The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 27th that the section between Unjeong Jungang and Seoul Station on the metropolitan express railway (GTX) A line will begin operation at 5:30 a.m. on the 28th.
The GTX-A line section from Unjeong Jungang to Seoul Station starts at Unjeong Jungang Station in Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, and passes through KINTEX Station in Ilsan-seo-gu, Goyang-si, Daegok Station in Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, and Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, before reaching Seoul Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Early next year, construction of Changneung Station, located between Daegok Station and Yeonsinnae Station, will begin with a target opening in 2030.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a opening ceremony at Unjeong Jungang Station in Dongpae-dong, Paju-si, attended by Minister Park Sang-woo, SG Rail representatives, the National Railroad Corporation, Hyundai Rotem, and around 500 residents.
Using the GTX-A line from Unjeong Jungang Station to Seoul Station takes a minimum of 21 minutes and 30 seconds. This reduces travel time by more than half compared to the existing Gyeongui-Jungang Line (46 minutes) or the metropolitan bus (66 minutes). The initial interval is 10 minutes, with 224 round trips a day, and plans to expand to 282 round trips with 6-minute intervals in the first quarter of next year. The first train departs at 5:30 a.m., and the last train departs at 12:38 a.m. the next day from both Unjeong Jungang Station and Seoul Station.
The fare consists of a basic fare of 3,200 won plus a distance fare of 250 won. Therefore, the maximum fare from Unjeong Jungang Station to Seoul Station is 4,450 won. Discounts can be applied through systems such as the K-Pass and the metropolitan area integrated transfer, and weekend discounts. For instance, if a 20% general K-Pass discount is applied, the fare is reduced to 3,560 won.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has developed a plan to expand bus routes and enhance transfer convenience to strengthen connections between each station and surrounding transportation. Unjeong Jungang Station has an integrated transfer center installed on the first basement level for quick transfers between bus and rail.
KINTEX Station and Daegok Station have adjusted or newly established 18 and 17 bus routes, respectively, to improve accessibility. Yeonsinnae Station is connected through transfer passages with Seoul Subway Lines 3 and 6, while Seoul Station offers transfers with Lines 1 and 4, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, the Airport Railroad, and KTX.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport projected the expected weekday demand for the Unjeong Jungang to Seoul Station section to be about 50,000 people. This is 2.3 times the expected weekday usage (21,523 people) for the Suseo-Dongtan section that opened early this year.
Minister Park Sang-woo noted that "the opening of the GTX-A line section from Unjeong Jungang to Seoul Station will greatly improve transportation convenience for the residents of northwestern Seoul and will provide a new turning point for the local economy and culture overall." Park added that "due to the significant effect in reducing commuting time, we ask for the public's interest and use."