Great Train eXpress (GTX) is a higher-speed commuter rail network in the Seoul Capital 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

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GTX-A train
 
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] Suseo, Seongnam, and Dongtan stations were opened on March 30, 2024, and Guseong Station opened on June 29, 2024.[5][6] The northern section of the line is anticipated to open late 2024 with the connection between Seoul Station and Suseo opening at the end of 2026.[7][8] Samseong Station has been further delayed and will not open until 2028, much after the rest of GTX-A opens.[9] Approximately 30 kilometers of the line are expected to share the same rail as the SRT, and an additional 9 kilometers towards the western end of the route are expected to be completely underground.[10]

Station

Number

Station name Transfer Line name Distance (km) Total
distance (km)
Location
English Hangul Hanja
X101 Unjeongjungang 운정중앙 GTX-A 0.0 Gyeonggi Province Paju
X102 KINTEX (2024) 킨텍스 킨텍스 6.7 6.7 Goyang
X103 Daegok (2024) 대곡 6.9 13.6
X104 Changneung (2027) 창릉 6.2 19.8
X105 Yeonsinnae (2024) 연신내 연신내 3.7 23.5 Seoul Eunpyeong
X106 Seoul Station (2024) 서울역 서울驛 9.5 33.0 Jung
X107 Samseong[A] (2028) 삼성 10.1 43.1 Gangnam
X108 Suseo 수서 西 5.2 48.3
X109 Seongnam 성남   Suseo–Pyeongtaek HSR (shared) 10.7 59.0 Gyeonggi Province Seongnam
X110 Guseong 구성   11.0 70.0 Yongin
X111 Dongtan 동탄   11.1 81.1 Hwaseong

GTX-B

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Construction of GTX Line B commenced on March 7, 2024. It is planned to be completed by 2030.[11]

Station
number
Station name Transfer Line name Distance Total
distance
Location
English Hangul Hanja
TBA Songdo Station[B] 송도   GTX-B 0.0 Incheon Yeonsu
Incheon City Hall 인천시청 市廳 Namdong
Bupyeong 부평   Bupyeong
Bucheon Stadium 부천종합운동장 富川综合运动场 Gyeonggi Bucheon
Sindorim 신도림 Seoul Guro
Yeouido 여의도 Yeongdeungdo
Yongsan 용산 Yongsan
Seoul Station 서울역 서울 Jung
Cheongnyangni 청량리 Dongdaemun
Sangbong[C] 상봉 Jungnang
Byeollae 별내 Gyeongchun Line (shared) Gyeonggi Namyangju
Pyeongnaehopyeong 평내호평  
Maseok 마석  

GTX-C

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Construction of GTX Line C commenced on January 25, 2024. It is planned to be completed by 2028.[12] According to the latest plans and following the selection of a preferred bidder for the construction of this line, 2 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 Gyeongbu Line (shared)
Gwacheon Line (shared)
0.0 Gyeonggi Suwon
Geumjeong 금정 Gunpo
Gwacheon[D] 과천   GTX-C Gwacheon
Yangjae 양재 Seoul Gangnam
Samseong 삼성
Cheongnyangni 청량리 Dongdaemun
Kwangwoon University 광운대 Nowon
Chang-dong 창동 Dobong
Uijeongbu 의정부   Gyeongwon Line (shared) Gyeonggi Uijeongbu
Deokjeong 덕정   Yangju

Additional plans for other lines

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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 Seok-youl has pledged to build 3 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.[13]

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

Criticism

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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.[14]

Notes

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  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

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  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. ^ "New high-speed GTX train to cut Seoul-Gyeonggi commutes in half". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 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. ^ "GTX-B breaks ground for 30-min Seoul-Incheon commute". The Korea Herald. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ 뉴시스 (April 1, 2024). "GTX 플러스 노선안 공개…포천~인천, 파주~위례신도시 연결". 뉴시스 (in Korean). Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  14. ^ 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.
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