Seoul Metropolitan Subway: Difference between revisions

| image = South Korea subway logoSeoul-metro-2009-20180916-103548.svgjpg

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| map = [[File:Seoul_Metropolitan_Subway_network_mapSeoul_subway_linemap_en.pngsvg|250px]]

The network consists of multiple systems that form a larger, coherent system. These being the Seoul Metro proper, consisting of Seoul Metro lines 1 through 9 and certain light rail lines, that serves [[Seoul]] city proper and its surroundings; Korail [[regional rail]] lines, which serve the [[Seoul Capital Area|greater metropolitan region]] and beyond; [[Incheon Subway|Incheon Metro]] lines, operated by [[Incheon Transit Corporation]], that serve [[Incheon]] city proper; and miscellaneous light rail lines, such as [[Gimpo Goldline]] and [[EverLine|Yongin Everline]], that connect lower-density areas of their respective cities to the rest of the network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mltm.go.kr/USR/policyData/m_34681/dtl.jsp?id=422|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425051744/http://mltm.go.kr/USR/policyData/m_34681/dtl.jsp?id=422|url-status=dead|title=Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of South Korea: Definition of Urban Rail and Wide-area Rail|archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref> Most of the system is operated by three companies – [[Seoul Metro]], [[Korail]] (Korea Railroad Corporation), and [[Incheon Transit Corporation|Incheon Metro]] -– with the rest being operated by an assortment of local municipal corporations and private rail companies.

The first line of the Seoul Subway network started construction in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://futureheritage.seoul.go.kr/web/investigate/HeritageView.do?htId=1503&pageIdx=41&rowsPerPage=8&searchGu=&searchBunya=&searchGubun=&searchContents=&searchCategory=|title=서울 지하철 1호선|publisher=[[Seoul Metropolitan Government]]|access-date=25 August 2015|language=ko}}</ref> The first section of subway was built using the cheaper [[cut and cover]] construction method. Initial lines relied heavily on Japanese technology, and subsequent lines (until the early-2000s) procured technological imports from Japan and the United Kingdom (in particular, [[GEC Traction]] equipment used on wide-width Lines 2, 3 and 4 rolling stock from the 1980s).<ref>{{Cite web|last=scaadmin|date=31 July 2015|title=[Metro] Construction of the Seoul Metro – the Driver behind Sustainable Urban Growth & Change|url=https://www.seoulsolution.kr/en/content/metro-construction-seoul-metro-%E2%80%93-driver-behind-sustainable-urban-growth-change|access-date=27 July 2020|website=서울아카이브 Seoul Solution|language=en}}</ref> For example, Line 1 opened in 1974 with [[Through train|through services]] joining surrounding [[Korail]] suburban railway lines influenced by the [[Tokyo subway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/02/117_81284.html|title=Seoul's first subway line opened in 1974|work=[[The Korea Times]]|access-date=25 July 2014|date=13 February 2011}}</ref> Today, many of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway's lines are operated by Korail, South Korea's national rail operator.<ref>{{cite web |title=Introducing Korail |url=http://www.korail.com/ |publisher=[[Korail]] |access-date=23 February 2014}}</ref>

It has been described as the world's longest multi-operator metro system by [[Network length (transport)|route length]], beating out the slightly older [[Beijing Subway]] and more recent [[Shanghai Metro]] in China by over one-third.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/features/featurethe-worlds-longest-metro-and-subway-systems-4144725/ |title=The world's longest metro and subway systems |website=Railway-technology.com |date=9 December 2013 |access-date=7 September 2021}}</ref> The subway has free [[WiFi]] accessible in all stations and trains.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22010533 |title=Underground world: Seoul's 'super highway' v London's 'rude tube' |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |date=3 April 2013 |access-date=12 July 2013}}</ref> All stations have [[platform screen doors]]. These safety doors were completed by 2017, however many stations previously had metal barriers installed decades beforehand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cafe.naver.com/smartvip/93554|title=대중교통 커뮤니티 - SBM (철도, 버스 이용자들의 공간) : 네이버 카페|website=cafe.naver.com|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> The world's first virtual mart for [[smartphone]] users opened at [[Seolleung station]] in 2011.

[[File:Seoul Metropolitan Subway network mapSeoul_subway_linemap_en.pngsvg|thumb|center|1000px|System map of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, showing current and future proposed lines, as of 26 August 2023.]]

| 218.3&nbsp;km<ref name="Korail-Metro">{{cite web|url=http://info.korail.com/mbs/english/subview.jsp?id=english_050202000000|title=Metro Lines & Trains in Operation|publisher=[[Korail]]|access-date=25 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Seoul-Subway-stats">{{cite web |url=http://infra.seoul.go.kr/archives/1092 |script-title=ko:지하철건설현황 |publisher=Seoul City Government |language=ko |trans-title=Status of Subway Construction |access-date=22 February 2014}}</ref><ref group="Note">Of which 211210.15&nbsp;km is operated by Korail and 7.8&nbsp;km by Seoul Metro.</ref>

| 7285.17&nbsp;km<ref name="Korail-Metro" /><ref name="Seoul-Subway-stats" /><ref group="Note">Of which 40.4&nbsp;km is operated by Korail and 3145.73&nbsp;km by Seoul Metro.</ref>

| Olive Greengreen<ref name=":0" />

| [[AmsaByeollae station|AmsaByeollae]]

| 1824

| 1731.71&nbsp;km<ref name="Seoul-Subway-stats" />

| 19992024

| Sea-Blue blue<ref name=":0" />

| Jade-Color<ref name=":0" />

| Orange-yellow

| Light gold

| Seoul-Skyblue Sky blue<ref name=":0" />

| Red<ref name=":0" />

|LightBlue Light blue<ref name=":0" />

|LightOrange Light orange<ref name=":0" />

| Korail-Blue blue<ref name=":0" />

*[[Seoul Subway Line 8|LineGTX 8A]] will be extended on 29open June 2024 north frombetween [[AmsaSeoul station]] toand [[ByeollaeUnjeong station]] onby the [[Gyeongchun Line]]December, with a5 transferstations. The central section between Seoul station and Suseo station is scheduled to thebe [[Gyeongui-Jungangconnected Line]]by at2026, except for [[GuriSamseong station]] which will open in 2028.

*The [[SinansanIncheon Subway Line 1]] will openbe extended north Aprilin June 2025. Theby line6.8&nbsp;km will start(4.226&nbsp;mi), atfrom [[YeouidoGyeyang station]] and split into two branches: one to [[HanyangGeomdan UniversityLake ERICAPark Campusstation]] station, andwith one3 tonew [[Songsanstations. station]]Geomdan onLake thePark [[Seohaestation Line]].is Thelater latterexpected branchto willbecome partiallya sharetransfer tracksstation with the Seohae[[Gimpo LineGoldline]] and the [[GyeonggangIncheon Subway Line 2]], for which extensions are in planning.

===Opening 2027 or later2028===

* The [[DongtanGTX-Indeogwon LineC]] will open between [[DongtanDeokjeong Station]] in the North and [[IndeogwonSuwon Station]] byand December[[Sangnoksu 2028Station]] to the South, splitting into 2 branches. The Lineline will havefeature 17new stopsdedicated tracks on its central section and ashare tracks with [[Seoul Subway Line 1|Line 1]] at its ends. In total, the length of 38the line witll be 85.1&nbsp;km9km, with 14 stations.

* The [[Wirye–Sinsa Line]], a light metro line in southeastern Seoul, will open between [[Sinsa station]] and Wirye with 11 stations planned.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspim.com/news/view/20181025000678|title=위례신사선 민자사업, 추진 확정..2021년께 착공 예상|date=25 October 2018|website=[[NewsPim]]}}</ref> Construction has been delayed due to issues with the contractors.

*[[Seoul Subway Line 9|Line 9]] will also be further extended to the East, with 6 new stations across the Han river and northwards, from [[SaemteoOgeum Park stationStation]] to [[PungyangHanam City Hall station]], for a length of 11.7km. Completion is planned for 2032.

*The [[Shinbundang Line]] will be extended north from [[Sinsa station]] to [[Yongsan station]], with 3 new stations over 5.3&nbsp;km. Construction will begin in 2026 for a completion in 2032, upon the completion of the transfer of ownership of the [[Yongsan Garrison]] to the Korean government.

* The [[ShinbundangSeobu Line]] is a new light metro line, which will alsohave bea extendedlength southof 18&nbsp;km and go through 16 stations, starting fromat [[Gwanggyo JungangGwanaksan station]], towhich is also the last station of the [[HomaesilSillim stationLine]], withand 5then newgo stationsNorth-West across the Han River and 11&nbsp;kmup ofto tracks[[Saejeol station]] on [[Seoul Subway Line 6|Line 6]]. Construction will begin in 20232025.