GTX-B Private Section 62.8km Project Plan Announced... Preferred Negotiator to be Designated by Year-End

GTX-B Route Map [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The recruitment process for private operators to construct the metropolitan area express railroad (GTX) Line B, connecting Songdo in Incheon to Maseok in Gyeonggi Province, has begun.

According to Incheon City on the 6th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the 'Basic Plan for Private Investment Facility Projects' for the 62.8 km private investment sections of the GTX-B line construction, which spans 82.7 km, including Songdo to Yongsan and Sangbong to Maseok.

These sections will be promoted as Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) private investment projects, while the 19.9 km Yongsan to Sangbong section will be carried out as a public finance project. The total project cost is 6.1932 trillion KRW, with 3.8421 trillion KRW from private investment and 2.3511 trillion KRW from public funds.

According to the basic plan, private applicants must propose measures to shorten passenger transfer distances and enhance convenience facilities such as ultra-high-speed elevators.

Additionally, reflecting the results of the GTX transfer center pilot project selection, detailed conditions require proposals for connection facilities between the transfer centers at Incheon National University Station, Incheon City Hall Station, Bupyeong Station, and the main project stations to improve passenger convenience.

Previously, in November 2020, as a result of the GTX transfer center pilot project competition led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, all three stations applied for by the city (Incheon National University Station, Incheon City Hall Station, Bupyeong Station) were selected.

However, there have been ongoing demands for additional stations in several areas such as Cheonghak and Juan, and the city has continuously consulted with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport while listening to residents' voices. As a result, the current basic plan opens the possibility for private operators to propose additional stations.

Notably, unlike the existing GTX-A and C lines, Line B introduces a new scoring item of 50 points for 'specificity of ancillary projects' in the basic plan. The city is actively considering ways to maximize this scoring item by linking additional stations with surrounding station area development projects.

Furthermore, although establishing additional stations requires a massive project cost of about 200 billion KRW, which must be fully borne by local governments without national subsidies, the city plans to consider adding stations at locations where transfers to the Suin Line?where Incheon-origin KTX and Wolpyeong Line KTX Eum trains may operate?are possible.

Also, by actively utilizing ancillary projects such as complex development around stations by private operators to reduce project costs, and consulting with related agencies including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on funding plans, the city aims to ensure that the benefits of GTX reach more citizens.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will accept private operator applications until November 1 this year and plans to designate a preferred negotiation partner by the end of the year. The GTX-B line project is scheduled to begin construction in 2024 and open in 2030.

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