Table of Contents
- Addressing the KTX bottleneck in the metropolitan area, plans for a dedicated line from Suseo to Gwangmyeong
- Overview and promotion plan of the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway project
- Selection of Review Alternative 2, optimal route map and design criteria
- Plans for establishing underground stations at Seoul Station and Yongsan Station
- Expectations for a revolutionary improvement in metropolitan high-speed railway services in 2034
- Draft of the strategic environmental impact assessment report for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Addressing the KTX bottleneck in the metropolitan area, plans for a dedicated line from Suseo to Gwangmyeong
Currently, the number of KTX passengers is rapidly increasing, but the rail capacity from Seoul to Geumcheon District Office has reached a limit. This situation makes it difficult to add more trains, which hampers the level of service expected by users.
In particular, the Gyeongui Line between Suseo and Seoul, as well as the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line between Seoul and Gwangmyeong (Geumcheon District Office), have a structure where high-speed trains share tracks with conventional trains. As a result, the average speed in this section is only 65 km/h, and the efficiency of the high-speed rail cannot be maximized.
To resolve these issues, it seems necessary to expand track capacity and build a dedicated high-speed rail line. This will provide KTX users with better service and convenience.
A dedicated high-speed railway line will be newly constructed for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong section. As a result, the operation of regular trains and high-speed trains will be separated, and the 'Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project' will officially commence. The goal of this project is to increase track capacity, reduce transit times, and enhance train operation stability and service quality.
Overview and promotion plan of the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway project
The 'Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project' completed its preliminary feasibility study in July 2022, and as of February 2023, the full-scale feasibility study and basic planning are underway.
The main content of this project includes a line starting from Gyeongui Line Suseo Station and ending near Gyeongbu High-Speed Line Gwangmyeong Station. This line passes through several important urban areas in Seoul, including Mapo, Yongsan, Dongjak, Guro, and Geumcheon, leading to Gwangmyeong City.
Based on 'Review Alternative 2', the optimal alternative has a total length of 24.525 km. This line is planned with a design speed of 250 km/h, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is responsible for establishing and approving this project. The opening is targeted for 2034.
Selection of Review Alternative 2, optimal route map and design criteria
In the course of promoting this project, the preliminary feasibility study alternative (Review Alternative 1) and the alternative routes (Review Alternatives 2 and 3) were carefully compared to determine the optimal route. As a result of this process, 'Review Alternative 2' was adopted as the most rational choice.
'Review Alternative 2' applies standards optimized for high-speed operation in its design. In particular, Section 1 (Suseo to Seoul Station) was designed to avoid significant obstacles like Yonsei University and Ewha Womans University, and was selected as a route that could positively impact future plans for undergrounding the Gyeongui Line and the Eurasia railway project.
In Section 3 (Yongsan Station to Anyangcheon), the route was adjusted to avoid dense apartment areas and the KEPCO power vault to minimize complaints. Additionally, a straight alignment was secured across all sections to maintain a design speed of 250 km/h.
Furthermore, in Section 4 (Anyangcheon to Gwangmyeong Station), the existing Gwangmyeong Tunnel will be expanded into a twin-track tunnel using the NATM method to establish a shape suitable for high-speed operation. This decision also aims to enhance train operation safety during construction.
Plans for establishing underground stations at Seoul Station and Yongsan Station
One of the main aspects of this Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway is the installation of new underground stations at Seoul Station and Yongsan Station. This is an essential procedure for passing through deep tunnels in urban areas, significantly affecting the overall plan.
In particular, the design process for Section 2 from Seoul Station to Yongsan Station took into consideration avoiding overlaps with facility plans for the GTX-B line as a crucial factor. While it does pass under some mixed-use apartments, it was considered more effective to avoid conflicts with future railway plans and reduce transfer distances. This approach is expected to contribute to improving future traffic flow.
Review Alternative 2 optimized the 'straight length' needed at both Seoul Station (1.65 km) and Yongsan Station (1.857 km) for the operation of high-speed trains and station layout planning. These adjustments will greatly assist in ensuring stable stopping and operation of high-speed trains in the future.
Expectations for a revolutionary improvement in metropolitan high-speed railway services in 2034
The construction project for the high-speed railway connecting Suseo and Gwangmyeong is an important plan to resolve the ongoing railway congestion issues in the metropolitan area. This project is being conducted with the target opening date of 2034, and upon completion, KTX will be able to operate more smoothly through dedicated tracks in the city center of Seoul.
This is expected to increase the frequency of high-speed train operations and significantly reduce travel times. The new underground stations to be installed at Seoul Station and Yongsan Station are expected to play a central role in the metropolitan area transportation network by enhancing connectivity with other transport lines such as the GTX.
Draft of the strategic environmental impact assessment report for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project
Chapter 2 Overview of the development basic plan
2.1 Background and purpose of the plan
The rapid growth of high-speed rail and the increase in users have continuously demanded additional train inputs, but due to the capacity limitations of the trains on the Seoul to Geumcheon District Office section, adding more trains has become difficult, leading to limitations in providing the level of train service desired by users.
Moreover, the Gyeongui Line from Suseo to Seoul and the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line from Seoul to Gwangmyeong (Geumcheon District Office) currently utilize shared tracks with conventional rail, resulting in an average speed of only 65 km/h, significantly hampering the efficiency of high-speed train operations.
To resolve the saturation of rail capacity between the Gyeongui Line from Suseo to Seoul and the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line from Seoul to Geumcheon District Office, it is intended to construct a dedicated high-speed rail line for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong section to allow for separate operations of conventional and high-speed trains. This aims to expand rail capacity, reduce transit times, and improve train operation stability and service quality.
2.2 Basis for conducting strategic environmental impact assessment
This project is being undertaken as a development basic plan in accordance with Article 9, Paragraph 2, Item 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act and is subject to a strategic environmental impact assessment in accordance with Item 2 of Article 7 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act [Appendix 2].
Table 2-1: Basis for conducting strategic environmental impact assessment
| Category | Type of development basic plan | Request for consultation timing |
| Strategic environmental impact assessment | a. Construction of rail | 2) Basic plans for railway construction as per Article 7 of the Act on Construction and Maintenance of Railway Facilities |
Data: Enforcement Decree of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act [Appendix 2], Effective from 2023.06.11.
2.3 Background and planning
2022.07: Completion of preliminary feasibility study for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project
2023.02: Commencement of feasibility study and basic planning service for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project
2023.02: Commencement of strategic environmental impact assessment for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project
2023.11: Establishment and deliberation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Council (Deliberation period: ’23.11.13 ~ ‘23.11.29)
2023.12.26 ~ 2024.01.11: Public disclosure of determined contents for the scope and items of strategic environmental impact assessment (14 days)
2024.10: Submission of strategic environmental impact assessment report (draft, scheduled)
2.4 Content of the plan
a. Scope of the plan
1. Temporal scope
Demand analysis reference year: 2019
Economic analysis reference year: 2022
Planned opening year: 2034 (scheduled)
Intermediate years: 2035, 2040, 2045, 2050
Final target year: 40 years from the year of opening
2. Spatial scope
Starting point: Near Suseo Station on the Gyeongui Line
Endpoint: Near Gwangmyeong Station on the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line
Route path: Mapo-gu – Seodaemun-gu – Jongno-gu – Jung-gu – Yongsan-gu – Dongjak-gu – Yeongdeungpo-gu – Gwanak-gu – Guro-gu – Geumcheon-gu – Gwangmyeong City
b. Main content of the plan
Plan name: Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project
Length: 24.525 km (based on Review Alternative 2)
Design speed: 250 km/h
Plan establishment authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Approval authority: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Consultation authority: Ministry of Environment
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Why is the construction of a dedicated high-speed railway line necessary in the Suseo-Gwangmyeong section?
It is due to the limitations of track capacity in the Seoul to Geumcheon District Office section, making it difficult to add more KTX trains.
Currently, the number of KTX users is rapidly increasing; however, the track capacity from Seoul to Geumcheon District Office has reached its limit, making it difficult to add more trains. Additionally, the Gyeongui Line from Suseo to Seoul and the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line from Seoul to Gwangmyeong have a structure that integrates high-speed rail and conventional rail, resulting in an average speed of just 65 km/h, significantly hampering the efficiency of high-speed rail. Thus, expanding track capacity and establishing an independent high-speed rail line is necessary, and improvements in operation stability and service quality are anticipated from this separation.
Q. What is the main schedule for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project?
The preliminary feasibility study was completed in 2022, and the feasibility study and environmental assessment have been ongoing since 2023.
The Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project completed its preliminary feasibility study in July 2022 and started the full-scale feasibility study and basic planning service from February 2023. In February of the same year, the strategic environmental impact assessment also began, and in November 2023, the Environmental Impact Assessment Council was formed and deliberations are underway. The draft of the strategic environmental impact assessment report is scheduled to be submitted in October 2024, and the final target for opening is set for 2034.
Q. What are the features and reasons for selecting Review Alternative 2?
It is 24.525 km long, designed for a speed of 250 km/h, and passes through key urban areas, making it the optimal route selected.
Review Alternative 2 has a total length of 24.525 km, with a design speed of 250 km/h, and is the optimal alternative for which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is responsible for establishment and approval. This route passes through critical urban areas such as Mapo-gu and Yongsan-gu from Suseo Station to Gwangmyeong Station. It was designed to avoid obstacles such as Yonsei University and Ewha Womans University, does not overlap with GTX-B line facilities, and applies compatible designs with future undergrounding of the Gyeongui Line and Eurasia railway plans. The adjustments also aimed to minimize public complaints and ensure safety by avoiding densely populated apartment areas and power vaults in the Yongsan to Anyangcheon section.
Q. What is the purpose of the installation of underground stations at Seoul Station and Yongsan Station?
They are essential to pass through the deep urban tunnel section, enhancing transfer convenience with lines like GTX.
New underground stations will be installed at Seoul Station and Yongsan Station, which are essential infrastructures for the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway to pass through deep urban tunnels. The design for the section from Seoul Station to Yongsan Station was planned to avoid overlaps with facilities of the GTX-B line and minimize transfer distances, aiming to improve traffic flow. The optimization of the stopping distance will also support the stable stopping and operations of high-speed trains, playing a pivotal role in the metropolitan area transportation network.
Q. What are the expected effects of the Suseo-Gwangmyeong high-speed railway construction project?
Separate tracks allow for capacity expansion, reduced transit times, and improved train stability and service quality.
This project will allow for separate operations of conventional and high-speed rail by building dedicated tracks, significantly expanding rail capacity. This is expected to increase the frequency of KTX operations and shorten average transit times, greatly enhancing user convenience. Additionally, the new underground stations to be established at Seoul and Yongsan are expected to facilitate smooth transfers with other lines such as the GTX, improving the efficiency of the metropolitan transportation network. Ultimately, it is anticipated that this will resolve the KTX bottleneck in the metropolitan area and lead to a revolutionary improvement in high-speed rail services.
