Airport Railroad Surpasses 700 Million Cumulative Passengers... 29% Decrease Compared to Previous Year Due to COVID-19 Impact

Airport Railroad Direct Train [Provided by Airport Railroad]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Airport Railroad connecting Seoul Station and Incheon International Airport has surpassed a cumulative passenger count of 700 million.

According to the Airport Railroad, as of the 23rd, the cumulative number of train passengers reached 700,132,640. This milestone was achieved 13 years after the opening of the Incheon International Airport Station to Gimpo Airport Station section in 2007.

The average daily ridership of the Airport Railroad trains dropped to around 140,000 in March this year, a 43.7% decrease compared to the previous year due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but it is gradually recovering through measures such as quarantine and marketing linked to tourist attractions around the line.

As of this month, the daily ridership of the Airport Railroad is about 200,000, and the total daily foot traffic including transfers and auxiliary facility users is approximately 410,000.

The Airport Railroad has seen an annual increase in passengers of 28.2% since its opening, and last year, the number of passengers grew 20 times compared to the early days of operation, maintaining a rapid growth trend. In particular, the direct train recorded a 112-fold increase, with an average of 5,400 passengers per day.

However, from June this year, the use of the Airport Railroad by overseas arrivals has been restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, resulting in a 29% decrease in passengers from January to October compared to last year.

Additionally, since April, the operation of the direct train running non-stop from Seoul Station to Incheon International Airport has been suspended. Currently, the direct trains are temporarily operating on the regular train line to alleviate congestion inside the trains.

The Airport Railroad conducts daily disinfection at all stations and inside trains and actively encourages passengers to wear masks.

Furthermore, at Gyeyang Station and Unseo Station, where the line transitions from underground to aboveground, trains stop an additional 20 seconds to promote air circulation inside the trains, and all trains are disinfected before departure from Seoul Station.

Kim Han-young, President of Airport Railroad, stated, "We are doing our best to maintain quarantine and cleanliness so that the public can use public transportation with confidence," and urged, "Passengers must wear masks and follow quarantine guidelines."

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