Seoul Plans Six New Rail Lines, Investing 9.2 Trillion Won

Seoul's third urban transit network construction plan will include six new rail lines, including the Gangbuk Cross Line connecting Mokdong Station and Cheongnyangni Station, and the Nankok Line linking Boramae Park Station and Nanhyang-dong. This initiative aims to support residents in underserved areas.

On June 10, the city announced the establishment of this plan to promote regional balance and revitalization in the northern and southwestern areas of Seoul.

The plan encompasses the Gangbuk Cross Line, Nankok Line, Seonam Line, Western Line, Southern Extension of the Western Line, and Northern Extension of the Sillim Line. The total length of these lines will be 68.5 kilometers, with a projected budget of 9.2 trillion won.

Seoul reviewed 250 potential lines, considering demand, overlapping sections, technical conditions, and existing rail plans from the government and neighboring local governments. After a comprehensive evaluation of economic viability and policy relevance, the city selected the final six lines.

The Gangbuk Cross Line, at 25.79 kilometers, will be the longest among the new lines. Although it faced challenges due to low economic feasibility, the city improved its viability by reducing the number of stations from two and incorporating 49 future development plans.

The Nankok Line will connect Boramae Park Station and Nanhyang-dong. The city has also updated its development plans to enhance the line's feasibility by reducing the number of stations from six to five.

The Seonam Line expands upon the existing Mokdong Line plan, while the Western Line will proceed without interruption through a combination of private re-tendering and transitioning to public funding. The Southern Extension of the Western Line will connect Seoul National University Station and the main gate of Seoul National University, while the Northern Extension of the Sillim Line will link Saetgang Station and Yeouido.

Once implemented, the city expects the average access time to subway stations to decrease from 9.97 minutes to 8.03 minutes, benefiting an additional 360,000 people, bringing the total to 7.83 million.

In March, the city anticipated that the revision of the preliminary feasibility study system by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, which includes elements for regional balance and public transport efficiency, would increase the likelihood of passing the feasibility study for the third network plan.

After consulting with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and gathering opinions from the city council, the city plans to hold a public hearing on June 30 at the Seoul City Hall to collect citizen feedback. In the second half of the year, the city will initiate the approval process with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to move forward with the project.

Additionally, the introduction of the Dongbu Line, a new light rail line connecting Gangnam and Gangbuk, will be pursued through adjustments to the third network plan based on the latest demand assessments.

Oh Se-hoon, the Mayor of Seoul, stated, "We will accelerate the expansion of rail infrastructure and innovate transportation services to enhance citizen satisfaction and lead a significant transformation in Seoul's transportation system."