Access to the Gangnam area for 2.5 million residents in the northeastern Seoul metropolitan region is expected to improve significantly. As Namyangju in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul's Gangdong District join forces to connect the metropolitan rail network, a plan to reach key destinations in Gangnam with a single transfer is expected to gain momentum.
According to Namyangju on the 23rd, Gangdong District Chief Lee Soo-hee visited Namyangju City Hall that day to hold talks with Mayor Choi Hyun-deok and discuss metropolitan rail issues. At the core is a transfer plan connecting Seoul Subway Line 9 and Line 3.
The key lies in connecting the Songpa-Hanam Line with Dunchon Ohryun Station. If the Songpa-Hanam Line, included in the wide-area transportation improvement measures for the Gyosan New Town, is linked to Dunchon Ohryun Station on Line 9, Line 9 passengers in eastern parts of the metropolitan region, including Namyangju, will be able to transfer directly to Line 3.
The transfer effect would be considerable. Through the Line 3 connection, residents will be able to more conveniently use key Gangnam destinations including Suseo Station (KTX and GTX-A), the Express Bus Terminal, Garak Market, the Seoul Arts Center, and Samsung Medical Center. Once connected to Suseo Station, where KTX and GTX-A pass through, nationwide travel will also become easier.
To this end, Namyangju requested Gangdong District's cooperation in the timely opening of the Gangdong-Hanam-Namyangju Line (Line 9 extension), which is being pursued as part of the wide-area transportation improvement measures for the Wangsuk New Town. Gangdong District also explained a plan to adjust the Songpa-Hanam Line route toward the Gangdong District direction and requested cooperation.
A proposal was also made to further enhance convenience for citizens. Currently, only local trains stop at Dunchon Ohryun Station. Namyangju conveyed the view that express trains must stop there to maximize the transfer effect.
"For a metropolitan rail network, close cooperation between local governments is more important than anything," Namyangju Mayor Choi Hyun-deok said. "We will do our best to build a wide-area transportation network that citizens can tangibly feel."
