Speeding to Seoul: Geomdan Subway Extension Opens
Incheon to Seoul in just 30 minutes? The Geomdan Extension is here!
Exciting news for commuters! The extended Incheon Subway Line 1, connecting to the Geomdan area, officially opened on June 28th. The first train departed from Geomdan Lake Park Station at 5:30 AM, heading towards Gyeyang Station.
This extension stretches from Gyeyang Station – a transfer point for the Incheon Subway Line 1 and the Airport Railroad – to three brand new stations: Ara Station, Geomdan New City Center Station, and Geomdan Lake Park Station.
Previously, residents of Geomdan faced a 20-minute car ride or a 40-minute bus trip to reach Gyeyang Station. Now, the extension slashes that commute time to just 8 minutes! More impressively, reaching Seoul Station from Geomdan now takes approximately 38 minutes by subway, a significant improvement from the previous 70-minute bus and train combination. This greatly enhances accessibility to the heart of Seoul.
The line utilizes medium-sized, manned trains consisting of 8 cars. The standard capacity is 970 passengers, with a maximum capacity of 1,455 passengers at 150% crowding.
The extension adopts the same metropolitan area integrated fare system as other subway lines. The average distance between stations is 2.26 km, with a travel time of approximately 8 minutes.
Enhanced Transfer Experience at Gyeyang Station
Recognizing the anticipated high volume of transferring passengers at Gyeyang Station, two additional transfer gates have been installed. Furthermore, improvements have been made to the signage and passenger flow within the station.
Authorities have also established an emergency coordination system involving police, fire services, and related units to effectively respond to unexpected situations.
Addressing Overcrowding and Boosting Accessibility
To mitigate potential overcrowding at Gyeyang Station due to the increased passenger flow from Geomdan, nine additional trains will be added to the Airport Railroad (AREX) line by the end of the year.
Furthermore, the government will introduce two new city bus routes (totaling 13 buses) to improve station accessibility for Geomdan residents, while maintaining the operation of 19 existing city and intercity bus routes (totaling 168 buses) that serve stations in the area.
The Geomdan extension project is part of a broader plan to enhance transportation in the Geomdan New City area. Construction commenced in December 2019 and was completed after 5 years. The total investment for the project amounted to approximately 7.9 billion won, with a total line length of about 6.8 km.
Source: TTHQ
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