Yong-in Mayor Yi Sang-il Urges Early Construction of 'Central Region Express Rail (JTX)' Line

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yong-in Special City Mayor Yi Sang-il on the 14th called for active interest and support from related agencies including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Development Institute (KDI) for early construction of the Central Region Express Rail (JTX), which is expected to connect the Capital Region and Central Region and resolve transportation imbalances between regions.

On the afternoon of the 14th, at a 'Central Region Express Rail (JTX) Early Construction Promotion Resolution Meeting' held at Cheongju International Airport, the mayor emphasized that the private investment feasibility study commissioned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to the Korea Development Institute in August should be expedited, and the commencement of railway construction should be accelerated.

The resolution meeting was attended by 7 local governments including Yong-in Special City, through which the 'Central Region Express Rail' line passes, as well as ▲Seongnam City ▲Gwangju City ▲Hwaseong City ▲Anseong City ▲Jincheon County ▲Cheongju City.

The seven cities participating in the resolution meeting, through a joint petition, expressed that the 'Central Region Express Rail (JTX)' connecting the Capital Region and Central Region is a key regional transit infrastructure that can resolve inter-regional transportation imbalances and alleviate congestion in the Capital Region, and can contribute to airport activation through promotion of key national projects and improvement of accessibility to Cheongju International Airport.

Additionally, as a route connecting the southeastern Capital Region and Central Region by linking the 'Gyeonggang Line Extension' and 'Capital Region Inland Line', the petition stated that given its important role in balanced development of the national railway network and revitalization of local economies, they request active interest and cooperation from relevant agencies to expedite the private investment feasibility study conducted by KDI and subsequent administrative procedures so that the railway project can be realized early.

Mayor Yi Sang-il said, "The establishment of the Central Region Express Rail not only fulfills the long-held wish of residents in Cheoein-gu, Yong-in Special City, who have long advocated for the Gyeonggang Line extension and hoped for a railway line to be established, but is also essential for the development of the semiconductor industry, including the successful creation of the Yong-in Idong·Namsa Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, which will determine Korea's future competitiveness," and added, "I hope the KDI private investment feasibility study proceeds expeditiously and the project passes promptly, and that subsequent administrative procedures such as strategic environmental impact assessment also proceed swiftly so that the railway line can begin construction early."

The mayor stated, "When the Central Region Express Rail is established, Yong-in citizens will be able to travel from stations built near City Hall to Seoul's Jamsil and Cheongju Airport each within 30 minutes, and as this railway line will also connect Oseong Station, citizens will be able to use KTX and SRT at Oseong Station, greatly enhancing transportation convenience for Yong-in residents," and emphasized, "As this line also connects semiconductor clusters, it will greatly help strengthen the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry."

The mayor said, "The Central Region Express Rail will play a very important role in transportation connection between Seoul, the Capital Region, and the Chungcheong Region, and will provide considerable convenience for inter-cluster travel of semiconductor industry talent and the movement of related logistics, greatly contributing to regional and industrial development and talent cultivation in the seven cities and counties through which the line passes," and added, "I hope the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related agencies including KDI will actively work to establish the Central Region Express Rail early, which will greatly contribute to national and regional development."

The 'Central Region Express Rail (JTX)' is a 135km regional express railway project connecting Seoul's Jamsil through Gwangju, Yong-in, Anseong, and Jincheon to Cheongju International Airport and Oseong Station, a KTX and SRT stop.

A private operator submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in November of last year, and in August, the ministry officially requested a private investment feasibility study from the 'Korea Development Institute (KDI)' to promote the project. The 'Central Region Express Rail (JTX)', with estimated project costs of approximately 9 trillion won, is being promoted as a hybrid private investment project combining revenue-based (BTO) and lease-based (BTL) models.

When the 'Central Region Express Rail (JTX)', evaluated as a core transportation network connecting Seoul, the Capital Region, and the Chungcheong Region, is opened, it is expected to gain momentum for the 'Gyeonggang Line Extension (Gwangju Station, Gyeonggi~Idong·Namsa, Yong-in)' railway project and the 'Dongtan~Buwol Line' (Dongtan Station~Idong~Wonsam~Buwol, Icheon) project being pursued by Yong-in Special City.

The 'Central Region Express Rail (JTX)' route includes the 'Gyeonggang Line Extension' section and passes through the 'Yong-in Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex' located in Idong·Namsa, Cheoein-gu, which will become a key hub for Korea's semiconductor industry. The city is looking to connect the 'Gyeonggang Line Extension' route and the 'Dongtan~Buwol Line' route centered on the 'Yong-in Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex'.