new station designs were shown at an architectural festival. In 2018, there were rumors of possible extensions to the metro system. However, state media did not announce anything, possibly due to funding or past construction issues.

Recently, some stations have been modernized. Kaeson station and Tongil Station were updated in 2019. They now have TVs that show when the next train will arrive and brighter lights. Jonu station and Chonsung station were updated in 2020. These TVs can also display a digital version of the Rodong Sinmun newspaper. Leaders have also announced plans to update the metro and build new trains.

How the Metro Works

The Pyongyang Metro is designed for trains to run very often. During busy times, trains can arrive every two minutes. Currently, trains run every 3 minutes during rush hour and every 5 minutes during the rest of the day. The metro operates from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM.

Riding the Pyongyang Metro is very cheap, costing only five North Korean Won (less than half a US cent) per ticket. In the past, people used aluminum tokens with the metro's emblem. Then, they used paper tickets. Now, the metro uses special contactless cards. These cards show how many trips you have left. Smoking and eating inside the metro are not allowed and can result in a large fine.

The Pyongyang Metro Administration Bureau runs the system. It is not very accessible for people using wheelchairs. This means it can be difficult for people with disabilities to use the metro.

Metro Lines

The Pyongyang Metro has two main lines:

Chollima Line: This line is named after a winged horse from old Korean stories. It is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) long. It opened on September 6, 1973. The stations on this line include Puhung, Yonggwang, Ponghwa, Sŭngni, Tongil, Kaeson, Jonu, and Pulgunbyol.
Hyŏksin Line: This name means "renewal." It is about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) long. It started service on October 9, 1975. The stations on this line are Kwangbok, Konguk, Hwanggumbol, Konsol, Hyoksin, Jonsung, Samhung, and Rakwon. The Kwangmyong station is closed and located between Samhung and Rakwon stations.

The two lines are connected by a track near Jonsung station. Many metro stations are named after nearby landmarks. For example, Kaesŏn Station ("Triumph station") is near the Arch of Triumph.

Metro Design and Features

The entire metro network is underground. Its design is similar to metro systems in other communist countries, especially the Moscow Metro. Both metros are very deep (over 100 meters or 330 feet) and have long distances between stations. They also feature Socialist realist art, like murals and statues, in their stations.

Metro staff wear special military-style uniforms. Each station has free toilets for passengers. Stations also play state radio broadcasts and display the Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

The metro stations can act as bomb shelters during wartime, with large steel doors. Some people believe there are secret lines for government use, similar to Moscow's Metro-2.

One station, Kwangmyŏng, has been closed since 1995 because the mausoleum of Kim Il-sung is located there. Trains do not stop at this station.

Metro Trains

When the metro first opened in the 1970s, it used new DK4 passenger cars made in China. Some of these Chinese-made trains can still be seen in other parts of North Korea.

North Koreans riding the Pyongyang Metro in 2012. The portraits above the door are of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

Since 1997, the Pyongyang Metro has mainly used older German trains from the Berlin U-Bahn. These trains were given a new red and cream paint job in Pyongyang. All advertisements were removed and replaced with portraits of leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Some older German trains (Class GI) were stopped from underground use in 2001 due to fires. They are now used as commuter trains in other areas.

In 2015, Kim Jong Un rode a new four-car train set. This train was said to be built in North Korea, though it looked like a heavily updated German D-class train. This new train is called 'Underground Electric Vehicle No. 1'. It usually runs on the Chollima Line.

There are ongoing efforts to build new metro cars in North Korea.

Visiting the Metro

Mural at Puhŭng Station entrance.

A grand ceiling at Yŏnggwang Station.

In North Korea, tourists usually travel in guided groups and follow specific plans. In the past, foreign tourists could only ride the metro between Puhŭng Station and Yŏnggwang Station. This led to a conspiracy theory that the metro only had these two stops and that the passengers were actors.

However, since 2010, tourists have been allowed to ride the metro at six stations. By 2014, all metro stations were opened to foreigners. Now, tourists on special tours can visit all stations on both lines.

Metro Museum

The Pyongyang Metro has its own museum. A big part of the museum shows how President Kim Il Sung guided the workers building the system. Exhibits include a special vehicle he used to go down into the stations during construction. There is also a railbus he used to ride around the system. The museum also has a map of the planned metro lines.