[Construction IN] "30-Minute Commute from Unjeong and Dongtan to Gangnam by 2027"

In the first half of next year, the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX)-A line will be connected as a single route. Construction is currently underway with the goal of full operation by 2028, but it is expected that trains will be able to run between Suseo and Seoul Station as early as next year. Samsung Station, the Gangnam stop in Seoul, will be able to accommodate stops by 2027. Transfers to other lines will also become possible. This will create a new high-speed rail route allowing residents of Unjeong New Town in Paju or Dongtan New Town in Hwaseong to reach Gangnam in just 20 to 30 minutes.

Song Hyechun, Head of the GTX Division at the Korea Rail Network Authority, said on the 21st, "We will take over the construction site for the transfer section (B5 level) at Samsung Station from the Yeongdong-daero Complex Development Project led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government after September this year, and we plan to proceed with track and system construction. After construction, including trial runs, our goal is to open the Seoul Station to Suseo section in the first half of 2026."

He added, "Initially, trains will pass through Samsung Station without stopping, but we are considering introducing a stop and transfer system at Samsung Station around the first half of 2027." While the full GTX-A line is scheduled to open around 2028, the plan is to increase passenger numbers in advance by connecting with existing subway stations.

Song Hyechun, Head of GTX Division, Korea Rail Network Authority. Photo by Korea Rail Network Authority

원본보기 아이콘

Currently, the authority is operating the GTX-A northern section (Unjeong New Town in Paju to Seoul Station), which opened at the end of last year, and the GTX-A southern section (Dongtan to Suseo) as separate segments.

For the GTX-B line, construction began this month on the privately funded sections between Incheon and Yongsan, and Sangbong and Maseok. The target for opening is 2030. The GTX-C line, which is also being promoted as a private investment project, aims to begin construction in the first half of this year after financial agreements are finalized between consortium members and external investors.

The line connecting Suseo and Gwangju is currently in the detailed design phase and is expected to break ground in the second half of this year. For the second phase of the metropolitan railway section between Yongsan and Sinsa (Shinbundang Line extension), the plan is to supplement the design for the route passing through the US military base and start construction in the first half of the year after next. As for the GTX-D and subsequent lines, which are still in the conceptual stage and have not undergone preliminary feasibility studies, Song expects them to be included in the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan to be released this year. Local political circles are also discussing the need to establish new lines, including GTX-D, E, F, and even G and H.

Although the goal is to open on schedule, Song emphasized that site safety is the top priority, given the authority's responsibility for overall construction management. He is well aware that any accident could lead to further delays. Song stated, "We plan to eliminate blind spots in safety management by proactively introducing smart safety equipment and enhancing safety protocols, and to ensure the safety performance of railway facilities is consistently maintained through systematic inspections and verification."

GTX Seoul Station. Yonhap News

원본보기 아이콘

Meanwhile, Song was appointed as the first head of the GTX Division last year, after having been responsible for railway maintenance, design, and budget planning since the days of the National Railroad Administration in 1992. The establishment of a dedicated division for a specific project within the Korea Rail Network Authority is unprecedented, with the GTX Division being the first. This reflects the authority's commitment to closely managing the GTX project, as its opening is a national policy priority.

In line with this, the division implemented a three-stage emergency duty system after the GTX opened last year, successfully stabilizing operations without major incidents. The GTX Division is responsible for the construction of ten railway lines in the metropolitan area, including GTX-A, B, and C, as well as the Suseo-Gwangju conventional railway and the Yongsan-Gangnam (Shinbundang Line extension), which could potentially be connected to the future GTX-D.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.