Hyundai Engineering & Construction said on the 30th that it has formally begun the private investment project for the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Express Railway Line C and started on-site work.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction said that, with the Korea Commercial Arbitration Board deciding to increase part of the total project cost, the basis for normalizing the project has been established. Starting that day, the company began preliminary work at the GTX-C site by deploying personnel and equipment to relocate obstructions and install fences. It plans to complete financing within the year, then proceed with the main construction to put the project on a normal track.
GTX-C is a 86.46-kilometer metropolitan express railway stretching from Deokjeong Station in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, through Cheongnyangni and Samseong stations to Suwon Station. As the lead company in a project involving 16 builders, Hyundai Engineering & Construction is responsible for construction sections 1, 3, and 4 out of six sections.
Once the line opens, travel between Deokjeong and Samseong and between Suwon and Samseong will take about 20 minutes, significantly cutting commute times on major routes across the greater Seoul area. GTX features straightened tracks built in deep underground spaces at depths of 40 meters or more below ground, delivering speeds three to four times faster than conventional subways.
In particular, GTX-C is considered a technically challenging line, as it runs through the Han River and core downtown areas and is designed with 14 stations centered on transfers. Accordingly, Hyundai Engineering & Construction has, from the design stage, considered deep tunnel safety, interference with existing infrastructure, and transfer convenience.
Construction will apply various mechanical tunneling methods, including shield TBM, gripper TBM, and high-performance roadheaders. The company also plans to use its own technologies, such as HITTS, a smart safety system based on underground tunnel wireless communications, to enhance safety and construction efficiency.
A Hyundai Engineering & Construction official said, "We will work closely with the government and related agencies to open GTX-C on schedule," adding, "Based on our accumulated experience and technology in private investment railway projects, we will contribute to improving transportation in the greater Seoul area and balanced regional development."