'Express Trunk Buses' to Link Seoul's Outskirts and Downtown... Line 9 Express Service Also Expands

Four routes departing from Dobong, Gangdong, Sangam and Gangseo

45.8% fewer stops than regular buses

Line 9 schedule revised starting with the first train on November 16

Eight more weekday train trips, with capacity up 12.5%

Starting November 16, express bus services will offer faster travel from Seoul’s outer areas, including Dobong, Gangdong, Sangam and Gangseo, to major central business districts. Seoul Subway Line 9 will also expand express train services.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on November 15 that it would fully implement these “express public transportation service plans” to ease rush-hour congestion and reduce the burden of commuting for residents.

A look at the express bus service beginning operations on the 16th. Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The newly introduced “central-lane express bus” will run along the same routes as existing trunk buses but stop only at major stops.

The express bus service was introduced to make commuting easier for residents in Seoul’s outer areas, where express transportation options such as GTX and metropolitan express buses are relatively limited. The four routes beginning trial operations are Express Route 150 (Dobong Bus Garage–City Hall Station), Express Route 370 (Gangdong Bus Garage–Chungjeongno Station), Express Route 470 (Sangam Bus Garage–City Hall Station), and Express Route 605 (Gangseo Bus Garage–Yeongdeungpo Station). Each route will operate three times a day on weekdays: once in the early morning, starting at around 4 a.m., and twice during the morning commute.

The express buses will run from Seoul’s outer areas, including Dobong, Gangdong, Sangam and Gangseo, to major central business districts such as Gwanghwamun and City Hall. They are expected to make 45.8% fewer stops on average than regular buses and cut travel times by 10%. For example, passengers boarding Express Route 150 at Dobongsan Station Metropolitan Transfer Center can travel via stops in outlying areas such as Ssangmun Station to Sungdae Entrance, without stopping at Suyu Station, Mia Station or Mia Sageori Station. They can then get off in major central business districts such as Jongno and City Hall, reducing their commute time.

To make the express buses easy to identify, Seoul will display route numbers such as “Express 150” and “Express 370” on the vehicles’ destination signs. Route maps showing stops and sections where the buses will not stop will be posted inside the vehicles to make them easier to use.

Train schedules on Line 9 will also change starting with the first train on November 16. From 5:40 a.m. to 7 a.m., the ratio of express to local trains traveling in the upper direction from Gaehwa Station to VHS Medical Center Station will change from “one express to one local” to “two express trains to one local train.” Under the new schedule, two express trains will run for every local train.

The time when trains are concentrated to match periods of high passenger demand will also be moved earlier. The start of additional train service during the morning commute will move 50 minutes earlier, from 6:30 a.m. to 5:40 a.m. During the evening commute, the operating period will shift 30 minutes earlier, from 4:30–7 p.m. to 4–6:30 p.m.

With these changes, Line 9’s express train capacity during the morning hours will increase by 12.5%, from 110,640 to 124,470 passengers. Total capacity across express and local trains will also rise by 4.8%, and the number of weekday train trips will increase by eight, from 492 to 500.

Passengers will also spend less time waiting during the morning commute. From 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., the interval between express and local trains bound for VHS Medical Center will be shortened from 6 minutes 20 seconds to 6 minutes. The interval between express trains bound for Gaehwa and Gimpo Airport will also be reduced, from 6 minutes 30 seconds–12 minutes to 6 minutes 30 seconds–8 minutes.

Yeo Janggwon, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Transportation Office, said, “Because commuting is part of residents’ daily routine, creating a faster and more convenient travel environment is an important change that improves quality of life. We will closely monitor operations during the early stages and ensure thorough on-site management so the new service system can become firmly established.”

Seoul Metropolitan Government's Express Train Operations Plan for Subway Line 9

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