Incheon City Council Urges Additional GTX-B Stations: "Enhancing Metropolitan Network and Revitalizing Old Downtown"

The Incheon City Council has strongly urged the installation of additional stations on the GTX-B (Metropolitan Express Railway) line.

At the 303rd extraordinary session held on September 9, the council passed a resolution titled "Urging the Confirmation of Additional Stations on the GTX-B Line," which was sponsored by Chairman Jung Haekwon (People Power Party, Yeonsu-gu 1). Following this, council members held a resolution rally in the plenary hall, uniting the voices of three million Incheon citizens.

According to the current plan, the GTX-B line in Incheon includes three stations: Incheon National University Entrance Station (Songdo International City), Incheon City Hall Station, and Bupyeong Station. However, the distance between Incheon National University Entrance Station and Incheon City Hall Station is about 10 kilometers, which is significantly longer than the distances between other stations. The city council argues that this necessitates the addition of another station.

Since 2023, Incheon City has also been conducting a feasibility study on the installation of an additional station. The city maintains that a new station should be established in the area where the GTX-B line and the Suin Line intersect, between Incheon National University Entrance Station and Incheon City Hall Station. The Korea National Railway began a feasibility verification study for the additional station in May this year and plans to complete it by November.

Incheon City Council members held a resolution rally in the main assembly hall on the 9th, urging the government to confirm additional stations on the GTX-B line. Incheon City Council

Chairman Jung stated, "If additional stations are installed on the GTX-B line, it will not only improve accessibility to areas densely populated with large residential complexes and educational, cultural, and industrial facilities, but also significantly enhance the integration of the metropolitan transportation network, revitalize the old downtown, and help bridge transportation gaps between regions." He added, "In particular, if transfers to the Suin-Bundang Line become possible, commuting convenience for Inha University students will be greatly improved, and this enhanced transportation accessibility will further strengthen the educational competitiveness of local universities."

During the resolution rally, council members emphasized, "To increase the efficiency of metropolitan rail networks passing through Incheon, such as GTX-B, the Suin Line, and the Second Gyeongin Line, and to expand the beneficiary areas, the installation of additional stations is essential." They urged, "The government must confirm the additional stations and promptly implement the necessary procedures so that the GTX-B line and the new stations can open simultaneously."

The GTX-B line is planned to run for 82.8 kilometers, connecting Incheon National University Entrance Station, Incheon City Hall Station, Bupyeong Station, Bucheon Sports Complex Station, Sindorim Station, Yongsan Station, Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni Station, and Maseok in Namyangju. The total project cost is 6.8478 trillion won, with 4.2894 trillion won from private investment and 2.5584 trillion won from public funds.

The privately funded section, which includes Incheon, covers Songdo to Yongsan and Sangbong to Maseok, totaling 62.8 kilometers. On August 4, the integrated groundbreaking application was submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the main construction, scheduled to last 72 months, has officially begun.

GTX-B Route Map. Incheon City