By Kim Hyun-bin
Local governments are protesting the transport ministry's recent decision to discontinue the Incheon International Airport KTX lines that used to connect the nation's gateway to major regional cities.
They claim the move will make it more difficult for travelers to visit other regions, saying the move will widen the disparity between the capital area and other parts of the country.
“We are worried the decision by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will bring a negative outcome on the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju as foreign tourists will have difficulties getting to the city,” an official from the Gwangju Metropolitan City Government said. “We have submitted requests to temporarily operate the KTX lines during the event, but the ministry said we have to pay the costs for the temporary operation, 50 million won per train.”
An official from the Busan Metropolitan City Government also said, “Discontinuing the lines due to lack of passengers goes against regional balance development.”
Starting June 2014, Korail has been providing 22 daily KTX roundtrips between Incheon airport and key southern cities including Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju. But on Monday, the ministry told Korail to discontinue the KTX lines starting Sept. 1, because they have not been used as passengers who usually opt for the Airport Railroad Express (AREX).
“It is cheaper and takes less time to use the AREX or airport shuttle buses than the airport KTX,” an official from the transport ministry said.
Korail states the KTX routes have been highly inefficient, as only 3,400 among 15,000 seats available daily have been booked on average, leaving 77.1 percent of the train vacant.
“We considered reducing the number of KTX trains but it was deemed unrealistic,” a Korail official said. “We will reduce the shuttle bus intervals from Gwangmyeong Station to the airport and increase the number of AREX trains instead not to cause inconvenience.”
Since February, the lines have been inactive as the bullet trains were used to accommodate passengers heading to Gangneung during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. After the winter sports extravaganza, the lines have been inactive for maintenance purposes.