Gimpo Goldline
| Gimpo Urban Railway (Gimpo Goldline) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | 김포골드라인 Gimpo Goldline | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Operational | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Gimpo City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Light metro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | GIMPO Goldline Co., Ltd. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depot(s) | Gimpo Hangang Train Depot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | 23 × 2-car Hyundai Rotem 1000 series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 28 September 2019[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track length | 23.67 km (14.71 mi)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 750 V DC third rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Gimpo Goldline (Korean: 김포골드라인 or Korean: 김포 도시철도; Hanja: 金浦都市鐵道) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019.[1]
Background
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 with ₩1.2 trillion from Korea Land and Housing Corporation. The funds came from the wide-area transportation contributions paid to the company by residents of the Hangang New Town. Two-car vehicle 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.[3]
Operation
From the outset, Gimpo Goldline trains have operated with two cars each.[4][5] 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'.[6] In August 2024, the Gimpo Goldline's operator increased train frequencies from 24 to 26 trains per hour; however, the line remains overcrowded, with many trains operating at more than 200% of capacity.[5]
In 2023, there was a proposal to transfer operation of the Gimpo Goldline to a new Gimpo Urban Railway Corporation or to the government of Gimpo City.[7][8]
Stations
| Station Number |
Station Name English |
Station Name Hangul |
Station Name Hanja |
Transfer | Distance in km |
Total Distance |
Location | |
| G100 | Yangchon (Dawon City) |
양촌 (다원시티) |
陽村 | --- | 0.0 | Gyeonggi-do | Gimpo-si | |
| G101 | Gurae | 구래 | 九來 | 1.37 | 1.37 | |||
| G102 | Masan | 마산 | 麻山 | 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 | 傑浦北邊 | 3.39 | 10.61 | |||
| G106 | Sau (Gimpo City Hall) |
사우 (김포시청) |
沙隅 | 1.87 | 12.48 | |||
| G107 | Pungmu | 풍무 | 豊舞 | 1.38 | 13.86 | |||
| G108 | Gochon | 고촌 | 高村 | 3.69 | 17.55 | |||
| G109 | Gimpo Int'l Airport | 김포공항 | 金浦空港 | 5.92 | 23.47 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu | |
References
- ^ a b "Seoul Gimpo Gold Line automated light metro opens". International Railway Journal. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
- ^ "김포도시철도 전구간 (23.67Km)시운전 '이상무" (in Korean). Gimpo Daily. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "[사설] 10년 논란 김포 '지하 경전철', 차질없이 추진돼야". Kyeonggi Ilbo (in Korean). 28 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ News), 경기일보(Kyeonggi Daily. "김포골드라인 '지옥철' 탈출하나…9월까지 10량 추가 투입". 경기일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ a b Yoon, Min-sik (10 September 2024). "Seoul-Gimpo commuter line still jam-packed, despite expanded operation". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- ^ 정세희 (30 October 2024). "'지옥철' 김포골드라인 열차 출근 시간대 비상 제동…호흡 곤란 승객도". 아주경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Kim, Tae-hee (14 April 2023). "'과밀화 안전사고 우려' 김포골드라인 직영화 전환 검토" [Gimpo Gold Line considering conversion to direct operation amid concerns over overcrowding and safety hazards.]. 경향신문 (in Korean). Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- ^ "'과밀화 안전사고 우려' 김포골드라인 직영화 전환 검토 : 네이트 뉴스" [Gimpo Gold Line considering conversion to direct operation amid concerns over overcrowding and safety hazards.]. 네이트 뉴스 (in Korean). 14 April 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
External links
- GIMPO Goldline Co., Ltd. Website (in Korean)