KTX Era Begins at Hwaseong Eocheon Station... Busan and Mokpo Reachable in Just Over 2 Hours

Hwaseong City, Incheon-Origin KTX on Track for Late December Launch
Comprehensive Trial Runs Begin on the 17th... Just 23 Minutes to Songdo
Significant Improvements Expected in Rail Transit Convenience for Residents
Mayor Jeong Myunggeun: "Nationwide Half-Day Living Zone... Boost for Local Economy"

A direct route will soon open, enabling passengers to travel from Eocheon Station in Hwaseong Special City, Gyeonggi Province to Busan and Mokpo via KTX in just over two hours. The longstanding inconvenience for Hwaseong residents of having to transfer at Gwangmyeong Station or Seoul and Yongsan Stations to use the high-speed rail is also expected to be significantly reduced.

Route map of KTX direct connection project from Incheon. Provided by Hwaseong City

Hwaseong Special City (Mayor Jeong Myung-geun) announced on September 16 that the KTX Direct Connection Project originating in Incheon has entered its final phase, with the opening targeted for the end of December this year.

The Korea National Railway will begin a comprehensive trial operation of KTX trains on the Suin-Bundang Line starting late at night on September 17. This marks the first time KTX trains will run on the Suin-Bundang Line and enter Songdo Station.

From mid-September to October, the corporation plans to conduct a detailed preliminary inspection of all railway systems, including the roadbed, tracks, signals, and electrical facilities, before commencing commercial trial operations in December.

The Incheon-origin KTX Direct Connection Project involves upgrades to Incheon Songdo Station, Ansan Choji Station, and Hwaseong Eocheon Station, as well as construction of a new 3.2 km section linking the Suin Line and the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line. The total project cost is 568.1 billion won.

Once completed, KTX trains departing from Songdo Station in Incheon will enter the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line via Choji Station and Eocheon Station. This will allow Hwaseong residents to use the KTX within their own region and travel directly to major cities across the country.

The expected travel times are 23 minutes from Eocheon Station to Songdo Station and under two hours to Busan or Mokpo. The city anticipates that this will reduce travel times by more than one hour compared to current routes.

Promotional image for the KTX direct connection project from Incheon. Provided by Hwaseong City

Hwaseong City plans to enhance access to Eocheon Station and improve the transfer system by upgrading surrounding transportation infrastructure in time for the KTX opening.

Mayor Jeong Myung-geun stated, "Once the Incheon-origin KTX Direct Connection Project is completed and Eocheon Station is linked to the nationwide KTX rail network, the travel convenience for citizens will greatly improve, and it will also boost interregional exchange and invigorate the local economy. We will work closely with relevant agencies to support the opening and thoroughly review additional measures to further enhance user convenience."

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