Suwon to Become a 'City Where Cars Are Unnecessary' with a Dense Rail Network

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kang Han-seo] Suwon is expected to become a 'city where getting around is convenient even without a private car' through the construction of a dense rail network.

The city announced on the 25th that, as the 'Gyeonggi Province Urban Railway Network Construction Plan' — which includes 'Suwon Line 1' — received approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 10th of last month, the nine lines submitted by Gyeonggi Province and approved by the Ministry will be pursued in accordance with the circumstances of each local government through procedures such as establishing a basic plan, feasibility studies, and business planning.

Once this plan is fully implemented,
accordingly, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's approval of the 'Suwon Line 1' plan — a route (tram) running from Suwon Station to Hanil Town (Jowon-dong) — Suwon's plan to 'build a rail network reaching in all directions' has gained further momentum. Suwon is set to be reborn as a veritable 'transportation hub.'

Suwon, which has pursued the introduction of a tram since 2010, planned a 6.5㎞ section running from Suwon Station to Paldalmun, Janganmun, kt wiz Park, and the Buk-Suwon Complex Transfer Center (to be built) as 'Suwon Urban Railway Line 1.'

In December of last year, the GTX (Greater Seoul Metropolitan Express Railway) Line C, connecting the 74.2㎞ section between Suwon and Yangju (Deokjeong), passed the preliminary feasibility study and is currently having its basic plan established. Once GTX Line C is completed, it will be possible to reach Seoul's Samseong Station from Suwon Station in 22 minutes and Uijeongbu in about 40 minutes.

The 'Suwon-origin KTX Direct Connection Project,' which will build a 4.67㎞ rail line connecting Seojeong-ri Station and Jije Station to make Suwon Station a KTX departure hub, also began last year. Once the KTX direct connection project is completed, KTX trains will depart from Suwon Station 18 times a day. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021.

Just seven years ago, there were only four train stations within Suwon: Sungkyunkwan University, Hwaseo, Suwon, and Seryu stations (State Railway Line 1). However, in December 2012, the 'Giheung Station–Mangpo Station' section of the Bundang Line opened, and in November of the following year, the 'Mangpo Station–Suwon Station' section opened, bringing the city one step closer to the 'era of the wide-area rail network.'

In January 2016, the 'Jeongja Station–Gwanggyo Station' section of the Sinbundang Line opened, making it possible to travel from Gwanggyo Station to Seoul's Gangnam Station in the 30-minute range (37 minutes). If the Sinbundang Line extension project passes the preliminary feasibility study this year, the Sinbundang Line will be extended to Homaesil.

In 2006, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a basic plan dividing the Sinbundang Line into Phase 1 (Jeongja–Gwanggyo, 11.90km) and Phase 2 (Gwanggyo–Homaesil, 11.14km) to be constructed in stages, but after completing the Phase 1 section, it was unable to pursue the Phase 2 section due to difficulties in securing project funds and other reasons. Residents of the Gwanggyo and Homaesil areas had moved in after paying 499.3 billion won in wide-area transportation facility charges for the Phase 2 project.

When the Suin Line (52.8㎞), which connects Suwon Station and Incheon's Songdo Station, is linked with the Bundang Line, the southern Seoul metropolitan circular rail network centered on Suwon Station will be completed. Within the Suwon section, two stations will be established in Gosaek-dong and Omokcheon-dong.

In March of last year, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the 'Basic Plan for the Indeokwon–Dongtan Double-Track Railway Construction Project,' confirming the establishment of six new stations in the Suwon section. According to the basic plan, the Sinsuwon Line (Indeokwon–Dongtan double-track railway) will be built along a 37.1㎞ section running through Indeokwon (Anyang), Uiwang, Suwon, and Dongtan. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 and open by 2026.

Of the 17 new stations to be established, those to be built within Suwon include Buk-Suwon, Jangan-gu Office, Suwon World Cup Stadium, Ajou University Entrance Three-Way Intersection, Woncheongyo Four-Way Intersection, and Yeongtong Station (tentative names).

Once the Sinsuwon Line, which cuts across the city, opens, it is expected that vehicle congestion on Gyeongsu-daero during commuting hours will be alleviated to some degree.

By 2026, the number of rail stations (including the tram) within Suwon is expected to reach about 30. That would be more than a sevenfold increase in the number of rail stations in 14 years.

Once all currently planned rail networks are built, Suwon Station will firmly establish itself as the hub of southern Gyeonggi's rail transportation network. From Suwon Station, passengers will be able to use the KTX, GTX, Suin Line, Bundang Line, State Railway Line 1, and Suwon Line 1.

The city plans to create a 'city where getting around is convenient even without a private car' and a 'people-centered urban transportation system' by revitalizing public transportation centered on the wide-area rail network and the tram.

A city official said, "By utilizing the wide-area rail network, the tram, buses, and shared bicycles, we will create a city where citizens can conveniently go anywhere without a private car," adding, "We will closely cooperate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Gyeonggi Province, and others to carry out the rail projects without a hitch."