Construction on the Great Train eXpress (GTX) C Line begins on the 15th, a project expected to cut travel times into central Seoul by more than half from both northern and southern Gyeonggi Province. The ride from Deokjeong Station in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, to Samseong Station in Seoul will shorten to about 30 minutes from roughly 80 minutes, while the trip from Suwon Station to Cheongnyangni Station will fall to about 30 minutes from about 75 minutes. Cities that will gain stations — Ansan, Uiwang, Uijeongbu and Yangju in southern and northern Gyeonggi — along with Dobong and Nowon districts in northeastern Seoul are expected to benefit.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said on the 14th that construction on the GTX C Line public-private partnership project would start on the 15th. The line runs from Deokjeong-dong in Yangju, northern Gyeonggi Province, through central Seoul stations including Cheongnyangni, Samseong and Yangjae, then splits at Geumjeong Station toward Suwon and Ansan. The total length is 86.6 kilometers.
As construction gets underway, housing markets around the stations are expected to draw attention. In Seoul, the area around Chang-dong Station in Dobong District and Gwangwoon University Station in Nowon District stand out as prime beneficiaries of improved access to the city center. The Chang-dong Station area is also drawing interest on plans for a multi-modal transfer center and the Seoul Arena development. Around Wolgye-dong in Nowon District, redevelopment of the Gwangwoon University Station area, including the Seoul One IPARK complex, is well underway. Residential and commercial development there is now being paired with a transit boost.
In southern Gyeonggi, apartment complexes near Indeogwon Station, Government Complex Gwacheon Station and Suwon Station are gaining prominence as commuting convenience improves. Residents will gain much better access not only to southern Seoul but also to the city center by transferring at Samseong Station. Prices at complexes undergoing redevelopment near the stations could swing again.
MOLIT will operate C Line promotion halls at Suwon Station from the 16th to the 18th and at Uijeongbu Station from the 20th to the 22nd. The exhibition and experience spaces will let visitors examine train designs and route information and take part in quizzes. Kiosks will allow visitors to check how much their commutes will shorten after the line opens and to customize the interior and exterior design of the trains. A four-cut photo booth and a prize wheel event will also be available.
"I am more than pleased to be able to tell the public that construction has begun on the C Line, which faced difficulties for a long time," said Kim Yong-seok, chairman of the Metropolitan Transport Commission. "Going forward, we will manage the process thoroughly to ensure quality and safety and to open the line on schedule."
