Great Train eXpress

Great Train eXpress (GTX) is a higher-speed commuter rail network in the Seoul Metropolitan Area project consisting of three separate lines, named GTX-A, GTX-B and GTX-C, and scheduled for completion in 2030.^[1] Three other lines, named GTX-D, GTX-E and GTX-F are being planned.^[2]

GTX-A

GTX-A
A GTX-A A000 series EMU
Overview
Native name	수도권 광역급행철도 A노선
Owner	Government of South Korea
Locale	Seoul
Termini	Unjeongjungang Suseo Seoul Dongtan
Stations	9
Color on map	Light purple
Service
Type	Commuter rail
Services	2
Operator(s)	GTX-A Operations SG Rail Co.Ltd Seoul Metro SR Corporation
History
Opened	30 March 2024; 10 months ago (2024-03-30)
Technical
Number of tracks	2
Character	Underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	25 kV/60 Hz
Operating speed	180 km/h (110 mph)

The GTX-A, officially Metropolitan Area Rapid Transit Line A, is a higher-speed commuter railway line operating in two sections in Seoul, South Korea.

Interior of a GTX-A train

Groundbreaking for GTX Line A was held on December 27, 2018, with service initially expected to commence in 2023.^[3] However, the project has been officially delayed due to land compensation issues and the discovery of archaeological ruins dating from the Joseon period.^[4]

The line currently runs in two separate sections - Dongtan to Suseo and Unjeongjungang to Seoul Station. Suseo, Seongnam, and Dongtan stations were opened on March 30, 2024, with Guseong Station opening later on June 29, 2024.^[5][6] The section between Unjeongjungang and Seoul Station opened on December 28, 2024.^[7] The connection between Seoul Station and Suseo is anticipated to open in August 2026.^[8] Samseong Station has been further delayed and will not open until 2028.^[9]

Operation

Approximately 30 km (19 mi) of the line are expected to share the same rail as the SRT, and an additional 9 km (5.6 mi) towards the western end of the route are expected to be completely underground.^[10] Trains operate at around three to four services per hour in each direction in the southern section with anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes between services.^[11] Meanwhile, the northern section operates at six services per hour per direction with ten minutes between services.^[11]

Each GTX-A train has a capacity of 1,090 passengers.^[12]

Station Number	Station name			Transfer	Line name	Distance (km)	Total distance (km)	Location		Date Opened
	English	Hangul	Hanja
X101	Unjeongjungang	운정중앙	雲井中央		GTX-A	—	0.0	Gyeonggi Province	Paju	28 December 2024
X102	KINTEX	킨텍스	킨텍스			6.7	6.7		Goyang
X103	Daegok	대곡	大谷			6.9	13.6
X104	Changneung	창릉	昌陵			6.2	19.8			2030
X105	Yeonsinnae	연신내	연신내			3.7	23.5	Seoul	Eunpyeong	28 December 2024
X106	Seoul Station	서울역	서울驛			9.5	33.0		Jung
X107	Samseong[A]	삼성	三成			10.1	43.1		Gangnam	April 2028
X108	Suseo	수서	水西			5.2	48.3			30 March 2024
X109	Seongnam	성남	城南		Suseo–Pyeongtaek HSR (shared)	10.7	59.0	Gyeonggi Province	Seongnam
X110	Guseong	구성	駒城			11.0	70.0		Yongin	29 June 2024
X111	Dongtan	동탄	東灘			11.1	81.1		Hwaseong	30 March 2024

GTX-B

Construction of GTX Line B commenced on March 7, 2024. It is planned to be completed by 2030.^[13]

Station number	Station name			Transfer	Line name	Distance	Total distance	Location
	English	Hangul	Hanja
TBA	Songdo Station[B]	송도	松島		GTX-B	—	0.0	Incheon	Yeonsu
	Incheon City Hall	인천시청	仁川市廳			—	—		Namdong
	Bupyeong	부평	富平			—	—		Bupyeong
	Bucheon Stadium	부천종합운동장	富川綜合運動場			—	—	Gyeonggi	Bucheon
	Sindorim	신도림	新道林			—	—	Seoul	Guro
	Yeouido	여의도	汝矣島			—	—		Yeongdeungdo
	Yongsan	용산	龍山			—	—		Yongsan
	Seoul Station	서울역	서울			—	—		Jung
	Cheongnyangni	청량리	淸凉里			—	—		Dongdaemun
	Sangbong[C]	상봉	上鳳			—	—		Jungnang
	Byeollae	별내	別內		Gyeongchun Line (shared)	—	—	Gyeonggi	Namyangju
	Pyeongnaehopyeong	평내호평	坪內好坪			—	—
	Maseok	마석	磨石			—	—

GTX-C

Construction of GTX Line C commenced on January 25, 2024. It is planned to be completed by 2028.^[14] According to the latest plans and following the selection of a preferred bidder for the construction of this line, two additional stations, Indeogwon Station and Wangsimni Station are likely to be added to the line.

Station number	Station name			Transfer	Line name	Distance	Total distance	Location
	English	Hangul	Hanja
TBA	Suwon	수원	水原		Gyeongbu Line (shared) Gwacheon Line (shared)	—	0.0	Gyeonggi	Suwon
	Geumjeong	금정	衿井			—	—		Gunpo
	Gwacheon[D]	과천	果川		GTX-C	—	—		Gwacheon
	Yangjae	양재	良才			—	—	Seoul	Gangnam
	Samseong	삼성	三成			—	—
	Cheongnyangni	청량리	淸凉里			—	—		Dongdaemun
	Kwangwoon University	광운대	光云大			—	—		Nowon
	Chang-dong	창동	倉洞			—	—		Dobong
	Uijeongbu	의정부	議政府		Gyeongwon Line (shared)	—	—	Gyeonggi	Uijeongbu
	Deokjeong	덕정	德亭			—	—		Yangju

Additional plans for other lines

Plans for a Line D were announced in 2021 by the previous government. However, the proposed route faced a lot of opposition, and has not been approved yet. The new government of Yoon Suk-yeol has pledged to build three new lines (Lines D, E and F), for which the routes have not been decided yet, but which would likely include plans for a longer Line D than the one announced by the previous government. Plans for a Line G and H that will expand to the northern and southwestern regions of Gyeonggi Province have also been announced.^[15]

Station number	Station name			Transfer	Line name	Distance	Total distance	Location
	English	Hangul	Hanja
TBA	Janggi	장기	場基		GTX-D	—	0.0	Gyeonggi	Gimpo
	Geomdan	검단	黔丹				—	Incheon	Seo
	Gyeyang	계양	桂陽			—	—		Gyeyang
	Daejang	대장	大壯			—	—	Gyeonggi	Bucheon
	Dangarae	당아래	당아래			—	—

Criticism

Critics argue that GTX project would increase the social and economic centripetal force towards Seoul leading to increased primacy and the collapse of other provincial cities.^[16]

Notes

1. Bongeunsa station will be merged with Samseong Station.
2. Not to be confused with Songdo Station on the Suin-Bundang Line. This station will be located in Songdo International City and offer transfer to Incheon National University Station.
3. Sangbong station will be merged with Mangu station.
4. This station is just named Gwacheon station, but located at Government Complex Gwacheon station.

References

1. "[Graphic News] GTX lines expansion". The Korea Herald. January 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
2. "드디어 베일 벗은 '2기 GTX'…D·E·F 노선 '이곳' 지난다". 한국경제. January 25, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
3. "파주~강남~동탄 GTX A노선 사업 오늘 착공". Naver (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. December 27, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
4. "2025년 개통도 턱없다…'비운의 노선' GTX-A". m.post.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved February 21, 2022.
5. "GTX-A commuter line to launch 1st leg Saturday". m.koreaherald.com. March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
6. "[단독]GTX-A 동탄-수서 '빈 퍼즐' 구성역, 내달 29일 개통". 뉴시스 (in Korean). May 18, 2024.
7. 최종훈 (December 27, 2024). "파주 운정중앙역~서울역 '21분 30초'…GTX-A 서북부 구간 28일 개통". 한겨레 (in Korean). Retrieved December 28, 2024.
8. 조계완 (March 29, 2024). "[Q&A] GTX-A 30일 첫 운행…K-패스 O, 기후동행카드 X". [Q&A] GTX-A 30일 첫 운행…K-패스 O, 기후동행카드 X (in Korean). Retrieved June 13, 2024.
9. "GTX-A 삼성역, 2028년에나 개통…최소 3년 노선분리".
10. Tebay, Andy (January 5, 2023). "Tunnelling completed in Seoul for GTX-A line". International Railway Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
11. "열차시간표". GTX Official Website (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
12. "Seoul GTX Line A train contract awarded". Railway Gazette International. March 20, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
13. "GTX-B breaks ground for 30-min Seoul-Incheon commute". The Korea Herald. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
14. "Construction of Seoul express Line C starts as part of the 'first year of the GTX era'". Railway Gazette International. February 2, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
15. 뉴시스 (April 1, 2024). "GTX 플러스 노선안 공개…포천~인천, 파주~위례신도시 연결". 뉴시스 (in Korean). Retrieved June 29, 2024.
16. Donggyu, Seong (March 19, 2014). "'문제 투성이' GTX사업…우려 확산" [GTX project in "full of problems" - Lots of Concerns Appear]. Newsway (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved January 18, 2021.

External links

• SG Rail – official website (in Korean)