Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority Begins Feasibility Study for GTX-B Incheon National University Station Transfer Center Construction

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority has launched a feasibility study and basic plan establishment service to build Incheon National University Station, the starting station of the 수도권광역급행철도 (GTX) B Line, as a transfer center.

The service will be conducted until the end of October and aims to select alternatives related to the Incheon Startup Park transfer center, establish the basis for project promotion, develop a project promotion plan reflecting the design layout standards set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and prepare an implementation plan for building a public transportation-linked transfer system.

Through this service, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to establish utilization plans for the Incheon Startup Park site and the existing transfer center, propose new construction plans for the transfer center, hold public hearings, and coordinate with related organizations.

The transfer center is designed to connect the GTX-B Line, Incheon Subway Line 1 at Incheon National University Station, and bus and taxi platforms, and in the long term, allow transfers to a tram circulating within Songdo.

The budget for constructing the transfer center, promoted as a financial project, is estimated at a total of 64.8 billion KRW, including 45.3 billion KRW for transfer facilities, 5.2 billion KRW for a transfer parking lot (156 spaces), and 9.8 billion KRW for support facilities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is accelerating the project by recently negotiating with a private operator (Daewoo Construction consortium) aiming for the GTX-B Line to open in 2030.

The GTX-B Line, with a total project cost of approximately 5.7 trillion KRW, is a project to build 13 stations and one vehicle depot along an 80.1 km route from Songdo in Incheon through Yeouido, Yongsan, Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni, to Maseok in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

The GTX is expected to travel through a tunnel 50 meters underground at an average speed of 100 km/h, taking about 27 minutes from Songdo to Cheongnyangni.