The Shinbundang Line Korean신분당선; Hanja新盆唐線; literally, New Bundang Line) or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a 33.4 km (20.8 mi) long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth[1] subway to run completely driverless and the second completely driverless metro line to open in South Korea, after Busan Subway Line 4. It connects Sinsa station and Gwanggyo station in 42 minutes, a feat achieved by being the first line to operate South Korea's next-generation subway car travelling at over 90 km/h (56 mph), with the fastest average speed of any subway line in the country.[2][3]

Shinbundang Line
(DX Line)
Shinbundang line train
Overview
Native name신분당선(新盆唐線)
Sinbundangseon
StatusOperational
Termini
Stations16
Service
TypeCommuter Rail
SystemSeoul Metropolitan Subway
Operator(s)Shinbundang Railroad Corporation, Gyeonggi Railroad Co., Ltd., New Seoul Railroad Co., Ltd., Neo Trans
History
Opened28 October 2011
Technical
Line length33.4 km (20.8 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV, 60 Hz AC

The initial route opened in October 2011 passed through 6 stations intersecting with three existing lines at Gangnam Station (Line 2), Yangjae Station (Line 3), and Jeongja Station (Bundang Line). Phase 2 opened on 30 January 2016 added 6 stations to the south, extending the line to serve Yongin's Suji-gu and Suwon's Gwanggyo New City. Construction for Phase 3's extension northwards to Sinsa station started in 2016, with opening on 28 May 2022.[4] Construction of the line started in mid-2005, for revenue start in Sep 2011. However, because of the flooding of late July 2011, the opening was delayed and eventually opened on 28 October 2011.[5][6]

Gwanggyo Jungang (Ajou Univ.) Station opened its underground bus transfer station in early March 2016, where screen doors are installed on bus platforms so bus riders from all over Suwon can transfer to the subway directly.[7]

The price to ride the Shinbundang Line is higher than standard fare for the rest of the Seoul subway system. There are zone based surcharges in addition to regular fares which are identical to other lines.

Phases

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Transfer gate to Seoul Subway Line 2 at Gangnam Station.
 
Gangnam Station platform
 
The front of the subway car is open for viewing thanks to driverless operation.
 
The interior of the 2011 introduced subway car built by Hyundai Rotem.

Phase 1 alleviated some of the traffic from inner Seoul to Bundang which is mainly residential and within the Seoul Capital Area. Phase 1 was 17.3 km (10.7 mi) and intersects with several subway lines in south-eastern Seoul as well as with the Bundang Line. Travel from one end to the other was 16 minutes. Construction lasted for roughly six years starting in mid-2005 and ended at the end of October 2011. Total cost between public and private sectors was estimated at 1.169 trillion won.[8][9][10]

 
Platform of Gangnam Station.

Phase 2, a southern extension of the line, was primarily designed to ease heavy traffic between Yongin's Suji-gu and Bundang/Seoul, as Suji-gu was not a planned city like Bundang but abruptly and organically developed with large apartment complexes. As a result, Suji-gu is even more residential than Bundang, resulting in heavy traffic in connecting roads. The other aim was to connect the newly planned city of Gwanggyo rapidly to Seoul. Because of the investors and owners of Phase 1 and 2 being different, a 300 won extra charge was added on top of the 900 won extra charge if riders crossed Jeongja Station. Residents of Suji and Gwanggyo criticized the fare discrimination, despite a cashback being offered to frequent riders between Pangyo Station and Dongcheon/Suji-gu Office Station (200 won for Dongcheon and 100 won for Suji-gu Office).[11] The mayor of Yongin and Suwon, along with officials from Gyeonggi-do asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to lower the fares, which announced that it is trying to cut the fare by using low interest rate loans but it would take at least a year for it to be finalized.[12]

There was a debate[13][14] between Seongnam City and Suwon City regarding whether Migeum should be included in the Phase 2 extension of Shinbundang Line. Supporters argued that the distance between Jeongja Station and SB01, an originally planned station to follow Jeongja, would be unusually long at 3.76 km (2.34 mi). They also argued that the inclusion of Migeum will alleviate traffic in the area. Meanwhile, the Suwon opposition claims that the inclusion would delay travel time to Gwanggyo, a planned area of Suwon in construction.

Phase 3, a northern extension of the line, will extend the line northwest of Gangnam to Yongsan Station. This additional stretch is estimated to cost at least 400 billion won.[15] Because part of the line lies inside the Yongsan Garrison, the phase was split into two sections. One section, an extension from Gangnam to Sinsa, began construction in 2016 and was opened on May 28, 2022.[4] The other section, a further extension from Sinsa to Yongsan, will start construction and will open no earlier than 2027.[16]

Phase 4, a further extension of the line, will extend the line southwest to Suwon's Homaesil and Hwaseo Station. It will be constructed in the 2020s[17] and open no earlier than 2027.[16]

An additional consideration is to push the line north beyond Yongsan Station and end around Gwanghwamun Station and Gyeongbokgung Station, making it easier for commuters to access Gangnam from the central business district of Seoul. It was unclear if this idea has been scrapped or pushed back for a later reevaluation[18] but resurfaced as a March 2012 campaign promise by Hong Sa-duk to expand the line near Gyeongbokgung Station.[19][20]

Operation

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From Gangnam Station, trains are available from 05:30 until 24:50 on weekdays, cut to 23:48 on weekends and public holidays. However, the last train to Gwanggyo departs at 24:26 on weekdays, cut to 23:48 on weekends, with the remainder going until Jeongja Station only.

The trains are automated and run every 5 minutes during peak times to 8 minutes during off-peak hours. The SBL Line signal system is based on state-of-the-art communications-based train control (CBTC) technology, utilizing two-way digital radio communications between intelligent trains, and wayside equipment, and a network of ATS/ATO computers designed for very high system reliability and availability. Platforms can accommodate 10-car trains at 200 m (656 ft 2 in) but initially 6-car trains will be used.[10][21][22]

Stations

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Current line

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Station
Number
Station Name
English
Station Name
Hangul
Station Name
Hanja
Transfer
Distance
in km
Total
Distance
Location
D04
Sinsa 신사  
---
0.0
D05
Nonhyeon 논현  
0.7
0.8
D06
Sinnonhyeon 신논현  
0.8
1.6
D07
Gangnam 강남  
0.9
2.4
D08
Yangjae
(Seocho-gu Office)
양재
(서초구청)
 
1.5
3.9
D09
Yangjae Citizen's Forest
(Maeheon)
양재시민의숲
(매헌)
의숲
1.6
5.5
D10
Cheonggyesan 청계산입구
2.9
8.4
D11
Pangyo
(Pangyo Techno Valley)
판교
(판교테크노밸리)
 

  Jungbunaeryuk KTX

8.2
16.6
D12
Jeongja 정자  
3.1
19.7
D13
Migeum
(Seoul National University Bundang Hospital)
미금
(분당서울대병원)
 
1.9
21.6
D14
Dongcheon
동천
1.6
23.2
D15
Suji-gu office
수지구청
2.1
25.3
D16
Seongbok
성복
1.7
27.0
D17
Sanghyeon
상현
2.1
29.1
D18
GwanggyoJungang
(Ajou Univ.)
광교중앙
(아주대)
Underground bus transfer station[7]
2.4
31.5
D19
Gwanggyo
(Kyonggi Univ.)
광교
(경기대)
1.9
33.4

Yongsan extension and Samsong extension proposal

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Although initially planned to be opened simultaneously with the Sinsa-Gangnam extension, due to the extension from Sinsa to Yongsan potentially sharing tracks with the newly approved GTX A line towards Ilsan, construction on this section has been delayed. The stations' locations will be determined when the Yongsan Garrison moves out and the freed space becomes a public park. Current call for the line to split at Dongbinggo to Noksapyeong Station, Seoul Station, City Hall Station, Gwanghwamun Station, Gyeongbokgung Station, terminating at Samsong Station in Goyang. However, the Yongsan extension will begin construction earlier than the Samsong extension, as the latter has not been evaluated yet.[23][24]

Station
Number
Station Name
English
Station Name
Hangul
Station Name
Hanja
Transfer
Distance
in km
Total
Distance
Location
D01
Yongsan 용산  
   
  Honam
  Saemaeul-ho   Mugunghwa-ho
-
0.0
D02
Yongsan Park 용산공원 公園
D03
Dongbinggo 동빙고

Homaesil extension and Bongdam extension proposal

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The southwestern extension to Homaesil passed the economic feasibility research in late 2019. It is expected that construction will begin in 2023, with opening potentially in 2027, given that construction usually take 5 years to complete.[25] A further extension to Hwaseong City's Bongdam has been proposed but not evaluated yet.[26]

Station
Number
Station Name
English
Station Name
Hangul
Station Name
Hanja
Transfer
Distance
in km
Total
Distance
Location
D20
Suwon World Cup Stadium
수원월드컵경기장 월드컵
D21
Jangan 장안
D22
Hwaseo 화서 西  
D23
Homaesil
호매실

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 이, 일영. 보도자료. www.shinbundang.co.kr (in Korean). 전국매일. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  2. ^ "New Subway Line Shortens Bundang-Gangnam Trip". The Chosun Ilbo. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  3. ^ 유, 명식 (12 January 2016). 신분당선 연장선 "빠른데도 소음이 없어요" (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo.
  4. ^ a b Ilbo, Dong-A (May 28, 2022). "Shinbundang Line 'Gangnam~Shinsa' opens today... Gwanggyo → Shrine 42 minutes". Seoul, South Korea. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Daugherty, Daniel (August 1, 2011). "Sin Bundang Line Set Back by Floods". 맙소사!. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  6. ^ Daugherty, Daniel (September 4, 2011). "New Sin Bundang Opening Date: Oct. 28". 맙소사!. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  7. ^ a b 고, 연석 (19 February 2016). 광교중앙(아주대)역 버스 환승 쎈터 방문기 (in Korean).
  8. ^ DX Line 홈페이지에 오신것을 환영합니다 (in Korean). DX LINE. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  9. ^ DX Line 홈페이지에 오신것을 환영합니다 (in Korean). DX LINE. Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Construction of Sin Bundang Line on Track for 2010 Launch" (Press release). IndustryKorea.net. Archived from the original (DOC) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  11. ^ 경기철도주식회사 - 신분당선. shinbundang2.co.kr.
  12. ^ 김, 민욱; 신, 지영 (4 February 2016). 한발늦은 `신분당선 요금인하` 대책. 경인일보 (in Korean).
  13. ^ Hong, Jang-won (October 27, 2011). 신분당선 연장 `미금역` 신설 (in Korean). MK. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  14. ^ 신분당선 미금역 설치 반대 삭발식. Migeum Station Head Shaving Protest (in Korean). Korea Press Agency. November 2, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Construction of Double Track Subway Line Between Gangnam and Yongsan Is Under Consideration". The Dong-a Ilbo. August 22, 2005.
  16. ^ a b "신분당선 '강남~용산' 2단계 연장 늦어져…2027년에나 개통". 26 May 2020.
  17. ^ 김, 경호 (28 December 2015). "KDI 신분당선(광교~호매실) 타당성 분석 내년 1월 재개". Newsis (in Korean).
  18. ^ Mot, Stephane (29 January 2010). "Yongsan-Gangnam-Bundang subway completed in 2017". Seoul Village. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  19. ^ Lee, Ji-yoon (March 30, 2012). "Candidates Running In Key Districts of Seoul, Busan". Arirang. Archived from the original (website) on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  20. ^ Lee, Ji-yoon (March 29, 2012). "Official Campaigning Begins & Candidates". Arirang. Archived from the original (website) on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  21. ^ DX Line 초첨단시스템의 운영 - 네오트핸싀주마 미래의 철도를 선도합니다 (in Korean). DX LINE. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  22. ^ "THALES awarded CBTC signalling contract for SIN BUNDANG metro line in KOREA" (Press release). Thales. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  23. ^ "대중교통 커뮤니티 - SBM (철도, 버스 이용자들의 공간) : 네이버 카페". cafe.naver.com (in Korean).
  24. ^ 이, 군호 (11 February 2016). 광교 개통 신분당선, 서울 도심구간 개통시기·확정 노선은? (in Korean). News1.
  25. ^ 김, 종식 (23 February 2016). 정미경 의원, 광교~호매실 복선전철사업 투트랙 전략 - 국제뉴스 (in Korean). Gukje News.
  26. ^ 동식, 김 (4 February 2016). 김용남 "신분당선 광교~호매실, 추진 가능성 높아져". Newsis (in Korean).
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