'Revenue Service Test Run' Ahead of March 30 Opening
The opening of the Metropolitan Area Express Train (GTX)-A, which allows travel from Suseo Station to Dongtan Station in about 19 minutes, is just over a month away. As the government has begun the final inspection phase of operational testing, SR, the operator of the high-speed train (SRT) departing from Suseo, is preparing for unusual situations that may arise due to shared tracks.
Final Checks Before Partial Opening of GTX-A
The first train of the 수도권광역급행철도 (GTX)-A is being unveiled at the platform of Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
On the 23rd, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that operational testing for the GTX-A Suseo~Dongtan section (34.9 km) will be conducted for 20 days until the 13th of next month. During this period, the government will inspect a total of 45 items across two areas: operation and service. They will assess the appropriateness of the train operation schedule and verify the proficiency of personnel such as train drivers.
To immediately respond to initial confusion and various emergency situations after opening, an emergency duty team for GTX-A will also be operated at Dongtan Station for about a month before and after the opening (with possible extension if necessary). This team will be composed of employees from related organizations such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Rail Network Authority.
Yoon Jin-hwan, Director of the Railway Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "Since this is the first section to open among the GTX projects, the government will make every effort to alleviate public concerns about safety. We will prioritize the safety and convenience of passengers and conduct thorough verifications multiple times to ensure a successful opening."
As the GTX-A opening approaches, SR has also become busy. SR shares the 28 km Suseo~Dongtan track with GTX-A. Since the number of train operations will increase, raising the possibility of accidents, SR has been researching countermeasures since last year.
The response system process prepared by SR includes a company-wide response system for all possible situations, such as ▲rapid normal operation measures according to vehicle failure scenarios by location and condition ▲response measures for infrastructure failures such as track switch and signal failures, and power outages in the overhead line ▲optimization of operation handling in case of train delays. It also includes plans for emergency response drills.
Fare Expected in the Mid-4000 Won Range... Benefits Anticipated for Surrounding Areas
The GTX route map is installed at Dongtan Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
GTX was established to expand the metropolitan transportation network. Assuming no stops at other stations, it runs from Suseo to Dongtan in 19 minutes. It operates at 17-minute intervals during peak commuting hours. The beneficiary population is expected to be an average of 1.83 million people per day. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reported that the economic effect is about 135 trillion won, and the employment creation effect is about 500,000 jobs.
Prospective GTX-A users are focusing on the fare. With high inflation, the burden of transportation costs is increasing day by day. Although the exact fare has not yet been decided, it is expected to be set in the mid-4000 won range. This is more than twice the basic fare of the Seoul subway. Accordingly, measures such as linking with K-Pass and applying transfer discounts are also reportedly under discussion.
While a rise in housing prices around the GTX-A partial opening can be expected, the current market is struggling more due to the real estate downturn than the opening impact. A real estate agent in the Pyeongtaek area, which is considered a beneficiary of the GTX-A and C line extensions, said, "There have been inquiries from buyers and asking prices have risen, but it does not seem to be leading to actual transaction price increases. It seems to be because the market sentiment is not good." Additionally, the nearby real estate agents explained that since SRT is already operating between Suseo and Dongtan, the impact may not be significant. When the first phase of GTX (A, B, C lines) was confirmed in the past, housing prices near stations rose by about 100 to 200 million won.
Meanwhile, the GTX-A section from Paju Unjeong to Seoul Station will open later this year. However, it is expected to connect with the Suseo~Dongtan section only in the second half of next year. The completion of the entire section at Samseong Station was scheduled for April 2028, but delays are possible due to difficulties in contractor bidding.
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