Seoul Subway Line 9

Seoul Subway Line 9, operated by Seoul Metro Line9 Corporation, is a subway line in Seoul. The line runs east from Gaehwa Station (local train terminal) or Gimpo Airport Station (express train terminal, connecting to Line 5 and Airport Railroad) along the south bank of the Han River towards VHS Medical Center in Gangnam.

Line 9
Overview
Native name9호선（九號線）
Gu Hoseon
TypeRapid transit
SystemSeoul Metropolitan Subway
StatusOperational
TerminiGaehwa
VHS Medical Center
Stations38
Operation
OpenedJuly 24, 2009
OwnerSeoul Metro Line 9 Corporation & Seoulmetro 9 Corp.
Operator(s)Seoul Line9 Operation
(80% Hyundai Rotem, 20% RATP Dev Transdev Asia)
Technical
Line length40.6 km (25.2 mi)
Number of tracks2 (4 at express service stations)
Route map

 901 Gaehwa
Gimpo Depot
AREX
to Incheon Int'I Airport T2
link with AREX (Not in Service)
DC/AC changeover
 902 Gimpo Int'I Airport  Goldline 
 903 Airport Market
 904 Sinbanghwa
 905 Magongnaru
906 Yangcheon Hyanggyo
 907 Gayang
 908 Jeungmi
 909 Deungchon
 910 Yeomchang
 911 Sinmokdong
 912 Seonyudo
 913 Dangsan
914 National Assembly
 915 Yeouido
916 Saetgang
 917 Noryangjin
918 Nodeul
 919 Heukseok
 920 Dongjak
921 Gubanpo
 922 Sinbanpo
 923 Express Bus Terminal
924 Sapyeong
 925 Sinnonhyeon
 926 Eonju
 927 Seonjeonneung  Bundang 
 928 Samseongjungang
 929 Bongeunsa
 930 Sports Complex
931 Samjeon
 932 Seokchon Gobun
 933 Seokchon
934 Songpanaru
 935 Hanseong Baekje
 936 Olympic Park
937 Dunchon Oryun
 938 VHS Medical Center
Key
Express train stop
All stop trains only
Station has express bypass tracks

Line 9 was constructed as a double track subway, but several stations feature quadruple tracking enable express trains to overtake local trains. Express trains run around five times per hour in each direction. All stations are equipped with elevators, escalators, and platform screen doors.

Phase 1 (Gaewha to Sinnonhyeon) was the first privately run subway line in Korea. The franchisee of phase 1 is Seoul Metro Line 9 Corporation (SML9), who oversaw the construction of the phase 1. SML9 contracted the operation to Seoul Line9 Operation (SL9), a joint venture of Hyundai Rotem (20%) and RATP Dev Transdev Asia (80%, formerly Veolia Transport Korea).[1] Collectively, SLM9 and SL9 are known as Metro9. However, phase 2 (Sinnonhyeon to Sports Complex) and further phases are operated by Seoul Metro.

History

Line 9 was one of the lines first discussed as part of Seoul's 3rd phase of subway construction in 1991. In 1993, Seoul announced a plan for new construction of subway lines 9~12 and the extension of subway line 3. Construction of the 3rd phase was delayed by the 1995 Daegu explosions, funding issues, the 1997 financial crisis and a 1998 review of the plan that reduced the scope of the 3rd phase. In 2001, the city passed the feasibility study and execution designs for line 9 and confirmed the commencement of construction.[2]

Construction of Phase 1 between Gaehwa and Sinnonhyeon began in April 2002. Originally scheduled to open on June 12, 2009, the line opened on July 24, 2009, to ensure that the line was fully ready to begin service.[3] Line 9 opened with 24 four-car trains numbered 9-01~9–24; the express service ran every 20 minutes and the local service every 6.7 minutes.

Due to increasing ridership (numbers soon exceeded 250,000 per day), 12 additional four-car trains were ordered to alleviate capacity constraints.[4] These trains, numbered 9–25~9–36, entered service on October 15, 2011. This allowed for the express service headway to be shortened to 10 minutes and the local service headway to 5 minutes. On September 30, 2013, additional express trains were added during commuting times of 7 to 9 AM (from 22 to 36), further reducing the headway.[5]

Phase 2 extended the line from Sinnonhyeon in Gangnam to Sports Complex Station on Line 2, and was opened on March 28, 2015. Phase 3 further extended the line to VHS Medical Center Station in eastern Seoul,[6] and was opened on December 1, 2018. The following workdays saw a 6.4% increase in passengers, roughly 145,000 people, as the line now services a larger area to the east.[7]

Due to capacity issues on the express service due to increasing ridership, express trains were gradually lengthened to six cars starting on December 30, 2017.[8] Non-express trains were also expanded to six-car trains by the end of 2019. An additional three trains were expected to be delivered by the end of 2019, but have not been delivered as of January 2020.[7]

Future

The Korean government initially proposed a one-seat ride from Incheon International Airport to Gangnam via Gimpo International Airport using either Line 9 or Airport Railroad trains sharing their rights of way by the year 2023.[6] This proposal so far has not been implemented thus making it necessary to transfer trains at Gimpo International Airport.

Ticket price debate

Negotiations in 2005 between the operator and the Seoul city government resulted in an agreement of a basic fare rate set at 1,264 won upon opening of the line in 2009 with a further increase to 1,398 won by 2012 to allow for inflation. Prior to opening of the line, the operator requested a base rate of 1,300 won. The city government decided against this by citing a domestic financial crisis and potential complaints from riders if the price was set at a higher rate than the rest of the subway system. The city therefore set the initial ticket fare at 900 won, the standard fare for entrance to the rest of the Seoul subway system in 2009. The rate was locked for a period of 12 months and was later locked for three years despite multiple requests from the operator for a higher starting fare.[9]

In February 2012, the price increased to 1,050 won across all metro lines, including Line 9. Within two months, Metro9, the operator of Line 9, announced the price would further increase another 500 won starting from June 16, 2012 on only Line 9. The Seoul city government disagreed with this and threatened to fine Metro9 10 million won per day if the 500 won price increase occurred.[10][11][12] The planned rate increase was withdrawn on May 9, and Metro9 issued an apology. Seoul City will be in negotiations again with the help of legal counsel to determine the differences of opinions in the original agreement.[13] Currently, an additional scan of a metro card transfers in between Line 9 and other Seoul subway lines does not accrue additional fees.

Construction costs and deficit

The construction of Phase 1 cost 900 billion won (roughly equivalent to 827 million US dollars),[14] 480 billion of which was pooled between 12 firms with the remaining borne by Seoul city and the national government. By 2012, the line was operating at a loss with 90% of losses being covered by the city.[15] The accumulated deficit has passed 180 billion won.[10]

While Phase 2 was always planned to go ahead as scheduled, a Seoul Metropolitan Government website at one point described construction of Phase 3 as being suspended in consideration of transport demand and financial considerations.[16] On November 20, 2008, the Seoul Metropolitan government announced plans to build Phase 3 between October 2010 and December 2015.[17]

Stations

Express trains stop at stations marked "●" and pass stations marked "|".

Station
Number
 Station name
EX
Transfer
 Station
distance		 Total
distance		 Location
Romanized Hangul Hanja in km
901
 Gaehwa 개화開花 No service
0.0
0.0
Seoul
Gangseo-gu
902
 Gimpo International Airport 김포공항金浦空港
●
 Gimpo Goldline 
 Seohae  (June 2021)
3.6
3.6
903
 Airport Market 공항시장空港市場
|
0.8
4.4
904
 Sinbanghwa 신방화新傍花
|
0.8
5.2
905
 Magongnaru 마곡나루麻谷나루
●
0.9
6.1
906
 Yangcheon Hyanggyo 양천향교陽川鄕校
|
1.4
7.5
907
 Gayang 가양加陽
●
1.3
8.8
908
 Jeungmi 증미曾米
|
0.7
9.5
909
 Deungchon 등촌登村
|
1.0
10.5
910
 Yeomchang 염창鹽倉
●
0.9
11.4
911
 Sinmokdong 신목동新木洞
|
0.9
12.3
Yangcheon-gu
912
 Seonyudo 선유도仙遊島
|
1.2
13.5
Yeongdeungpo-gu
913
 Dangsan 당산堂山
●
1.0
14.5
914
 National Assembly 국회의사당國會議事堂
|
1.5
16.0
915
 Yeouido 여의도汝矣島
●
0.9
16.9
916
 Saetgang 샛강샛강
|
 Sillim Line (2022)
0.8
17.7
917
 Noryangjin 노량진鷺梁津
●
1.2
18.9
Dongjak-gu
918
 Nodeul 노들노들
|
1.1
20.0
919
 Heukseok
(Chung-Ang University)		 흑석
(중앙대입구)		黑石
(中央大入口)
|
1.1
21.1
920
 Dongjak
(Seoul National Cemetery)		 동작
(현충원)		銅雀
(顯忠院)
●
1.4
22.5
921
 Gubanpo 구반포舊盤浦
|
1.0
23.5
Seocho-gu
922
 Sinbanpo 신반포新盤浦
|
0.7
24.2
923
 Express Bus Terminal 고속터미널高速터미널
●
0.8
25.0
924
 Sapyeong 사평砂平
|
1.1
26.1
925
 Sinnonhyeon
(Le Meriden Hotel)		 신논현新論峴
●
  Shinbundang  (2022)
0.9
27.0
Gangnam-gu
926
 Eonju
(CHA Gangnam Medical Center)		 언주彦州
|
0.8
27.8
927
 Seonjeongneung 선정릉宣靖陵
●
  Bundang 
0.9
28.7
928
 Samseong Jungang 삼성중앙三成中央
|
0.8
29.5
929
 Bongeunsa 봉은사奉恩寺
●
0.8
30.3
930
 Sports Complex 종합운동장綜合運動場
●
1.4
31.7
Songpa-gu
931
 Samjeon 삼전 三田
|
1.4
33.1
932
 Seokchon Gobun 석촌고분 石村古墳
|
0.8
33.9
933
 Seokchon
(Hansol Hospital)		 석촌 石村
●
1.0
34.9
934
 Songpanaru 송파나루 松坡나루
|
0.8
35.7
935
 Hanseong Baekje 한성백제 漢城百濟
|
0.8
36.5
936
 Olympic Park
(Korea National Sport University)		 올림픽공원 올림픽公園
●
1.4
37.9
937
 Dunchon Oryun 둔촌오륜 遁村五輪
|
1.0
38.9
 Gangdong-gu
938
 VHS Medical Center 중앙보훈병원 報勳病院
●
1.7
40.6

See also

References
  1. "Veolia Transport to operate Line 9 of the Seoul subway system, starting July 2009". United States Securities and Exchange Commission. March 7, 2007. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  2. Kim, Dr. Seung-Jun; Ko, Dr. Joon-Ho. "Introduction of Rapid Urban Railway System – Construction of Subway Line 9" (PDF). Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  3. "Subway Line 9 to Open Friday". Korea Times. July 20, 2009. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  4. "9호선 전동차 추가 도입" (in Korean). Munhwa. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  5. 이, 광철 (11 September 2013). "'출근 지옥철' 9호선 급행열차 운행 늘려". Daum 뉴스 (in Korean).
  6. Lee, Hyun-jeong (2015-05-26). "Incheon airport subway links to be extended". Korea Herald. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  7. Lee, Suh-yoon (4 December 2018). "Line 9 extension fans overcrowding fears". The Korea Times. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  8. "9호선 '6량열차' 운행시작…하루 총 52회" (in Korean). Seoul Metropolitan Government. 29 December 2017.
  9. PARK, Jinyoung; MUN, Jinsu (2014). "Chapter 3: Issues and Improvement Efforts of Railway PPP Projects in Korea". In KIM, Gunyoung; MOORE, Richard (eds.). Korea's Railway PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Projects. KOTI Knowledge Sharing Report book series. Volume 11. South Korea: The Korea Transport Institute. pp. 52–54. ISBN 978-89-5503-658-9.
  10. Kim, Rahn (April 15, 2012). "Seoul City in feud with subway operator over fare hike". Korea Times. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  11. Bae, Ji-sook (April 16, 2012). "Seoul City, subway operator feud over fares". Korea Herald. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  12. "Fare Hike Planned for Seoul's Subway Line No 9". Arirang. April 16, 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  13. Rahn, Kim (May 9, 2012). "Subway line 9 operator drops fare hike plan". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  14. "The Currency Converter". Coinmill.com. Retrieved 2015-02-09.
  15. "[Editorial] Subway Line No. 9". The Korea Herald. April 16, 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  16. "Vision Seoul 2016". Seoul Metropolitan Government. Archived from the original on December 24, 2004. Retrieved September 10, 2005.
  17. Han, Woojin. "서울도시철도 9호선 (2, 3단계)". 미래철도 (in Korean).
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