New high-speed GTX train to cut Seoul-Gyeonggi commutes in half

Korea's new high-speed railway, Great Train Express (GTX) hopes to reduce commute times in the Greater Seoul area. Critics are concerned about the project's potential to exacerbate urban-rural disparities.

The GTX-A train, set to commence operations between Suseo Station and Dongtan Station, on March 30 [MINISTRY OF LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT]

The Korean government says that its new high-speed rail project, Great Train Express (GTX) will usher a new “30-minute commute” era to the Greater Seoul area, where the average commute time is currently two hours and 30 minutes.

The first section of the GTX-A line, scheduled to commence operations on March 30, will connect Suseo Station in southern Seoul to the Dongtan area of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi.

The government's claims about the project are lofty. A 90-minute commute, it says, may soon take just 19 minutes and cost only 4,450 won ($3.36). With many Koreans opting to live in comparatively affordable housing on the outskirts of Seoul and commute to the city center, officials tout that reduced travel time as a harbinger of “work-life balance” — and a possible solution to the country's current birthrate crisis.

GTX route map [NAM JUNG-HYUN]

But the project has its critics as well. Some have argued that GTX could exacerbate disparities between the capital and neighboring regions, bringing population and infrastructure development to areas accessible for commuting to Seoul while neglecting others.

The Korea JoongAng Daily rode the upcoming train from Suseo to Dongtan on Wednesday, just over a week before its historic launch.

Inside the GTX-A train [SEO JI-EUN]

180 kilometers per hour Trains will run every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during off-peak periods. The fare will be 3,200 won for the first 10 kilometers plus 250 won for every additional five.

The inaugural GTX A line, spanning 82.3 kilometers with 11 stations, will eventually connect Unjeong Station in Paju, Gyeonggi to downtown Seoul hubs such as Seoul Station and Samseong Station before reaching Dongtan. The Suseo-to-Dongtan route opens this March; the segment linking Unjeong Station to Seoul Station is set to open by the end of this year, with full completion of the A line targeted for 2028.

The sign above the GTX-A train door displays the current station, as well as speed and degree of congestion in real-time. [SEO JI-EUN]

The project, similar to international counterparts such as London's Crossrail and Paris's RER, has cost 5.7 trillion won since 2016.

Travelers can make their way to the GTX-A platform, which is 40 meters (131 feet) below the ground — far deeper than the typical Seoul subway station — using a steep escalator and stairs.

The interior of the train closely resembles that of a conventional subway, with displays providing real-time information such as route maps, operating speeds and congestion levels.

Inside the GTX-A train [SEO JI-EUN]

Despite speeds reaching more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour on average and 180 kilometers per hour maximum — three to four times faster than the subway — only slight swaying was noticeable at times.

But the highlight of the journey was its length, or lack thereof. While it takes some extra time to descend 40 meters down, the GTX's speed more than makes up for that delay. The GTX made the trip from Suseo to Dongtan — typically a 90-minute bus ride — in just 21 minutes and seven seconds.

Suseo Station to Dongtan Station took 21 minutes and 7 seconds. [SEO JI-EUN]

Rail for work-life balance But the GTX, in the government's telling, is more than just a train. It's touted as a solution to Seoul's chronic traffic congestion and a general enhancement to the public's quality of life.

“Once all construction is finished, commuting from the Seoul metropolitan area to downtown Seoul will take just 30 minutes,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a town hall meeting on Jan. 25. “We aim to give the public back the time saved from shorter commutes, allowing to enjoy leisure activities and spend more time with family.”

“By improving access to the metropolitan area through GTX and offering citizens a more leisurely life, we can also anticipate an increase in birthrates,” an official from the Minstry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport added.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony of the GTX-B train in Incheon on March 7. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

The impact of the GTX project on real estate is also undeniable: The prices of properties around the terminals of GTX lines have skyrocketed. Selling prices for properties near PyeongtaekJije Station, for instance, like The Sharp Central City apartment, surged by 100 to 200 million won shortly after the announcement.

But concerns have been raised about the potential exacerbation of urban-rural disparities. In response, the government is exploring the introduction of regional metropolitan express railways in provincial areas, tentatively named “TX” with the first letter based on area — such as “CTX” for the Chungcheong region.

The GTX-A construction site at Seoul Station in central Seoul is unveiled to the press on Jan. 25. [NEWS1]

Drilling under Seoul with caution The government hopes to export its Gripper TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), which was used to GTX's deep tunnels, abroad.

The Gripper TBM, with a diameter of 11.6 meters and a length of 148 meters, was also used for Seoul Station — a vital interchange for subway lines 1 and 4 — and is also suitable for areas like the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Airport Railroad, KTX and various bus lines. It differs from conventional techniques like the New Austrian Tunneling Method in that it relies on a rotating cutter head to excavate tunnels, minimizing vibrations and noise levels.

“The deployment of a Gripper TBM for constructing a high-speed railway network in the heart of the city could be an interesting aspect of the construction of GTX when seen from abroad,” said Lee Hwa-soo, an official at DL E&C overseeing the construction site. “Additionally, this marks the inaugural use of the Gripper TBM method in double-track railway construction.”

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]