Airport Express (A’REX)

Please check the A’REX Website to book tickets or check the latest times. See below for general information about the line.Seoul is easily accessible from Incheon International Airport by public transport and is well connected to the Seoul Metro network via the Airport Express Line, also known as the A’REX (인천국제공항철도 in Korean). The total airport railroad is 63.8 km long and traveling to the terminus at Seoul Station takes less than an hour.

The A’REX is part of the Seoul Metro system and standard transport cards can be used when travelling on All Stop Trains.

Incheon Airport Express Trains

There are two types of trains that operate on the Airport Railway:

Express Train (Incheon Airport – Seoul Station)

  • A non-stop service that runs between both Incheon International Airport terminals and Seoul Station
  • Tickets cost 9,500 won for an adult and 7,500 won for a child
  • 1-3 express trains run per hour, taking 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 51 minutes from Terminal 2.
  • Express trains include extra service/features such as a porter, comfortable seating, storage for luggage, and use of the customer lounge

If you’re heading straight to Seoul or Incheon with luggage and want to guarantee you get a sleep, then you might prefer to take this service.

All Stop Train

  • These trains are cheap, regular, and stop at all stations. These services come around every 7-10 minutes, depending on the time of day.
  • Prices will vary depending on where you’re going and a ticket to Seoul Station will cost 4,250 won with a single ticket and 4,150 KRW with a transportation card.
  • A trip to Seoul Station on this services takes 59 minutes from Terminal 1, and 66 minutes from Terminal 2.
  • Transfers to Incheon Metro lines 1 and 2, Gimpo Goldline, Seoul Metro lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, Gyeongui–Jungang Line
  • For more information on using the subway, see our subway page.

If you’re getting on or off anywhere other than Incheon Airport or Seoul Station then you’ll need to take this service. Be aware the during peak times commuters will also be using these trains and if you have luggage you may wish to sit near the door as it can become crowded.

For more information check the official A’REX website.


Using the train

After arriving at Incheon International Airport and leaving customs, follow the ‘Airport Railroad’ signs to the Airport Transport Center. The entry to the A’REX Express Trains is on the right side and the entry to the All Stop Trains is on the left side:

Find one of the ticket machines which are available in English. The instructions will be easy to follow. Just make sure you pick the correct destination – otherwise you won’t be able to exit the gate when you arrive!

A brief history

The construction of the airport railroad from Incheon to Seoul began in 2001. The first section between Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport opened in March 23, 2007.

Construction on the second section from Gimpo Airport to Seoul Station began in 2004 and opened in 2010. It was first managed by a consortium of 11 private companies as Korea’s first public-private partnership in the rail sector.

In 2009, KORAIL bought the majority of shares and restructured the Incheon Airport rail. KORAIL sold the airport line to a private KB Bank equity trust fund in 2015.

In January 2018, Incheon Airport opened its second terminal along with a new station at the terminal.

Timeline:

Opening of Incheon Airport to Gimpo Airport: 23.03.2007

Extension from Gimpo Airport to Seoul Station: 29.12.2010

Addition of Geongdeok Station: 30.11.2011

Addition of Cheongna Station: 21.06.2014

Opening of Seoul Station Airport Rail Transfer Tunnel: 28.03.2014

Airport Railroad takes over Incheon Airport Maglev operations: 03.07.2016

This page was updated on 9 January 2023. Kojects does not take any responsibility for information that has changed since this was page was last published.