"GTX-D Recruitment Battle" Competition for Introduction Intensifies in Seoul as Well

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The behind-the-scenes competition to attract the new metropolitan area express railway (GTX)-D line, which runs from the western metropolitan area through Seoul to the eastern metropolitan area, is intensifying as it spreads from Gyeonggi Province to Seoul.

According to the maintenance industry on the 11th, Gangdong-gu, Seoul recently commissioned a research project for the introduction of GTX-D. Through this, the district plans to establish new stations within the Gangdong area and conduct feasibility studies for the project. Gangdong-gu aims to have GTX-D pass through the district by reflecting the population density and traffic conditions throughout Gangdong-gu, including the Cheonho and Gildong living areas in southeastern Seoul, and considering the rationality of the railway route. The results of the research are expected by the end of this year. Along with this, the district plans to build consensus among residents through policy seminars and briefings.

Gangdong-gu expects its population to reach 550,000 by 2023. Large-scale development projects centered on Godeok, Gangil, and Sangil-dong are underway within the district, including the reconstruction and maintenance projects of Godeok Jugong Complexes 3 to 7 and the Godeok Gangil public housing district. Coupled with the new town development projects in nearby Hanam City, transportation demand is also expected to surge in the future. Accordingly, Gangdong-gu insists that GTX-D must be introduced alongside the ongoing subway line extensions of lines 5, 8, and 9. A Gangdong-gu official said, "The goal of this research is to enable the GTX-D line to pass through Gangdong-gu," adding, "We will work closely with Hanam City and others to ensure that the GTX-D route passing through Gangdong-gu is reflected in the government's 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan."

The GTX-D line gained prominence after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the 'Metropolitan Transportation 2030' vision last October, which included plans to review new GTX lines. Earlier this year, during the general election period, metropolitan areas such as Incheon and Gimpo commissioned research projects for the introduction of the line and competed to attract it. Incheon City, which commissioned a preliminary feasibility study in March, plans to complete it within the year and propose the optimal GTX-D route passing through Incheon. Considering the fierce competition among regions within Incheon, they plan to reach a conclusion quickly.

In February, Gyeonggi Province, Bucheon, Gimpo, and Hanam signed a "win-win cooperation agreement for expanding the GTX benefit range and establishing the optimal route" and are jointly responding to the GTX-D line project. Gimpo City took the lead in commissioning a study to find the optimal route within the approximately 61.5 km total length stretching from Gimpo through Bucheon and Seoul to Hanam. The outline of the GTX-D line is expected to be revealed in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan scheduled for June next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.