GTX Line C Finally Breaks Ground on the 15th...Suwon Station to Cheongnyangni in 30 Minutes Expected

Opening Event at Suwon Station on the 15th
Interactive Spaces to Open at Suwon and Uijeongbu Stations

The construction of the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX) Line C, which had been halted for two years due to disputes over construction costs, is now officially starting.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on September 14 that the GTX Line C will break ground on its privately funded construction project on the 15th.

GTX Line C is an 86.6-kilometer metropolitan express railway route starting from Deokjeong-dong in Yangju, northern Gyeonggi Province, passing through central Seoul stations such as Cheongnyangni, Samsung, and Yangjae, and connecting to southern Gyeonggi's Suwon and Sangnoksu stations.

Previously, GTX-C received approval for its implementation plan in December 2023 and held a groundbreaking ceremony in January the following year. However, disagreements between the Hyundai Engineering & Construction consortium and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport over the total project cost prevented actual construction for two years. The revised agreement was finally approved last month after the increased construction costs, as determined by arbitration from the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, were reflected.

Once the line is operational, travel time between Deokjeong Station and Samsung Station is expected to be cut drastically from about 80 minutes to approximately 30 minutes, and from about 75 minutes to around 30 minutes between Suwon Station and Cheongnyangni Station.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the project operator will also open promotional centers for GTX Line C at Suwon and Uijeongbu stations. An opening event will be held at Suwon Station on the 15th, including an unveiling of a life-size model of the GTX Line C train. Approximately 100 attendees are expected, including Yongseok Kim, chair of the Metropolitan Transport Commission at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, members of the National Assembly, local government leaders, construction officials, and citizens.

The promotional centers will be open at Suwon Station from September 16 to 18, and at Uijeongbu Station from September 20 to 22. The centers will offer exhibits and interactive spaces where visitors can learn about train designs and route information, participate in quizzes, and more. Through kiosks set up in the experience zones, visitors can check how much their commute time will be reduced after the opening of Line C, or even modify the train’s interior and exterior designs themselves.

Yongseok Kim, chair of the Metropolitan Transport Commission, said, "I am extremely pleased to be able to inform the public of the groundbreaking for Line C after all the difficulties over the years. Going forward, we will ensure strict project management to deliver both quality and safety so that the line can open on schedule."

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