Subway Line 9 to Add 8 More Trains During Rush Hour to Ease Overcrowding Starting Nov. 16

Subway Line 9 in Seoul, which has suffered from severe congestion and constant complaints for more trains, is set to increase its rush-hour train operations by 8 runs, which is expected to lower congestion levels by more than 20 percentage points.

Express buses that make stops only at major stations from outer areas of Seoul such Dobong, Gangdong, Sangam, and Gangseo to the city center will also be introduced on a trial basis.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on October 14 that it has formulated a public transport express operation plan containing these measures and will implement it starting November 16.

Under this plan, Subway Line 9 will adjust the ratio of express and regular train operations to match demand by time slot for the first time since its opening.

From 5:40 AM to 7:00 AM, train operations heading from Gaehwa Station toward Central Veterans Hospital Station will be expanded from the existing set of 1 express and 1 regular train to a set of 2 express and 1 regular train.

The start of intensive rush-hour operations will also be moved up by 50 minutes, from 6:30 AM to 5:40 AM.

Consequently, total train operations during the morning hours will increase by 8 runs.

Based on Dongjak Station, between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM, the express train dispatch interval from Gaehwa toward Central Veterans Hospital will be shortened from 6 minutes and 20 seconds to 6 minutes, while the opposite direction will be shortened from a maximum of 13 minutes to between 6 minutes and 20 seconds and 8 minutes.

The city expects the peak morning congestion rate to drop from 182.3% to 174.2% for the express section from Noryangjin to Dongjak heading toward Central Veterans Hospital, and from 192.5% to 172.1% for the section from Dongjak to Noryangjin in the opposite direction.

The city explained that this is a method to increase transport capacity by adjusting existing train operation schemes without adding new train cars.

In the bus sector, four median-lane express bus routes that stop only at major stations will be operated on a pilot basis.

The target routes include Express No. 150 from Dobong Depot to City Hall Station, Express No. 370 from Gangdong Depot to Chungjeongno Station, Express No. 470 from Sangam Depot to City Hall Station, and Express No. 605 from Gangseo Depot to Yeongdeungpo Station.

They will run along the same paths as existing routes, but after picking up passengers in outer residential areas, they will skip some intermediate stops and stop only at major downtown stations.

Each route will operate 3 times a day—once at dawn and twice during the morning rush hour—and return to regular routes after the rush hour ends.

The city expects that express buses will have 45.8% fewer stops than regular routes, reducing travel time by about 10%.

Following the pilot operation, the city plans to review whether to expand the routes based on an analysis of passenger demand and effectiveness.

Yeo Jang-kwon, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Transportation Office, stated, "We will intensively supply necessary transportation services during commuting hours to enhance the efficiency of existing public transport," adding, "We will make sure citizens can physically experience relief from congestion and reduced travel times."

(Photo provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.