I always feel lucky that living in Korea I usually get to see at least one brand new commuter line open every year. 2018 is no different, with the Seohae Line having recently opened on June 16.
The 23.3km commuter line is located east of the capital and connected to the Seoul Metropolitan network. Originally named the Sosa – Wonsi Line, the line begins in Sosa in Bucheon and travels down through Siheung to Wonsi in Ansan.
It’s the first rail connection for the city of Siheung and adds a metro line to one more area of Gyeonggi Province which previously didn’t have any rail. The Seohae Line (literally west sea line) has 12 stations and shortens what was previously a 1.5 hour trip by car to 33 minutes by train. Services will operate every 13 minutes during peak times and every 20 minutes during off-peak. Check out a video below from the MTA T Train YouTube channel.
Video: ihasbeencepred [MTA T Train]
The 12 stations are Sosa (Seoul Line 1), Sosaeul, Siheung Daeya, Sincheon, Sinhyeon, Siheung City Hall, Siheung Neunggok, Dalmi, Seonbu, Choji (Line 4), Wongok and Wonsi. The line connects with Seoul’s Line 1 at Sosa and Line 4 at Choji station. Siheung City Hall station will also become a transfer station and become further linked to Seoul when the future Sinansan and Wolgot-Pangyo lines open.
In addition to this, the Seohae Line will eventually connect to the planned Daegok – Sosa and Hongseong – Wonsi lines. This will open up a direct link between the Gyeongui Line and Janghang Line railways, meaning that commuter, high-speed, and freight trains will all be able to use the new corridor.
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New York could learn a thing or two from Korea, then.
I didn’t know they opened a new line commuter every year, that’s awesome. I wished NY did the same thing.
The sticker on the route map (0:10) is such a delicate solution… Sometimes I really feel like things in Korea lose their “magic” because of lack of any attention or care on smaller details. Anyway, new commuter lines are always welcomed, let’s hope it will be more durable than the Gyeonggang line.