Preview of high-speed GTX-A commuter rail service connecting Seoul and Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi has been working on a new transportation that is high-speed & efficiency, and low-carbon, which will result in environmental benefits

A model of the railroad car that will be used for GTX-A commuter rail service connecting Unjeong in Paju City and Dongtan in Hwaseong City has been unveiled to the public.

On April 20, an exhibition was held at Yeoul Park in Dongtan, Hwaseong City, where a model of the much-anticipated GTX-A railroad car painted in a white and light blue color scheme was displayed to interested members of the public. The railroad car has been designed with curves to accentuate its high speed capabilities, and each car features six single doors to reduce interior noise to levels comparable to those of high-speed trains such as KTX and SRT.

Unlike conventional subway cars, the interior has no racks so as to provide a sense of openness, and the spacing between seats is 3 cm wider than before with armrests, allowing passengers to sit without any unwanted physical contact. Moreover, 10 monitors, including 29-inch large information indicators, enable passengers to easily check routes and timetables.

The exhibition also featured a VR experience center and conducted a public preference survey regarding seat colors, hand strap directions, and poles for standing passengers; survey feedback will be incorporated in the manufacture of the cars.

Gyeonggi Province has introduced GTX-A as a high-efficiency, low-carbon mode of transportation that will mitigate traffic congestion in the Korean capital region, enhance local competitiveness, and alleviate the travel burden of long-distance commuters. It is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 440,000 tonnes, induce production worth KRW 27 trillion, and create jobs for 190,000 people per annum.

GTX-A is the first route for which construction has already commenced (in June 2019), with the construction of the B, C and D routes pending. Construction will require 60 months to finish and the route is scheduled to open to the public either in late 2024 or the first half of 2025; this schedule may change in the event of historical site excavations or station design changes. Once the GTX-A line opens to the public, users will be able to travel between Paju City and Seoul in 18 minutes, Samseong and Dongtan in 19 minutes, and Unjeong and Dongtan in 43 minutes.