'3rd New Town Metropolitan Rail 3 Lines' Enter Full-Scale Operation

Songpa-Hanam Line Basic Plan Establishment Project Starts on 20th... Approval Expected in First Half of 2024
Traffic Demand Forecasting, Optimal Alternative Route Selection, and Construction and Operation Plan Development

Songpa-Hanam Line Section [Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Metropolitan Area Transport Committee]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province will commence the feasibility study and basic plan establishment service for the "Songpa-Hanam Line Metropolitan Railroad Project," connecting the 3rd phase new town Hanam Gyosan District and Seoul Songpa, on the 20th.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 19th, "With the commencement of the Songpa-Hanam Line, the three major metropolitan railroad network construction projects connecting the 3rd phase new towns?Goyang-Eunpyeong Line, Gangdong-Hanam-Namyangju Line, and Songpa-Hanam Line, which started in the first half of this year?will all be on track."

The Songpa-Hanam Line is a project with a total length of 12.0 km and a total project cost of 1.5401 trillion KRW, connecting Seoul Subway Line 3 Ogeum Station as the starting point, passing through Hanam Gam-il District and Gyosan District, and linking to Hanam City Hall Station on Line 5.

Upon completion of this project, the province expects improved transportation convenience for residents of Gyosan New Town and enhanced metropolitan transportation convenience in the eastern metropolitan area by linking with Seoul Subway Lines 5, 8, and 9, as well as the Great Train Express (GTX) Line A.

Through the basic plan establishment service, the province plans to comprehensively review feasibility evaluation, urban transportation zone characteristics, future demand, and connected transportation systems to select the optimal alternative route from economic and technical perspectives and establish construction and operation plans.

The province aims to prepare a draft basic plan by the second half of next year and apply for approval of the basic plan from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the first half of 2024, targeting confirmation and announcement of the basic plan.

Among the major metropolitan railroad projects for the 3rd phase new towns besides the Songpa-Hanam Line, the Goyang-Eunpyeong Line will be constructed with a total length of 13.9 km and a total project cost of 1.41 trillion KRW, starting from Seoul Subway Line 6 Saejeol Station, passing through Changneung New Town, and reaching Goyang City Hall.

The Gangdong-Hanam-Namyangju Line is an extension project of Seoul Subway Line 9 Phase 4 (Seoul Dunchon-dong to Gangil-dong, opening in 2027), connecting Gangdong-gu to Hanam Misa District and Namyangju Wangsuk New Town, extending to Jinjeop 2 District over 18.1 km with a total project cost of 2.1032 trillion KRW.

A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "It is necessary to open the railway on time so that residents of the 3rd phase new town areas do not experience transportation inconveniences during the early stages of moving in," adding, "We will closely coordinate with the central government and related local governments to promptly complete the basic plan procedures."