Seoul to Introduce Advanced Signaling System for Subways: "Faster and More Convenient"

Introduction of Wireless Communication-Based Train Control System
Ui-Sinseol Line, Seoul’s First Light Rail, to Adopt CBTC
Adjusted Scheduling... Congestion Rate to Drop from 165% to 143%

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will introduce a wireless communication-based train control system (CBTC, Communication-Based Train Control) on the Ui-Sinseol Line. This system controls the safe interval between trains by utilizing real-time train location data transmitted from the trains themselves. By precisely controlling the train positions, it is possible to reduce overall travel time.

On July 14, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it is officially commencing the ‘Next-Generation Wireless Communication Signaling System Implementation Project for the Ui-Sinseol Line,’ which serves as the starting point for public transportation congestion improvement and innovation initiatives.

Uisinseol Line train. Seoul Metropolitan Government

This is one of the ‘Public Transportation Transition’ pledges made by the ninth popularly elected mayor of Seoul. Following the announcement of the ‘Urban Rail Congestion Improvement Innovation Plan’ in March, the city has been pushing forward with the swift launch of this project. On April 6, Mayor Oh Se-hoon personally visited the construction sites of the Seoul Metro's Second Control Center and Integrated Control Center, reviewed the expected effects on congestion reduction, and highlighted the necessity of alleviating urban rail congestion at the site.

In particular, Mayor Oh called for multi-dimensional approaches to improving congestion. This project is a follow-up measure to ensure the proper fulfillment of the ninth mayoral term's pledges, based on Seoul’s accumulated experience in railroad and public transportation operations. While building public transportation infrastructure typically requires significant time and cost, transitioning to the CBTC system allows for the establishment of a more efficient train operating framework by utilizing existing infrastructure.

The Ui-Sinseol Line will be the first line to adopt the advanced signaling system ‘CBTC.’ As Seoul’s first light rail, the Ui-Sinseol Line sees high demand for commuting and school travel, currently reaching a peak congestion rate of 165%. The creation of a data-driven train operation and control environment is expected to enable more frequent train dispatches and reduce train congestion by more than 20%.

The subway riding experience is also expected to improve significantly. With increased average train speeds and reduced headways, the Ui-Sinseol Line's peak congestion rate is anticipated to decrease from 165% to 143%, representing a reduction of approximately 22%. Starting with the Ui-Sinseol Line, which has begun administrative preparations, the city plans to expand system transitions to other highly congested lines—such as Line 9 and Line 2—where improvements for citizens are urgently needed, thereby enhancing overall public transportation conditions.

Yeo Jangkwon, Director of Transportation Policy at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, “The urban rail CBTC installation project is a key initiative that will advance the public transportation operating system to the next level through administrative innovation,” adding, “We will put every effort into a multi-faceted approach to address the issues that citizens feel most acutely, including congestion reduction.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.