The Gimpo Goldline (Korean김포골드라인 or Korean김포 도시철도; Hanja金浦都市鐵道) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019.[1]

Gimpo Urban Railway
(Gimpo Goldline)
Overview
Native name김포골드라인
Gimpo Goldline
StatusOperational
OwnerGimpo City
Termini
Stations10
Service
TypeLight metro
Operator(s)GIMPO Goldline Co., Ltd.
Depot(s)Gimpo Hangang Train Depot
Rolling stock23 × 2-car Hyundai Rotem 1000 series
History
Opened28 September 2019 (2019-09-28)[1]
Technical
Track length23.67 km (14.71 mi)[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map

Gimpo Hangang Train Depot
G100 Yangchon
G101 Gurae
G102 Masan
G103 Janggi
G104 Unyang
G105 Geolpo Bukbyeon
G106 Sau
G107 Pungmu
G108 Gochon
G109 Gimpo Int'l Airport

Background

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Under the third mayor of Gimpo City, Kim Dongsik (김동식), the line was going to be an extension of Line 5. This idea was rejected by Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (now Seoul Metro) as they wanted to build a subway yard in the town of Yangchon-eup.

Since then, the Gimpo Han River Metro project was promoted under the mayor of Kang Kyung-gu, but the plan was canceled and Seoul Subway Line 9 extended to Gimpo but failed after Yoo Young-rok, a Democrat who was at a political crossroads with Kim Dong-sik and Kang Kyung-gu's Grand National Party, was elected. The opening of the metro has been delayed several times under the current mayor, Yoo Young-rok and Chung ha-yeong, and it has been criticized by citizens.

The construction cost was 1.6503 trillion won with 1.2 trillion from Korea Land and Housing Corporation. And this funds came from the wide-area transportation contributions paid to the company by residents of the Hangang New Town. Two car vehicles operates at intervals of three minutes during peak hours with a maximum occupancy of 122 people per car. The line uses rolling stock by Hyundai Rotem. Travel time from one end to the other is an estimated 30 minutes and transfers are available at Gimpo International Airport station. In 2012, planners expected 88,257 passengers during the first year of operation (then 2018), 91,501 in 2021, and 92,561 in 2026 with an operating deficit of roughly 10 billion won.[3]

Operation

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Since its design, Gimpo Gold Line has two train compartments that can be used underground. Therefore, it operates as a single train with two compartments.[4]

As people commuting to and from Seoul rush to work and get off work, the level of congestion is enormous, showing the end of the 'hell subway'.[5]

Stations

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Station
Number
Station Name
English
Station Name
Hangul
Station Name
Hanja
Transfer Distance
in km
Total
Distance
Location
G100 Yangchon
(Dawon City)
양촌
(다원시티)
--- 0.0 Gyeonggi-do Gimpo-si
G101 Gurae 구래 1.37 1.37
G102 Masan 마산 1.17 2.54
G103 Janggi 장기 場基 2.29 5.53
G104 Unyang 운양 雲陽 1.69 7.22
G105 Geolpo Bukbyeon 걸포북변 3.39 10.61
G106 Sau
(Gimpo City Hall)
사우
(김포시청)
1.87 12.48
G107 Pungmu 풍무 1.38 13.86
G108 Gochon 고촌 高村 3.69 17.55
G109 Gimpo Int'l Airport 김포공항         5.92 23.47 Seoul Gangseo-gu

References

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  1. ^ a b "Seoul Gimpo Gold Line automated light metro opens". International Railway Journal. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  2. ^ "김포도시철도 전구간 (23.67Km)시운전 '이상무" (in Korean). Gimpo Daily. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  3. ^ "[사설] 10년 논란 김포 '지하 경전철', 차질없이 추진돼야". Kyeonggi Ilbo (in Korean). 28 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  4. ^ News), 경기일보(Kyeonggi Daily. "김포골드라인 '지옥철' 탈출하나…9월까지 10량 추가 투입". 경기일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  5. ^ 정세희 (30 October 2024). "'지옥철' 김포골드라인 열차 출근 시간대 비상 제동…호흡 곤란 승객도". 아주경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
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