Aging Facilities on Bundang Line Upgraded... Night Train Service Shortened from June

▲ Bundang Line (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Starting in June, some late-night train operations on the Bundang Line, a metropolitan railway in the Seoul metropolitan area, will be shortened. This is a measure due to the renovation of aging facilities.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 31st that it will focus on upgrading aging electrical facilities on seven metropolitan railway lines, including the Bundang Line, by the end of 2022. The lines included in this plan are the Bundang Line, as well as parts of Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1 (Gyeongin Line, Gyeongbu Line, Gyeongwon Line), Line 3 (Ilsan Line), and Line 4 (Gwacheon Line, Ansan Line).

Although the metropolitan railways are experiencing severe aging of facilities, the high density of train operations increases the risk to operational safety. Considering the service life, the Ministry plans to promptly complete necessary upgrades such as replacing overhead lines and power distribution facilities and reinforcing safety equipment.

In particular, the Bundang Line has a long track length and, due to the characteristics of its underground sections, the operating environment is poor because of dust and moisture, making upgrades urgent. However, if the current train operation hours are maintained, the renovation is expected to take more than 5.7 years. Therefore, the Ministry plans to adjust train operation hours to achieve the goal of completing upgrades by 2022. For other lines besides the Bundang Line, the Ministry expects that upgrades can be completed by 2022 without adjusting train operation hours, considering the scale of the renovations.

▲ Bundang Line Electrical Facility Improvement Plan (Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

Accordingly, from June until the end of 2022, the Bundang Line will adjust the times of three trains during late-night hours on weekdays and weekends (including holidays), when ridership is relatively low. On weekdays, train 6351, which departs Wangsimni at 11:07 PM and runs to Suwon, will be shortened to operate only up to Jukjeon Station. Additionally, trains 6359 and 6361, which depart Wangsimni at 11:39 PM and 11:48 PM respectively and run to Jukjeon, will be discontinued.

On weekends, train 6275, which currently departs Wangsimni at 11:15 PM and runs to Suwon, will be shortened to operate only up to Jukjeon. Operations of train 6279, departing Wangsimni at 11:41 PM, and train 6280, departing Suwon at 12:05 AM the following day, will be discontinued.

This operation adjustment notice will be intensively communicated not only within stations but also through nearby apartment complexes, public institutions, and various organizations.

Kang Hee-up, Director of Railway Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "We will actively provide guidance to ensure there is no confusion in train usage due to this focused renovation."