AREX
Encyclopedia
AREX, spelled A'REX as a brand name, is a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

n railway line that links Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

 with Gimpo Airport and Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, the primary airport serving the Seoul national capital area, and one of the largest and busiest airports in the world...

. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, the extension to Seoul Station
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:...

 opened December 29, 2010. The line was built and operated by a private company, but after financial difficulties, South Korean national rail operator Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...

 bought a majority stake (88.8%) and the operating company was renamed Korail Airport Railroad Co., Ltd..

Phase 1

The line was initially announced in July 1998 as the Incheon International Airport Railroad (인천국제공항철도), abbreviated IREX. The project was launched as South Korea's first build-operate-transfer
Build-Operate-Transfer
Build-own-operate-transfer or build-operate-transfer is a form of project financing, wherein a private entity receives a concession from the private or public sector to finance, design, construct, and operate a facility stated in the concession contract...

 (BOT) franchise. The concession was won by a consortium of 11 Korean companies, which incorporated as the Incheon International Airport Railroad Company (Iiarco) in March 2001. The original main shareholders were Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...

 (27%), POSCO
POSCO
POSCO is a multinational steel-making company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea. It is the world's third-largest steelmaker by market value and the most profitable Asia-based steelmaker....

 (11.9%), Daelim
Daelim
Daelim Industrial was established in 1939, and its E&C and Petrochemical Groups are the main lead of the Daelim Business Conglomerate.Since 1970, Daelim has completed numerous projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia...

 (10%), Dongbu
Dongbu Group
Dongbu Group is a large South Korean chaebol , producing industry, chemical, shipping, insurance and financial products. It was established in 1969.-Subsidiaries:*Dongbu Steel*Dongbu Electronics*Dongbu Hannong Chemical...

 (10%) and the Korean National Railroad (9.9%).

After significant delays, construction of the line started in 2001, after the opening of Incheon Airport. About 60% of the line is underground, and reaches Yeongjong Island
Yeongjong Island
Yeongjong Island is an island off the west coast of the city of Incheon, South Korea. The previously separate Yongyu, Sammok, and Sinbul Islands have been joined to Yeongjong Island by an area of reclaimed land built for the construction of Incheon International Airport...

, which hosts Incheon International Airport, on the lower deck of Yeongjong Bridge, a combined road-rail bridge. Iiarco contracted project management, the supply of equipment and trains, altogether worth about
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...

400 million, to Incheon Korean French Consortium (IKFC), a consortium including French company Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...

, its South Korean subsidiary Eukorail, and the South Korean rolling stock manufacturing company Rotem, which also supplied the technology for the KTX
Korea Train Express
Korea Train eXpress is South Korea's high-speed rail system, operated by Korail. Construction began on the first section of the high-speed line from Seoul to Busan in 1992. The project was later split into two phases and combined with conventional line upgrades, adding a second route from Seoul to...

 high-speed rail system.

The line and the operating company was renamed AREX in June 2006. The first 37.6 km (23.4 mi) segment from Incheon International Airport Station
Incheon International Airport Station
Incheon International Airport Station is a railway station on AREX. It is in Incheon International Airport....

 to Gimpo International Airport Station opened on March 23, 2007.

In March 2009, Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...

 acquired a 88.8% share of the company. Upon the acquisition, the operating company changed its name to Korail Airport Railroad as of November 30, 2009.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of the line is from Gimpo International Airport Station to Seoul Station
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:...

, which increased the length to 58 km (36 mi). Including a depot section, the full length of the line is 61.7 km (38.3 mi). At Gimpo Airport the line is underground and heads north-east and rises to the surface to cross the Han River
Han River (Korea)
The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...

 on a new bridge. The line descends into a tunnel and curves to the east. The line was built in a cut and cover tunnel running parallel to Susaek Station
Susaek-dong
Susaek-dong is a dong, neighbourhood of Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul, South Korea.-External links:* at the Eunpyeong-gu official website...

 and Gajwa Station
Gajwa Station
Gajwa Station is a station on the Gyeongui Line in Seoul, South Korea....

 before connecting with Hongik University
Hongik University
Hongik University, usually known as "Hongdae" for short, is a private university in the Mapo-gu district of central Seoul, South Korea with a second campus in Jochiwon, Chungcheongnam-do. Hongik University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs...

 and Gongdeok-dong
Gongdeok-dong
Gongdeok-dong is a legal dong, neighbourhood of the Mapo-gu district in Seoul, South Korea and is governed by its administrative dong, Cheonyeon-dong's office.- Attractions :* Human Resources Development Service of Korea...

 before emerging aboveground on the west side of Seoul Station
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:...

. The second phase opened for regular service on December 29, 2010, with the exception of Gongdeok Station, which was planned to open around early 2011 but has been pushed back to December 2011.

Further extensions and improvements

The city of Incheon has requested that AREX add three new stations, tentatively named Cheongna, Yeongjong and Yongyu. The stations were originally planned to open with the second phase of the line, but were delayed due to delays in the real estate development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...

 projects the stations are to serve. Cheongna station, located on the mainland near the coast west of Gyeyang, is planned to open in 2012. Yeongjong station, located near the eastern part of the airport island, and Yongyu station, located at the current temporary base west of the airport, near the western beach of the island, are scheduled to be opened in 2014.

Earlier plans to link Yongsan Station
Yongsan Station
Yongsan Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. It is located in Yongsan Gu, and adjoins the Yongsan Electronics Market. The station is the terminus for high-speed and long-distance trains on a number of railway lines, including most trains on the Honam Line, its high-speed...

 have been dropped. For through KTX and Seoul Subway Line 9
Seoul Subway Line 9
Seoul Subway Line 9 is a subway line in Seoul. Originally scheduled to open on June 12, 2009, the line actually opened on July 24, 2009 to ensure that the line was fully ready to begin service. Line 9 was constructed like a standard double track subway except that there are bypass tracks at some...

 services from 2012, the AREX line is to be commissioned for 180 km/h (112 mph). On September 1, 2010, the South Korean government announced a strategic plan to reduce travel times from Seoul to 95% of the country to under 2 hours by 2020. As part of the plan, the AREX line is to be further upgraded for 230 km/h (143 mph).

Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, the primary airport serving the Seoul national capital area, and one of the largest and busiest airports in the world...

 has a plan to build a second passenger terminal located in north area of the airport by 2020. The AREX line would be extend to the second passenger terminal.

Rolling stock

AREX operates two types of trains, one for commuter and one for express services, both supplied by Hyundai Rotem. Three 1000 series express trains and nine 2000 series commuter trains were delivered for phase 1 of the project, and original plans foresaw a doubling of their numbers for the second phase.

Both trains are six-car electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...

s, which can be expanded to eight cars in the future. End cars and the fourth car are trailers, the second, third and fifth car are powered. The trains have a design speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), but are operated at a maximum 110 km/h (68 mph) on surface tracks and a maximum 100 km/h (62 mph) in tunnels. Each car has a length of 19.95 m (65.5 ft) and a width of 3.12 m (10.2 ft), with a carbody made of aluminum. The commuter version has four pairs of sliding doors on each side of each car, the express version has two pairs of sliding doors on each side of each car.

Express trains have 272 comfortable seats with armrests in 2+2 configuration, overhead luggage shelves and additional luggage racks. Passenger compartments are separated from door areas and from transitions between cars by transparent sliding doors. Commuter trains are similar to subway trains with seats along the walls and do not have overhead shelves, offering seating for 282 passengers and standing room for 630 passengers. There are no separating doors, transitions between cars are open. Both train types offer disabled seats and are equipped with LCD screens for passenger information, including flight arrivals and departures.

Services

Both express and commuter services are operated. With the opening of the first phase, journeys from Incheon International Airport to Gimpo International Airport took 28 on express services and 33 minutes on commuter services. Following the opening of the second phase, Seoul–Incheon International Airport travel time on half-hourly express services is 43 minutes; while commuter services, which run at a frequency of up to one train every 6 minutes, take 53 minutes. This competes against a theoretical travel time of 70 minutes on buses, 60 minutes on taxis, and 60 minutes with private car. It should be noted, however, that in practice travel by bus or car is faster than using the train. Airline passengers can check in at a western annex of Seoul Station.

The AREX line is shown in blue on Seoul subway maps, but was originally not considered part of the subway network. With the majority buyout by a company that operates many subway lines (Korail
Korail
Korea Railroad Corporation , promoted as Korail , is the national railroad operator in South Korea.Korail operates passenger and freight trains throughout South Korea...

), however, this has changed. There are now free transfers for Line 5
Seoul Subway Line 5
Seoul Subway Line 5 of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, dubbed the purple line, is a long line crossing from the west to the east across the Seoul National Capital Area, South Korea...

, Line 9
Seoul Subway Line 9
Seoul Subway Line 9 is a subway line in Seoul. Originally scheduled to open on June 12, 2009, the line actually opened on July 24, 2009 to ensure that the line was fully ready to begin service. Line 9 was constructed like a standard double track subway except that there are bypass tracks at some...

, and Incheon Subway Line 1
Incheon Subway Line 1
Incheon Subway Line 1 is a subway line, part of Incheon Subway.Trial runs on Line 1 started in March 1999. After six years of construction it opened for regular service on 6 October 1999 as the fourth subway system in South Korea after Seoul, Busan and Daegu...

.

From 2011, the AREX line is to be used by Seoul Subway Line 9
Seoul Subway Line 9
Seoul Subway Line 9 is a subway line in Seoul. Originally scheduled to open on June 12, 2009, the line actually opened on July 24, 2009 to ensure that the line was fully ready to begin service. Line 9 was constructed like a standard double track subway except that there are bypass tracks at some...

 trains via a direct connection at Gimpo Airport Station, providing a through service from Incheon International Airport to the Gangnam
Gangnam
Gangnam or Kangnam is a Sino-Korean place name meaning "south of the river". It may refer to:*Gangnam-gu, local government district south of the Han River in Seoul, South Korea*Kangnam-gun, county of North Hwanghae, North Korea...

 area, with a travel time of about one hour.

KTX

With the completion of the second phase in 2010, AREX is anticipated to see increase in passengers by facilitating KTX–international flight connections at Seoul Station. From 2012, Korail plans to run some through KTX services to Incheon International Airport, using the AREX line from Digital Media City
Digital Media City Station
Digital Media City Station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 6, AREX and Gyeongui Line....

. The planned travel time is 2 hours 41 minutes to Busan
Busan Station
- External links :* * *...

 and 3 hours to Gwangju
Gwangju Station
Gwangju Station is on South Korea's high-speed KTX railway network, 353 km south of Yongsan Station.-History:The station opened on July 1, 1922 and the station building was moved to its present location on July 25, 1969...

.

Fares

After the opening of the first phase, in 2007, a ticket for a ride from Gimpo International Airport to Incheon International Airport cost
South Korean won
The won is the currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and appears only in foreign exchange rates...

3,100, both on commuter and express services. This fare increased in steps to ₩3,500 by the end of 2010, then was reduced to ₩3,300 for commuter trains when the second phase opened. The fare for express services, which travel the full Seoul–Incheon International Airport distance non-stop from the opening of the second phase in December 2010, was set at ₩13,300; while the fare for commuter services on the full distance was set at ₩3,700. This competes against a price of around ₩10,000 on buses, ₩67,500 on taxis, and about ₩15,500 with private car.

Ridership

After the opening of the first phase, ridership has been far below expectations. Actual ridership in 2008 was around 16,000 passengers/day, or only around 7% of the forecast 230,000, necessitating subsidies of ₩166 billion. Hyundai had originally forecast ridership of up to 490,000/day when the link to Seoul Station is completed.

Ridership was expected to rise significantly after the start of service on the second phase of the line to Seoul Station. Already in the first week, average daily ridership more than doubled, from 27,210 to 58,000. Ridership is expected to rise to 70,000 in February 2011 with the start of the semester at Hongik University. A further ridership increase is expected later in 2011 with the start of direct trains from Seoul Subway Line 9.

Stations

Station Stopping pattern Connecting services Distance Location
# Name
(Hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...

, Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...

)
Commuter
일반
Express
직통
Station
(km)
Line
(km)
A01 Seoul
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:...


(서울)
O O KTX
Korea Train Express
Korea Train eXpress is South Korea's high-speed rail system, operated by Korail. Construction began on the first section of the high-speed line from Seoul to Busan in 1992. The project was later split into two phases and combined with conventional line upgrades, adding a second route from Seoul to...

- 0.0 Yongsan-gu
Yongsan-gu
Yongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill", derived from the hanja characters for dragon and hill/mountain . It sits to the North of the Han River under the shadow of Seoul Tower. Geographically, it is located right in the center of Seoul. It is home to roughly...

Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

A02 Gongdeok
Gongdeok Station
Gongdeok Station is a subway station on the Seoul Subway Line 5 and Line 6 with a connection to AREX that will open the end of 2011. In 2012 trains on the Gyeongui Line will also stop here, potentially creating a massive public transportation hub....

 (December 2011)
(공덕, 孔德)
(2012)
A03 Hongik University
Hongik University Station
Hongik University Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 2. As its name indicates, it serves the nearby Hongik University. The Hongdae area around the station and the university is famous for being the nightclub and entertainment mecca of northwestern Seoul...


(홍대입구, 弘大入口)
O (2012) 6.1 6.1 Mapo-gu
Mapo-gu
Mapo-gu is a gu, or district, within Seoul, South Korea. It lies northwest of the Han River. Several universities and government buildings are located here. Mapo is especially well-known for the Hongdae club district around Hongik University. Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1, Line 5, and Line 6...

A04 Digital Media City
Digital Media City Station
Digital Media City Station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 6, AREX and Gyeongui Line....


(디지털미디어시티)
O 3.4 9.5 Eunpyeong-gu
Eunpyeong-gu
Eunpyeong-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea.The mayor of this district is Jaedong NOH since July 2006.-Administrative divisions:*Bulgwang-dong *Daejo-dong *Eungam-dong...

A05 Gimpo International Airport
(김포공항, 金浦空港)
O 10.9 20.4 Gangseo-gu
Gangseo-gu, Seoul
Gangseo-gu is one of the 25 wards of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the south side of the Han River. Gimpo Airport is in Gonghang-dong, where many flights fly to cities like Busan, Jeju, and Gwangju....

A06 Gyeyang
Gyeyang Station
Gyeyang Station is the northern terminus of Line 1 of the Incheon Subway. It is also a train station on the AREX, a railway linking Gimpo Airport and Incheon International Airport....


(계양, 桂陽)
O 6.6 27.0 Gyeyang-gu Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...

A07 Geomam
Geomam Station
Geomam Station is a railway station on AREX. It will become a transfer station with Incheon Subway Line 2 in 2014....


(검암, 黔岩)
O Incheon Subway Line 2
Incheon Subway Line 2
The future 29.3 km Incheon Subway Line 2 is planned to have 27 stations from Oryu dong in Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park.Line 2 has been under construction since June 26, 2009 and will be open in August 2014...

 (August 2014)
5.5 32.5 Seo-gu
Seo-gu, Incheon
Seo-gu is the largest ward in Incheon, South Korea. Its area is 111.2 km², and it also has the largest area of farmland of Incheon's wards....

Cheongna (planned)
(청라, 靑羅)
Yeongjong (planned)
(영종, 永宗)
Jung-gu
Jung-gu, Incheon
Jung-gu is a ward of Incheon, South Korea. It contains Yeongjong Island and Yongyu Island.Inha University Hospital is located in Shinheung-dong.-Administrative Divisions of Incheon Jung-gu:...

A08 Unseo
Unseo Station
Unseo Station is a railway station on AREX....


(운서, 雲西)
O 18.6 51.1
A09 Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal
Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal Station
Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal Station is a railway station on AREX....


(공항화물청사, 空港貨物廳舍)
O 4.3 55.4
A10 Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport Station
Incheon International Airport Station is a railway station on AREX. It is in Incheon International Airport....


(인천국제공항, 仁川國際空港)
O O KTX (2012) 2.6 58.0
Yongyu (planned)
(용유, 龍游)
3.7 61.7


External links

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