Hadong Rail Bike — 5.3 km along the abandoned Gyeongjeon Line from Bukcheon Station to Yangbo Station

Bukcheon Station, begun in 1967, brings the discontinued Gyeongjeon Line back to life as a rail bike route

The old Bukcheon Station building now used as the rail bike ticket office was begun in 1967. It was remodeled and repurposed after the Korea Railroad Corporation's Bukcheon Station was relocated in 2016. According to historical records, the station began operating as a regular station on February 7, 1968. After the Gyeongjeon Line was double-tracked and this section lost its passenger service, Hadong County transformed the 5.2–5.3 km rail section from the old Bukcheon Station to Yangbo Station into a rail park, using the discontinued railway site to expand Hadong's tourism infrastructure.

Take the scenic train from Bukcheon Station to Yangbo Station, then return by rail bike

The operating method here differs from that of other rail bike attractions. A train pulls the rail bike vehicles from Bukcheon Station to Yangbo Station, where passengers get off and ride the rail bikes back to Bukcheon Station. The scenic train recreates the model of an old Mika steam locomotive. It was designed with an open structure to account for the summer heat and can tow approximately 300 passengers.

The fleet consists of 70 rail bikes, including 25 two-seater vehicles and 45 four-seater vehicles. The entire journey takes about one hour, combining approximately 15 minutes by train and 30–35 minutes by rail bike. The 5.3 km track contains five level crossings, with safety personnel stationed there, according to an official from Hadong County Office.

The 1.2 km Imyeong Tunnel and seasonal flower paths

The rail bikes pass through the 1.2 km Imyeong Tunnel, which features spectacular scenic lighting that creates a festival of light. Different flowers bloom around the railway tracks each season, attracting visitors' attention. The Bukcheon Poppy Festival takes place in May, while cosmos and buckwheat flowers are in full bloom around the station in autumn, bringing a succession of festivals.

Fares and schedule during normal operations

During normal operations, the rail bikes run six times a day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., regardless of weekdays, weekends, or holidays. Fares are 30,000 won for a two-seater and 40,000 won for a four-seater. National merit recipients and people with disabilities who hold a Hadong County ID receive a 50% discount, while Hadong County residents and people with disabilities receive a 30% discount. Groups using at least 10 two-seater vehicles or 8 four-seater vehicles simultaneously in one session receive a 20% discount.

May 2026: Two rear-end collisions and a complete suspension of operations

At approximately 12:14 p.m. on May 2, 2026, on the downhill section of the Yangbo Station–Bukcheon Station route, a passenger in the leading vehicle made an emergency stop to pick up a hat that had fallen onto the track. The following six rail bikes and the scenic train then collided in a chain reaction, injuring 16 people. Then, at approximately noon on May 17, a four-seater rail bike struck from behind the towing vehicle ahead on the same downhill route, injuring four people. One of them, a female passenger in her seventies, died while receiving hospital treatment the following day, May 18. The accident site was the final point of the 5.3 km section, where the downhill stretch is located.

2446-6 Gyeongseo-daero, 43 minutes by car from Hwagae

The address is 2446-6 Gyeongseo-daero, Bukcheon-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do (1477-2 Jikjeon-ri), and the ticket office uses the old Bukcheon Station building of the former Gyeongjeon Line. It is approximately 43 minutes by car from Hwagae Intercity Bus Terminal. Since the Korea Railroad Corporation's Bukcheon Station was relocated to a new site in 2016, regular passenger trains no longer stop at this former station, making access by private car effectively the standard option rather than public transportation.

A Hadong itinerary combining Geumosan Mountain's zipline and Choi Champandaek

Geumosan Mountain, not far from the rail park, is equipped with adventure leisure facilities such as Asia's longest zipline, Big Swing, Power Fan, and Quick Jump, and is introduced as a good place to combine with a rail bike experience. Some visit reports describe riding the zipline first and then traveling to the rail park.

Some one-night, two-day travel reports describe itineraries that divide visits to Dongjeong Lake, Choi Champandaek, the rail park, and the cable car across the day. Other reports combine the destination with Hadong Eupseong Fortress or the Bukcheon Poppy Festival site.

Why downhill thrills and safety must be considered together

According to interviews with Hadong residents, the facility's use of the existing railway makes enjoying the thrill of downhill sections one of its advantages. However, concerns have been raised that these sections can pose a relative safety risk to older passengers who are unfamiliar with operating the braking system. Both accidents in May were confirmed to have occurred on downhill sections where speed increased.

Therefore, passengers who are uncomfortable with thrills, older passengers who may find sudden brake operation burdensome, and families unable to accept the risk of sudden stops or collisions should currently consider carefully whether to visit. Conversely, the one-way circular format combining the train and rail bike, the lighting in the 1.2 km Imyeong Tunnel, and the seasonal flower paths themselves are enduring strengths for which this facility has long been noted. If you are considering a visit after reopening, it is advisable to first check whether safety training and instructions on brake operation before boarding have been strengthened.