First GTX-A train delivered by Hyundai Rotem

The “GTX”. If you live in Korea, it’s one of those projects that you may have seen on signs, election campaigns, and real estate listings for years now.

Now, we’re finally one step closer to it becoming a reality, with the first GTX-A train rolling out of the shop earlier this week.

In case you’re out of the loop, the GTX-A is an 82.1km long high-speed commuter line with 11 stations and will run from Unjeong in the city of Paju, through the centre of Seoul, to the growing area of Dongtan in Hwaseong City. (I have added a quick recap on the project further down.)

The eight-car train was delivered by Hyundai Rotem at an official ceremony at the company’s plant in Changwon on December 19. Coincidentally, there are 19 more of these trains to be produced for the line through to June 2024. That’s 160 EMUs in total.

The first GTX-A prototype was launched yesterday at a ceremony in Changwon.

The event was attended by Hyundai Rotem CEO Lee Yong-Bae, SG Rail CEO Jeong Kyung-Hoon, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) Minister Won Hee-ryong, as well as other government delegates.

The delivery of the first EMUs comes earlier than expected, with MOLIT having originally said that the first prototypes were due to be delivered in mid-2023. Producing the first set took 1 year and 2 months and the remainder will be delivered as they’re completed.

Not your typical subway train

GTX-A trains will travel at speeds of up to 180km/h in tunnels built 40m below ground, bypassing existing infrastructure, and reducing commute times significantly.

The high speed of the trains means more drastic changes in air pressure when entering tunnels and stations. This is why they are the first urban trains with the same reinforced bodyshells and pressure-tight doors used on KTX and SRT trains to reduce discomfort from pressure changes and noise.

Take a look around the new GTX-A train in this 2-minute tour video from Rail Economy News.

Additional monitoring systems have been added to the trains for improved maintenance and safety management too. An AI-based system checks for track and overhead wire abnormalities in real time with a camera mounted on top of the train.

Other features include two-tier door sensors to detect objects blocking the doors, air purifiers, and anti-bacterial carpet.

So is the GTX-A Line actually going ahead?

Nobody would blame you for feeling a bit cynical when hearing the name GTX. For a long time it’s seemed almost like a buzzword.

This hasn’t been helped with how long it has taken for the first line to just get off the ground. This article from 2010 mentioned that construction would begin in 2012 with a completion date of sometime in 2017!

We’ve also written about the project several times over the years as dates changed and things slowly progressed.

Construction on the GTX-A finally began in 2017, and while much progress has been made, it won’t be until at least 2028 when we can expect to see the entire line operational.

Construction images from December (SG Rail)

So yes, the GTX project is happening — but this isn’t your typical Metro line extension or new light-rail line. Instead, it’s more similar to a heavy rail project with extra deep tunnels and stations.

As of August 2022, MOLIT reported that construction on the section from Samsung to Dongtan was 56% complete, while the section from Samsung to Paju was at 40.53%.

Line to be opened in stages

The line will open in three stages, with initial services to begin in the first half of 2024 between Suseo and Dongtan. This section will share tracks with high-speed SRT services, meaning that much of the infrastructure is in place already, with two new dedicated stations for GTX-A services being built in Pangyo and Yongin.

• First half of 2024 – Suseo to Dongtan to open
• Latter half of 2024 – Northern section from Paju to Seoul Station to open
• 2028 – Final section to be completed, including Samseong Station

The above timeline means the line will be divided into two sections for an extended period of time while the final section is finished. It requires a train depot to be built for the two sections, and it’s estimated this will cost an extra 41 billion won in funding.

Plans for the future GTX-A’s KINTEX Station in Ilsan.

The GTX-A Samseong Station was originally scheduled to be completed earlier, but was pushed back by Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection in 2021 as the result of an audit. It’s a complex situation which we won’t explore in this post, but one thing to keep in mind is that Samseong Station is currently under major construction as the city builds a massive transit center which is expected to open in 2028.

What is the GTX-A Line and why is it a big deal?

The GTX-A Line is a 5.5 trillion won project that has long been touted as something that will transform commuter travel between parts of Gyeonggi Province and Seoul.

While Seoul already has many standard metro lines that reach different cities in Gyeonggi and other provinces, many commuters still prefer to use regional urban buses as they are often faster. Standard Metro services only reach a maximum speed of 80-100km/h, and with very few express services, traveling from Gyeonggi by subway can make for a tedious ride.

GTX-A Route Image: Joongang Daily

Ultimately, it will mean that you won’t necessarily need to live in Seoul anymore for a shorter commute time. In fact, if you’re close enough to a GTX station, you may even get to your destination faster than some people living in other parts of Seoul!

For example, a trip from KINTEX in Ilsan to COEX in Gangnam which usually takes 1h 24m by standard metro will take around just 20 minutes. Imagine being able to travel from Seoul Station to COEX in around 5 minutes; this would be fantastic for tourists coming off the Airport Railroad.

It’s estimated the project will bring 27 trillion won to the economy, create 190,000 jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 440,000 tons annually as commuters make use of the new line.

Plans for additional GTX lines

Although three GTX lines have been confirmed for Seoul’s capital region so far, construction on the GTX-B and GTX-C lines is yet to begin.

However, MOLIT said in October 2022 that it would begin construction on the GTX-C in 2023 with a completion date of 2028 following rumors of delays. The ministry also announced during the same month that initial works for the GTX-B are expected to begin in the first half of 2024.

Additionally, a GTX-D line is currently being investigated under Korea’s fourth national railway plan which was announced in April 2021. The proposed line was part of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s election promises during his presidential campaign.

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon holds a public forum for a regional express line in Busan

Meanwhile, Busan is also mooting the idea of a regional express line and held a public forum on December 12 to discuss potential plans for a hydrogen-powered BuTX (Busan Train Express) Line from Osiria (오시리아) on the east coast, through central Busan, and down to the planned Gedeok Airport (가덕신공항) at the southern end of the port.

More on these other projects another time!