![Interior of a Wirye Line tram car. [Photo provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/01/26/20260126112300722651.jpg)
SEOUL, January 26 (AJP)-Trams are set to return to Seoul for the first time in nearly six decades, but in a distinctly modern form: battery-powered, sensor-equipped and free of overhead wires.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said Monday it has completed installation of key infrastructure for the Wirye Line tram, including tracks and a depot, and will begin large-scale test operations next month.
The city plans to move the first trainset into the depot early Tuesday, with the transfer taking place overnight between 11 p.m. Monday and 5 a.m. Tuesday to minimize traffic disruption. SMG said it coordinated traffic controls and safety staffing with Songpa Police Station.
From February, the city will carry out final checks ahead of opening. Through August, it will conduct mainline trial runs to verify 16 items, including running safety and coordination with ground equipment. From April through December, integrated railway test operations will assess the stability and interoperability of all systems and complete remaining procedures required for commercial service.
Because the tram operates on public roads, the city said it will strengthen safety measures by deploying safety personnel at 13 intersections and 35 crosswalks along the route, as well as running a dedicated situation team to respond to accidents.
“These trial runs are a critical step to comprehensively verify safety and system integration between vehicles, facilities and operating systems,” said Im Chun-geun, head of the Urban Infrastructure Headquarters. “We will conduct thorough testing so residents can use the line safely and conveniently.”
The Wirye Line is Korea’s first catenary-free tram, operating without overhead power lines. Instead, it draws power from a large-capacity battery mounted on the roof, reducing visual clutter in urban areas while lowering construction costs.
The 5.4-kilometer line will connect Macheon Station on Subway Line 5 with Bokjeong Station on Line 8 and the Suin–Bundang Line, as well as Namwirye Station on Line 8. Ten trainsets are planned to serve 12 stations and one depot, easing traffic congestion in Wirye New Town.
The tram features a low-floor design to improve accessibility for seniors, wheelchair users and other mobility-impaired passengers. It is also equipped with a forward collision warning system that combines radar and camera sensors. When an obstacle is detected, the system alerts the driver and automatically activates emergency braking if there is no response.
The exterior design reflects citizen preferences collected through on-site feedback and Seoul’s M-Voting platform. The tram is finished in purple, inspired by King Onjo of Baekje, who established Wirye as his first capital, with a design meant to convey elegance and dignity.
Trams were first introduced in Seoul in 1899 and operated for nearly 70 years before being phased out in 1968. The opening of the Wirye Line marks their return to the city after 58 years — this time as a high-tech, battery-powered mode of urban transport.
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