Gyeongwon Line train intervals to be shortened with new shuttle service

Starting in 2027, shuttle trains will operate on the Gyeongwon Line, also known as Subway Line 1, serving the section between Yangju, Dongducheon, and Yeoncheon. This measure is intended to alleviate the inconvenience of long train intervals, which can extend to an average of 42 minutes at the northernmost terminal, Yeoncheon Station.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government, the Korea National Railway, the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), and the cities of Yangju, Dongducheon, and Yeoncheon signed a memorandum of understanding on May 26 to implement the shuttle train service. Currently, train frequency significantly decreases north of Yangju Station. On weekdays, the average interval at Yangju Station is about 8 minutes, but it stretches to 14 minutes at Deokgye and Deokjeong stations, and reaches 42 minutes at Yeoncheon Station.

Under the agreement, KORAIL will utilize existing 6-car electric trains to operate shuttle services on two segments: the 17.8 km stretch between Yangju Station and Dongducheon Station, and the 20.2 km section from Dongducheon Station to Yeoncheon Station. The Yangju-Dongducheon route will see 20 round trips daily, while the Dongducheon-Yeoncheon route will have 8 round trips per day. These shuttle trains will be strategically deployed during peak hours to minimize passenger waiting times.

This shuttle train initiative is largely seen as an alternative to the direct train service increase that residents have been demanding. Commuters have long pointed out the drastic reduction in train frequency beyond Yangju Station, calling for more direct trains to Dongducheon and Yeoncheon. However, recognizing the difficulty of increasing direct services in the short term, the three local governments have opted to first introduce shuttle trains to address the significant gaps in service frequency on the northern section of the line. Gyeonggi Province will oversee inter-agency coordination and administrative support, while the cities will share the operational costs. An allocation of 5.1 billion won for facility improvements has been included in the 2026 government budget.