Hanam Line Phase 1, Gyeonggi Province's First Metropolitan Subway, Opens on August 8

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon, Reporter] Phase 1 of the Hanam Line (Sangil Station to Hanam Pungsan Station), an extension of Seoul Subway Line 5 connecting the Misa District in Hanam, Pungsan-dong, and downtown Seoul, will begin operation on August 8.

'Phase 1 of the Hanam Line' is a subway line operating between a total of three stations covering 4.7km, from Sangil Station, the final stop of Line 5, through Misa Station to Hanam Pungsan Station. It opens five years and five months after main construction began in 2015.

Trains will consist of 8 cars per set, operating at intervals of approximately 10 minutes during rush hours and 12-24 minutes during regular hours, with a commercial speed (including station dwell time) of approximately 40 km/h.

Operating hours are from 5:35 a.m. to 12:01 a.m. the following day on weekdays, based on departure from Hanam Pungsan Station, and from 5:38 a.m. to 11:40 p.m. on weekends. Base fares using transit cards are 1,250 won for adults, 720 won for teenagers, and 450 won for children.

The province expects that the opening of Phase 1 will significantly ease commute times for Hanam residents working in downtown Seoul. The trip from Sangil Station to Hanam Pungsan Station takes 6 minutes and 10 seconds, and with transfers at Cheonho Station or Jamsil Station, it is possible to reach Gangnam Station from Hanam Pungsan Station within 47 minutes.

In particular, Misa Station, located in the central commercial district, features a transfer center with bike parking for 820 bicycles and 144 multipurpose storage boxes for smart mobility devices and personal items.

Hanam Pungsan Station includes specialized facilities at each station for station activation, including a 'Sunken Plaza' that can be utilized as a cultural space for local residents such as for musical performances and exhibitions.

Nam Dong-kyung, Director of Railroad, Port and Logistics at Gyeonggi Province, stated: "We express our gratitude to Hanam citizens for their patience with the transportation inconvenience from the start of construction to the opening of the Hanam Line. We will do our best to open the remaining section by the end of this year. Going forward, we will continue to make greater efforts toward regional development through expansion of metropolitan transit in the Hanam area."

The opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on August 7 in the concourse of Misa Station. Considering social distancing due to COVID-19 prevention measures, anyone can watch the opening ceremony through the concourse at Hanam Pungsan Station or via YouTube.

'Hanam Line Construction Project' is a project that newly constructs 7.7km of railway and five stations from Sangil-dong in Gangdong-gu, Seoul to Changwoo-dong in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. This is the first time a metropolitan local government has undertaken a metropolitan railway project from commissioning through construction.

Phase 2 of the Hanam Line (Hanam Pungsan Station to Hanam Geomdan-san Station) is scheduled to open by the end of this year following comprehensive railroad testing operations.