Daily Users Increased from 8,747 to 34,703
Mayor Lee Sang-il: "Committed to Safe and Convenient Operation"
The Yongin Light Rail Transit (Everline), which runs between Giheung Station and Everland Station in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, has surpassed 100 million cumulative passengers 11 years after its opening.
Yongin City announced on the 7th that the Yongin Light Rail Transit, called 'Everline,' exceeded 100 million cumulative passengers as of the 5th.
Opened on April 26, 2013, the Yongin Light Rail Transit has a total length of 18.143 km and operates 15 stations. It is operated using a fully unmanned automatic driving system, with a total of 30 train cars running daily from 5:30 AM to midnight. Each vehicle has a capacity of 133 passengers.
At the time of opening, the daily average number of passengers was only 8,747. However, demand increased following the implementation of the metropolitan area integrated transfer discount system the following year, and by 2025, the daily average number of passengers rose to 23,369.
In 2018, the daily average number of passengers exceeded 30,000, and the cumulative passengers that year surpassed 40 million. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the daily average number of passengers dropped to 22,970 in 2020, but it recovered to the 30,000 range from 2022, and last year, 34,703 passengers used the Yongin Light Rail Transit daily.
Annual fare revenue from the light rail also increased from 2.58494 billion KRW in the first year of operation to 5.05548 billion KRW the following year, and 9.13375 billion KRW in 2019. In 2022, it was 8.63513 billion KRW, and last year it rose to 9.63871 billion KRW, with expectations to exceed 10 billion KRW this year.
The city analyzed that the steady increase in light rail passengers is due to improved transfer conditions with the Suin-Bundang Line and buses, as well as increased demand from large-scale developments around stations such as Giheung Station area, Yeokbuk District, and Gorim District. In fact, the city arranged for 32 bus routes within the region to pass through light rail stations for transfer convenience and coordinated shuttle bus operations with nearby universities such as Yongin University and Kangnam University.
The station usage environment has also been steadily improved. In 2021, the city invested 5.7 billion KRW to install screen doors at all stations, and in 2022, 201 CCTV cameras were installed at the vehicle depot and stations to prevent crime.
Free Wi-Fi has been installed on all vehicles and platforms within stations, and wireless phone chargers have also been installed to enhance citizen convenience.
Meanwhile, the Yongin Light Rail Transit was initially managed and operated by Bombardier, the vehicle manufacturer, but in August 2016, the management and operation company changed to NeoTrans, the operator of the Shinbundang Line. Since August last year, Yongin Everline Operation Co., Ltd. has been responsible for management and operation.
Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin City, said, "We will continue to do our best to operate and manage safe and convenient facilities to serve as a reliable partner and transportation means for the 1.1 million citizens of Yongin."
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