Subway Without Seats, an Alternative to Hell Train? ... Less Crowded vs More Uncomfortable Temperature Difference

Opinions Divided Among Citizens Who Rode on the 10th
"Isn't It Just Uncomfortable for Everyone?"
"Useful for Long-Distance Commuters"

On the 10th, Seoul City conducted the first pilot operation of the 'seatless subway,' sparking a heated debate among citizens. While some see it as a promising idea to prevent overcrowding on trains during the morning commute, others worry it will only increase discomfort. The seatless subway was first introduced on Line 4 of the Seoul subway on this day. It operates by removing seats from one car during the peak commuting hours when congestion is at its worst.

On the 10th, citizens are standing and commuting in a seatless car on Seoul Subway Line 4. Seoul Metro has started a pilot project operating one train car without seats in response to complaints about overcrowding during rush hours. However, seats reserved for the elderly and pregnant women are maintained. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

According to data from Seoul Metro, the maximum congestion rate of one car on Line 4 reached 193.4% (as of the third quarter of 2023), ranking among the highest across Lines 1 to 8. The transit authority expects that removing seats inside the car to create more space will help alleviate congestion to some extent.

However, opinions among passengers who actually boarded the 'seatless subway' car on the day were divided. Some citizens expressed negative views about the idea of removing seats to secure more space. One passenger posted on social media, "Isn't this just making everyone uncomfortable? What about those who commute over an hour on the subway and get tired?"

There were also comments saying they could not feel any reduction in congestion. Responses included, "It was just as crowded and chaotic as other cars," and "Honestly, I don't see how removing one row of seats makes it any more comfortable. I'm worried it might get more crowded and uncomfortable."

On the 10th, citizens are standing and commuting in a subway car without seats on Seoul Subway Line 4. Seoul Metro has started a pilot project operating one train car without seats during rush hours in response to concerns about overcrowding. However, seats reserved for the elderly and pregnant women are maintained. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

On the other hand, some showed positive reactions to the pilot operation. One citizen said, "It's true that some sections get crowded, but I could feel that a little space opened up when some people got off. For someone like me who commutes long distances, it doesn't seem bad." Another commented, "Anyone who has taken Line 4 during rush hour knows you can't even stand properly. If that can be eased even a little, I'm satisfied."

The exact end date of the pilot operation has not been determined. However, Seoul Metro expects that operating seatless subway cars could improve the maximum congestion rate by up to 40% and secure an additional 12.6㎡ of boarding space per car. If it is verified that seatless subway cars effectively reduce congestion, there are plans to consider expanding the system to other subway lines.