Gyeonggi Province Secures 1.3892 Trillion Won in Government Funds for 2018 Railway Projects

Gyeonggi Province has secured government funds totaling 1.3892 trillion won for railway construction projects in 2018, signaling positive developments for next year's railway initiatives.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 6th, following passage of the '2018 Government Budget Plan' through the National Assembly plenary on the 5th, analysis shows that a total of 1.3892 trillion won in government funds has been secured for railway projects, including 41.4 billion won for 2 high-speed rail projects, 340.5 billion won for 8 metropolitan railway projects, 982.7 billion won for 8 general railway projects, and 24.6 billion won for 6 facility improvement and escalator projects.

This represents an increase of 191 billion won compared to the original government proposal of 1.1982 trillion won.

In particular, the 'Suwon-originated KTX Direct Connection Project,' a priority project for Gyeonggi Province that directly connects Gyeongbu Line Seojeongni Station and SRT Jije Station, secured 179 billion won, an increase of 100 billion won from the original government proposal of 79 billion won. The 'Incheon-originated KTX Direct Connection Project,' which newly establishes Ansan KTX Choji Station and Hwaseong KTX Eocheon Station, secured 235 billion won.

Metropolitan railway projects secured 56 billion won for Samsung~Dongtan Metropolitan Express Railway, 20 billion won for Seoul Metropolitan Area Metropolitan Express Railway, 12 billion won for Hanam Line, 96 billion won for Byeolnae Line, 55.2 billion won for Suin Line, 10 billion won for Sinansan Line, 86 billion won for Jinjeop Line, and 5.3 billion won for Dobongsan~Okjeong Metropolitan Subway.

General railway projects secured 583.3 billion won for Seohae Line, 18.5 billion won for Poseung~Pyeongtaek, 5.1 billion won for Wolgot~Pangyo, 287.6 billion won for Icheon-Mungyeong, 300 million won for Yeoju~Wonju, 8.1 billion won for Indeogwon~Suwon, and 74.8 billion won for Dongducheon~Yeoncheon. The Munsan~Dorasan Single-Track Electrification Project, which was not included in the original government proposal, had 5 billion won additionally reflected by the National Assembly.

Additionally, 20 billion won was secured for facility improvement projects to install passing sidings within stations for Gyeongbu Line rapid service, 780 million won for screen door installation to prevent safety accidents for Yongin Light Rail passengers, 1 billion won for Soyosan Station facility improvement, 1.5 billion won for escalator equipment at Bundang Line Migeum Station, 1.2 billion won for Line 7 Gwangmyeong Intersection Station escalator equipment, and 100 million won for feasibility study cost for Siheung Vehicle Base Station construction.

Gyeonggi Province consistently requested government fund allocation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Economy and Finance from early this year, and explained the necessity and urgency of these projects to National Assembly members belonging to the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.

Lee Jong-soo, director of the Railway Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We were able to secure government funds totaling 1.3892 trillion won even under circumstances where government social overhead capital (SOC) has been reduced." He added, "I believe this result was achieved by repeatedly appealing to the hardships residents in railway-neglected areas face in commuting and the urgency of railway construction, thereby gaining cooperation from the National Assembly and government."