The Samseong Station extension has been delayed and usage is low
Concerns over tens of billions of billions in compensation for operating companies each year
Government: “It is not a level to ignore worthy contributions.”
It has been confirmed that the government is considering awarding meritorious service awards to the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit (GTX)-A line, with the number of passengers using the Suseo-Dongtan section falling below 40% of expectations even a month after its open up . It is noted that this is premature as the government has to pay tens of billions of earnings per year to GTX operators for operating losses caused by delays in opening each section.
According to government ministries and agencies on the 9th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recently completed public verification of applicants for government awards for meritorious work in opening the GTX-A. On March 11, before GTX-A was even opened, a candidate competition was held and 37 people were recommended. Personnel from public companies such as the National Railroad Corporation, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and SR, as well as practitioners from private companies such as Hyundai Rotem and SG Rail were also included. They are due to receive the Industrial Medal (1 person), Industrial Service Medal (3 people), Presidential Citation (7 people), and Prime Minister’s Citation (14 people) by the end of June.
However, it is noted that it is inappropriate to consider a nominal award for ‘meritorious service’ at a time when GTX-A usage performance is far below expectations and losses are inevitable. The number of GTX-A Suseo-Dongtan users was calculated at 263,665 from March 30th, the opening date, to the 29th of last month. This is 42.9% of the total demand of 615,128 that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport predicted before opening. The average number of daily passengers during the week is 7,750, which is 36.0% of the forecast of 21,523.
The biggest cause is the delay in opening Samseong Station. GTX-A was designed as a route connecting Paju Unjeong to Hwaseong Dongtan. However, the opening of Samseong Station, a key stop, has been pushed back to 2028. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has signed an agreement with SG Rail, the project’s developer, to cover operating losses if the whole section was opened, and it is estimated that compensation of about 50 billion won annually will be inevitable. Poor accessibility to stations and long times between trains are also cited as reasons for deterring users.
An official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said, “Fewer users than expected is a common phenomenon when a railway is opened, and it is right to evaluate the entire GTX after opening each section.” , “It is not a situation to ignore the efforts of those who worked hard for the opening.”
Reporter Ok Seong-gu, Sejong
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