[단독]Proposal for additional 3 GTX stations in Seoul… “Difficulty adding finance” by the Ministry of Land

Graphic = Reporter Park Kyung-min [email protected]

In response to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s recommendation to add three additional stations to the metropolitan area express train (GTX) line, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has confirmed that it is difficult to invest more finances for the installation of additional stations. This means that it is possible to add a station only if the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the private GTX business share the cost of the station construction, or if the Seoul Metropolitan Government pays the full amount.

An official from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said on the 7th, “The city of Seoul suggested adding three stations, but basically it is difficult to invest additional finances to increase the number of stops,” he said. “This situation will not change significantly in the future.”

Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced last month that it proposed the establishment of three additional GTX main transit stations (Gwanghwamun, Dongdaemun, and Wangsimni Station) to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in order to improve the convenience of public transportation and quick access between major bases in the metropolitan area.

Gwanghwamun Station is GTX-A (Paju-Dongtan), Dongdaemun (Dongdaemun History and Culture Park) is GTX-B (Songdo-Maseok), and Wangsimni Station is on the GTX-C line (Suwon-Deokjeong). At the time, Hwang Bo-yeon, head of the urban transport office of Seoul, explained, “As these stations are linked to subway line 2, which is a major route, it is essential for increased traffic efficiency and user convenience.”

However, as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has a position that it cannot spend more money on adding stations, there are a number of homework to be solved in order to create these three stations. First of all, who is responsible for the cost of the station construction.

The city of Seoul is promoting the installation of an additional GTX station in the basement of Gwanghwamun Square. [연합뉴스]

In the railroad industry, it is estimated that it will cost 150 to 200 billion won to build one of the deepest GTX stations. In fact, 165 billion won was set for the construction of the GTX-A Changneung Station, which the government announced as one of the 3rd new city traffic measures. The entire cost will be borne by LH, a new city operator.

For Gwanghwamun Station, which belongs to GTX-A, where construction is underway, the issue of procuring additional construction costs should be discussed first between the city of Seoul and a private enterprise. Chang-Seok Jang, head of the Metropolitan Express Railroad Team of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said, “After discussing the cost issue between Seoul City and the business operator, it will be possible to review it if it is formally requested by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.”

GTX-C, which is currently offering a privately-owned business operator, can submit a proposal including the content that the business operator will add a station. According to the’Basic Plan for Private Investment Facility Project for Line C’announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, there are 10 basic stops, and up to 3 additional stations can be proposed by the operator.

However, the cost must be borne by the operator, the expression speed must be 80 km/h or more, and the conditions must be satisfied that all stations can reach Samseong Station or Cheongnyangni Station within 30 minutes.

A railroad expert who requested anonymity said, “It seems that it will take more than 200 billion won to add GTX stations to Wangsimni.” I will not.”

Some analyzes say that more than 200 billion won is required for the additional installation of GTX-C Wangsimni Station. [연합뉴스]

It is the judgment of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the railroad industry that the conditions for the GTX-B are the worst. Route B was judged ineligible twice in the private-private competency analysis conducted by the Korea Development Institute (KDI). This means that no matter which private-funded business method is applied, it is difficult to attract privately-owned investments due to poor business performance.

For this reason, some have been debated about ways to re-establish a preliminary feasibility study with a new route to increase demand and reduce costs, or to abandon the private investment project and convert it to a fiscal project. In this situation, it is an analysis that reverse addition is also difficult.

The delay in construction due to the addition of stations is also a problem. In the case of Route A, if more stations are built, it is predicted that the completion of the station will be delayed by at least six months to one year from the original plan if related procedures such as design change are taken.

In fact, the opening of Changneung Station is flexible according to the schedule of the new city, but it is inevitable that the construction will be disrupted unless special supplementary measures are applied because space for station installation must be secured in advance. As the number of stops increasing, the possibility that the speed of operation will be lower than originally planned is also a homework to be solved.

Transportation reporter Gap-saeng Kang [email protected]