Weekend Operation Hours Changed on Daegok~Uijeongbu Suburban Line, Passenger Usage Increased by 36%

Gyoeoseon Line Resumes Operation After 21 Years
21,380 Passengers in 40 Days
Average of 280 on Weekdays, 870 on Weekends

Gyeonggi Province analyzed the usage status of the Gyoeoseon Line, which resumed operation on January 11, and found that a total of 21,380 people used it by February 23, with an average of about 486 users per day. According to Gyeonggi Province on the 3rd, an average of 280 people used it on weekdays, while 870 people used it on weekends, indicating that demand during weekend hours was higher than during weekday commuting hours so far.

The suburban train is arriving at Ilyeong Station. Provided by Gyeonggi Province.

To promote the use of the Gyoeoseon Line, Gyeonggi Province and Korail changed the train operation times starting February 3, focusing on daytime hours on weekends. The train departing from Daegok Station at 7:22 AM was changed to 9:43 AM, and the 8:38 AM departure was changed to 2:40 PM. Departures from Uijeongbu Station were changed from 7:16 AM to 11:00 AM and from 8:32 AM to 1:25 PM, respectively. After the change in operation times, weekend ridership increased by about 36%, from an average of 739 to 1,002 passengers per day, indicating that the change was effective in expanding weekend demand.

Han Tae-woo, Director of Railway Operations at Gyeonggi Province, said, “The Gyoeoseon Line connects the east-west axis of northern Gyeonggi and is an important route that can contribute to regional tourism and economic revitalization. Since the opening, it has now entered a stabilization phase, and we plan to continue efforts to promote usage by gradually increasing the number of operations.”

Opened in 1963, the Gyoeoseon Line was suspended in 2004 due to operational efficiency issues and economic deficits but resumed operation on January 11 to improve transportation in northern Gyeonggi. Currently, it operates eight times a day between Daegok Station in Goyang City and Uijeongbu Station.

Users can book tickets for the Gyoeoseon Line through the Korail Talk app and LetsKorail, or purchase tickets on board. At Daegok, Ilyeong, and Uijeongbu Stations, tickets can also be purchased on-site via automatic ticket machines.