Rolling stock Pyongyang Metro

voa report showing ride on former west german u-bahn cars in 2013

when operations on metro started in 1970s, newly-built dk4 passenger cars used, made north korea chinese firm changchun railway vehicles. prototype train of dk4 cars constructed in 1971 , first 15 cars sent pyongyang on july 30, 1973. 112 cars had been provided north korea september 1978, 345 cars acquired.

the chinese-made rolling stock later sold china use on beijing subway, used in three-car sets on line 13. has since been replaced newer dkz5 , dkz6 trainsets, , not known if dk4 units returned pyongyang.

north koreans riding pyongyang metro in 2012. portraits above door of former leaders kim il-sung , kim jong-il.

since 1997, pyongyang metro has used former german rolling stock berlin u-bahn. north korean government supposedly bought more twice number of trainsets required daily use, prompting speculation metro might contain hidden lines and/or stations not open public. there 2 different types of rolling stock:

gi ( gisela ), former east berlin stock, 60 built between 1978 , 1982.
d ( dora ), former west berlin stock, 108 built between 1957 , 1965.

the trainsets given new red , cream livery in pyongyang. advertising removed , replaced portraits of deceased leaders, kim il-sung , kim jong-il. in 2000, bbc reporter saw old east german trains complete original german graffiti . after 2006, type d cars used. type gi rolling stock withdrawn metro service in 2001, , cars operating on railway network around pyongyang.

in 2015, kim jong-un rode newly manufactured 4 car train set reported have been developed , built @ kim chong-t ae electric locomotive works in north korea, although cars appeared renovated d-class cars.

the shunting locomotives used on pyongyang metro gkd5b diesel electric model manufactured china s cnr dalian, imported in 1996.