Seoul's subway Line 9 will increase its express train service during rush hours by eight additional trains.
On October 14, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will implement a 'public transportation express operation plan' starting November 16.
According to Yonhap News, Line 9 currently experiences high congestion, prompting complaints for more trains. This measure is expected to reduce congestion by over 20%.
The service ratio of express to regular trains from Gaehwa Station to Central Veterans Hospital Station will change from 1:1 to 2:1 between 5:40 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. This adjustment will move the start of peak service from 6:30 a.m. to 5:40 a.m., an advance of 50 minutes.
For the period between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. at Dongjak Station, the interval for express trains heading toward Central Veterans Hospital will decrease from 6 minutes and 20 seconds to 6 minutes, while the opposite direction will see a reduction from a maximum of 13 minutes to between 6 minutes and 20 seconds and 8 minutes.
The city anticipates that the peak congestion level for the express route from Noryangjin to Dongjak will drop from 182.3% to 174.2%, while the reverse route from Dongjak to Noryangjin will decrease from 192.5% to 172.1%. This adjustment aims to enhance transport capacity by modifying train operations rather than adding new trains.
Measures have also been introduced to reduce travel times for bus commuters. The city will pilot four 'central lane express bus' routes that focus on major stops.
The express buses will operate on the following routes: ▲150 from Dobong Garage to City Hall Station ▲370 from Gangdong Garage to Chungjeongno Station ▲470 from Sangam Garage to City Hall Station ▲605 from Gangseo Garage to Yeongdeungpo Station. These buses will maintain existing routes but will skip some stops to reach key urban hubs more efficiently. The goal is to enhance travel efficiency during rush hours by reducing the number of intermediate stops after picking up passengers from suburban residential areas.
Each route will operate three times a day: once in the early morning and twice during the morning rush hour, switching to regular service after peak hours.
The city expects that the introduction of express buses will reduce the number of stops by 45.8% compared to regular routes, leading to an estimated 10% decrease in travel time. After evaluating the pilot results, the city plans to decide on the introduction of additional routes based on actual usage and time-saving effects.
Yeojang-gwon, head of the Seoul Transportation Office, stated, "We will focus on providing necessary transportation services during rush hours to enhance the efficiency of existing public transport. We aim to ensure that citizens can feel the reduction in congestion and travel time."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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