The new railway now spans a distance of 29.3 km, and 17 of the 27 new stations lie in Seo-gu. (image: Yonhap)
INCHEON, July 26 (Korea Bizwire) – Incheon’s Subway Line 2, connecting Oryu-dong to Gajwa-dong in the western part of the city, Seo-gu (Seo District), will officially open on July 30.
With a population of 500,000, Seo-gu is the largest district in Incheon, yet a lack of transportation infrastructure, particularly a railway system, has always been an issue.
Though the Airport Railroad Express (AREX), Gyeongin Express Line, Suin Line, and Incheon Line 1 stop at 62 stations throughout the Incheon area, the only stations in Seo-gu were Geomam Station and Cheongna International City Station on the AREX line.
However, the new railway now spans a distance of 29.3 km, and 17 of the 27 new stations lie in Seo-gu.
Transit from Seo-gu to Seoul has also improved drastically. If one transfers from Incheon Subway Line 2 to AREX at Geomam Station, Seoul Station is only 33 minutes away.
Although the new subway line is a ‘small train’ with only two railroad cars, it will be operated at three-minute intervals during rush hour, carrying 5,560 passengers per station every hour.
An extension to Seoul Metro Subway Line 7 that stretches to the Gangnam area began in 2014, and will connect Seongnam Station on Incheon Subway Line 2 to Bupyeong-gu Office Station on Seoul Subway Line 7 – a 4.165 km trip. The extension is expected to be completed by 2020.
The railway infrastructure in Seo-gu will advance even further if Seoul Subway Line 7 is extended an additional 10.6 km from Seongnam Station to Cheongna International City Station.
By Nonnie Kim (nkim@koreabizwire.com)
I’m really looking forward to this! I used to live in Geomam and saw the station construction all the time. I still live in Incheon but in Bupyeong and will ride the subway on opening weekend.