Four Cities—Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Seongnam—Submit 'Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad Basic Concept' Linked to Seoul Subway

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Jeong Jun-seong, Choi Ki-ho, Lee Soo-won] Four cities—Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Seongnam—will submit a 'Joint Proposal for the Fifth National Railroad Network Construction Plan' containing the 'Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad Basic Concept' to Gyeonggi Province.

The four cities, based on the results of a 'Seoul Line 3 Extension and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad Basic Concept and Preliminary Feasibility Study Commission' jointly ordered in July of last year, have reviewed optimal route plans that can enhance the feasibility and economic viability of the project.

Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il, Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun, and Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin signed the joint proposal at a 'Joint Proposal Signing Ceremony for Submission of the Fifth National Railroad Network Construction Plan' held at Suwon Convention Center on the 10th.

The proposal contains a request that the route jointly coordinated by Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Seongnam cities in accordance with the commissioned study results be reflected in the 'Fifth National Railroad Network Construction Plan.'

According to the commissioned study results, the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad route plan is designed to extend 50.7km from Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Arena Station (Lines 2·9) through Suseo Station (Line 3·SRT·GTX-A·Suin-Bundang Line) to Seongnam~Yongin (Sinbong·Seongbok)~Suwon~Hwaseong. Additionally, it was found that operating 4-car trains at 5-minute intervals instead of 10-car trains would be the most cost-effective approach.

In particular, the route plan demonstrates significantly superior cost-benefit ratios compared to the existing plan of extending Seoul Line 3 from Suseo Station to Hwaseong (B/C=0.71), and has been analyzed to be superior in both business feasibility and implementation feasibility.

According to the commissioned study results, the total project cost for implementing the new Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad route plan is estimated at 5.275 trillion won. This represents 62.6% of the estimated total project cost of 8.4229 trillion won for the Seoul Line 3 extension plan.

Regarding operating costs, extending the 10-car heavy rail Seoul Line 3 to Hwaseong is estimated to require 148 billion won annually, while the new alternative is estimated to require 62.4 billion won—42% of that cost—demonstrating significantly superior economic viability.

The commissioned study results indicate that pursuing the new alternative is much more appropriate in terms of both construction and operating costs.

Accordingly, the four cities have reached a consensus that constructing a railroad network promptly is an urgent priority to enhance transportation convenience for over 4 million citizens across the four cities, and will work jointly to ensure that the new alternative is reflected in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'Fifth National Railroad Network Construction Plan' metropolitan railroad projects.

Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Through this commissioned study, we have found the optimal 'Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad' route plan that citizens can conveniently use," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad can commence construction promptly by well-coordinating the will of 4.2 million citizens across the four cities."

Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "Since Yongin is undertaking mega projects related to the semiconductor industry, which is core to strengthening national competitiveness, we must enhance transportation convenience not only for citizens but also for IT talent. Therefore, an organic railroad network construction is very necessary," and stated, "The four cities will work together to ensure that the new route plan is reflected in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Fifth National Railroad Network Construction Plan."

Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun commented, "Hwaseong is scheduled to have three new cities constructed around the project route area, and as a young city with an average age of 39, the traffic volume and movement between Seoul and adjacent municipalities is expected to continue increasing," adding, "Through this railroad project, we will be able to proactively address future changes in mobility conditions."

Meanwhile, after submitting the proposal to Gyeonggi Province, Gyeonggi Province plans to continue consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport based on the contents of the proposal.

The Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad joint project is an initiative aimed at drastically improving transportation conditions in southern Gyeonggi by expanding metropolitan rail connections extending from Seoul through Seongnam, Yongin, and Suwon to Hwaseong.

Gyeonggi Province and the cities of Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, and Seongnam are cooperating in pursuing the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad joint project. In February of last year, they signed a 'Win-Win Cooperation Agreement for Pursuing the Seoul Line 3 Extension and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad Joint Project,' and established a working-level consultative body in March.