Record Number of Train Passengers in the First Half of the Year
New Routes and Enhanced Services Drive Growth
Bujeon Station Sees Largest Increase in Ridership
Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) announced on July 23 that the number of passengers on high-speed trains (KTX) and regular trains in the first half of this year exceeded 72 million, marking an all-time high. On May 3, the start of the golden holiday period, 540,000 people took trains in a single day. The following day, May 4, 530,000 passengers used the trains.
The station that saw the largest increase in passengers compared to last year was Bujeon Station. Due to the opening of the Jungang Line and Donghae Line, 3,000 people boarded or disembarked at Bujeon Station each day, more than double the number from last year. After the extension of the Jungbunaeryuk Line, Pangyo Station saw a 1.6-fold increase, and Gamgokjanghowon Station, which operated shuttle buses in cooperation with nearby universities, experienced a 1.4-fold increase.
The main reason for the increase in passengers was the launch of new routes. Since the end of last year, six new lines have begun operation: the Donghae Line (Gangneung~Bujeon, Gangneung~Dongdaegu), Jungang Line, Jungbunaeryuk Line, Seohae Line, Poseung~Pyeongtaek Line, and Gyoe Line. These new lines alone accounted for 2.5 million passengers.
KORAIL is recognized for contributing to revitalizing local economies by collaborating with local governments connected by the new routes to develop travel packages that link tourist attractions, regional festivals, and railways. In the first half of the year, 160,000 people participated in KORAIL train travel programs, a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.
Improvements to various services connected to the railway also played a significant role. At Gwangmyeong Station, the city airport terminal reopened in December last year. In the first half of this year, 20,000 people?an average of 111 per day?used the city airport terminal for departure procedures. Passengers can complete check-in and baggage drop-off in one step and proceed quickly through dedicated city airport terminal gates at Incheon Airport for expedited departure screening.
The luggage delivery service, introduced in 2022, has also been well received. This service transports luggage between stations and accommodations. Previously, reservations could be made at the station or on the operator's website, but since June of last year, the service has been available through the Korail Talk mobile application. The number of cases increased from 98,000 in 2023 to 129,000 last year. In the first half of this year alone, the service was used 80,000 times.
A KORAIL official stated, "As the railway network becomes denser, new vitality is spreading to regional areas," adding, "We will continue to improve railway services so that the public can use trains more safely and conveniently."
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