Korail to turn Gwangmyeong station into transport hub

By Lee Hyo-sik

Korail plans to nurture the Gwangmyeong KTX station, southwest of Seoul, as a transport hub by making it more convenient for travelers heading to and from Incheon International Airport and other key destinations.

The state-run railway operator said Thursday that it will run shuttle buses between Gwangmyeong Station and Sadang subway station in southwestern Seoul, making it easier for Seoulites to take KTX bullet trains there.

Beginning in December, the buses will run every 10 minutes during rush hour, according to Korail officials. It is expected to take about 20 minutes to get to Gwangmyeong Station from Sadang, and vice versa.

Korail also plans to operate more shuttle trains connecting Gwangmyeong with Yeongdeungpo Station, and build a parking tower nearby capable of accommodating 3,000 cars.

The envisioned facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017. When completed, the station will be able to accommodate a total of 5,400 vehicles at once, the largest among domestic train stations.

The company has been talking with the Korea Customs Service and other government agencies to set up a city airport terminal at Gwangmyeong. Currently, Seoul Station in downtown Seoul operates an airport terminal where travelers can undergo airline check-in and preliminary immigration processes before taking a train to Incheon or Gimpo airports.

Korail has also been pushing to run an airport limousine bus for those heading to Incheon from Gwangmyeong station.

“Once we operate a direct shuttle bus between Gwangmyeong and Sadang, and have a large parking tower, this will certainly change how residents in southwestern Seoul and the surrounding areas will use KTX trains,” Korail CEO Hong Soon-man said. “We will spare no effort until we turn Gwangmyeong station into a transport hub, southwest of Seoul. We will continue to work hard to achieve this goal in close cooperation with municipal administrations and related government bodies.”