Deeper Underground Greater Metropolitan Express Train Network Effect

긴급제언 - 대심도 광역지하급행철도 네트워크 효과

The modal split structure of the Korea's transportation system has been dominated by road-oriented structure. The shortage of the inftrastructure to accommodate the rapidly increasing travel demand has brought about socio-economic losses such as severe traffic congestion and high logistic costs, and thereby weakened the competitiveness of the country. Highway transportation sector is more vulnerable to energy consumption comparing with railway sector since the highway sector is dependent mostly on fossil fuels for its energy source. In 2006 annual road cogestion costs in Korea reached 24.6 trillion won, with an average annual growth rate of 5.4%. The annual road congestion cost of intercity highways were 9.2 trillion won. As the new cities that recently developed are located far from Seoul area, the boundary of commuting in Seoul metropolitan area is extended. It makes passengers have longer trips with longer travel time, and the congestion problem to be more serious. In this regards, Gyeonggi Provincial Government proposed a deeper underground metropolitan express train system for the greater Metropolitan area. which is named as GTX. Gyeonggi Province suggested 3 key underground lines, based on the outcome of the feasibility study conducted by the Korea Society of Transportation, and submitted to the Ministry of Land Transportation and Maritime Affairs for its review. If the project is approved for construction and completed in 2016, the daily volume of surface traffic bound for Seoul will be reduced substantially and therefore the users will be benefitted for time savings by an annual amount of 2 trilion won every year.