Incheon City has prepared the 2nd Incheon Urban Railway Network Construction Plan, which includes seven lines such as the Incheon Circular Line 3.
According to the city on the 24th, the plan includes six lines (totaling 123.43 km) in addition to the Circular Line 3: Yonghyeon-Seochang Line, Songdo Tram, Bupyeong Coastal Pier Line, Incheon Line 2 Nonhyeon Extension, Yeongjong Tram, and Gajwa-Songdo Line. Additionally, two candidate lines (19.29 km) for priority review depending on future conditions were proposed: the Juan-Yeonsu Line and the expansion of the magnetic levitation train.
The city explained that this plan prioritizes balanced urban development by linking with the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX), which starts from Incheon, and discovering new lines in areas underserved by railway services.
At the public hearing held on the 23rd at Jung-gu Sangsang Platform, Dr. Kim Jong-hyung from the Incheon Research Institute presented the railway network plan, and related experts engaged in discussions.
The city plans to finalize the plan by reflecting opinions presented at the public hearing and those from the city council, and apply for approval of the railway network plan from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in February next year. The Ministry will approve and announce the plan after reviewing appropriateness by research institutions, consulting related ministries, reviewing and coordinating through the Urban Transportation Policy Working Committee, and deliberation by the National Transportation Committee.
An official from Incheon City said, "Preparing the urban railway network construction plan is the first step in railway construction," adding, "We will build urban railways reflecting the opinions of citizens and experts as much as possible, in the direction and speed desired by the citizens."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.


