Seoul Subway Line 1 Explained

Box Width:22em
Line 1
Native Name:
Il Hoseon
Type:Rapid transit / Commuter Rail
System:Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Status:Operational
Locale:Seoul Capital Area
Start:Yeoncheon
End:Incheon / Sinchang / Gwangmyeong / Seodongtan
Stations:102
Seoul Metro: 10
Korail: 92
Routes:Local:
Yeoncheon / Soyosan / Dongducheon ↔ Incheon,
Kwangwoon U ↔ Seodongtan / Cheonan / Sinchang,
Yeongdeungpo ↔ Gwangmyeong
Express:
Cheongnyangni ↔ Cheonan / Sinchang,
Dongducheon ↔ Incheon
(AM Rush & off-peak weekdays),
Yongsan ↔ Dongincheon,
Seoul Station ↔ Cheonan/Sinchang
(weekday RH, peak direction only)
Open:August 15, 1974
Owner:Seoul Special City,
South Korean Government
Operator:Seoul Metro, Korail
Linelength:218.3km (135.6miles)
Seoul Metro: 7.8km (04.8miles)
Korail: 210.5km (130.8miles)
Linenumber:1
Electrification:1,500 V DC
(Seoul Metro section)
25 kV AC at 60 Hz
(Korail section)
Speed:110km/h
Map State:collapsed

Seoul Subway Line 1 (dubbed The Dark Blue Line) of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a rapid transit and commuter rail line which links central Seoul, South Korea to Yeoncheon in the northeast, Incheon in the southwest, and Sinchang via Suwon and Cheonan in the south. The central underground portion of Line 1, running underneath Sejongno, Jongno, and Wangsan-ro avenues along Seoul's traditional downtown area, is the oldest subway-operated section in the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system. Its branches and services cover a large part of the Seoul Capital Area; totaling in route length.

The underground section between Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni station, which is referred to as Seoul Metro Line 1 (7.8km (04.8miles)) after its operator, is currently operated by Seoul Metro, and is electrified at the subway standard of 1.5 kV DC.[1] [2] The line first opened in 1974 as the Korean National Railroad of Seoul with through services to newly-electrified (at the mainline KNR standard of 25 kV AC 60 Hz) national mainline railways from Seongbuk station (now: Kwangwoon University station) to Incheon and Suwon Stations.[3] This was the first electrified rapid transit line and service in South Korea and the second in the Korean Peninsula after the Pyongyang Metro in North Korea opened the year before.

Frequent service is provided between Soyosan, Dongducheon, Uijeongbu, Cheongnyangni, Seoul, Yongsan, and Guro, where trains split between Incheon in the west and Byeongjeom and Cheonan in the south. Express trains operate from Yongsan and Seoul stations to Dongincheon and Sinchang stations. Trains run every 3-6 min in the central route between Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni, every 6-9 min between Seoul and Guro, every 8-10 min between Guro and Incheon and between Guro and Byeongjeom, every 10-15 min from Byeongjeom to Cheonan, and every 35 min between Cheonan and Sinchang and service up to the Dongducheon area and Soyosan station.

Service to Yeoncheon is approximately once per hour, limited due to the single track section approaching Soyosan station. This service is meant to be the replacement for the Gyeongwon line commuter trains, which began at Dongducheon station prior to its closure.

Trains travel along Gyeongbu (Seoul-Cheonan), Gyeongin (Guro-Incheon), Janghang (Cheonan-Sinchang), and Gyeongwon (Hoegi-Yeoncheon) railway lines. The line runs on the left-hand side of the track, as opposed to the right-hand side of the track like all other Seoul Metropolitan Subway lines (another exception to this is Seoul Subway Line 4 although it runs on the right-hand side until Namtaeryeong station, and operates on the left-hand side for the parts afterwards)[4] since railways in Korea generally run on the left side.

Rapid (Express) trains

Korail operates a variety of express "rapid" (Korean: 급행 geup-haeng, Hanja: 急行) trains for long distance commuter services on Line 1. These services include:

Green Gyeongbu line express service from Seoul Station to Cheonan or Sinchang, originating at a platform adjacent to Seoul Station, skipping all stations between Seoul Station and Geumcheon-gu Office Station, making intermediate stops at Anyang, Gunpo, Uiwang, and Sungkyunkwan University, and then following the red Gyeongbu line express service pattern south of Suwon. Northbound services (departing from Cheonan/Sinchang and terminating at Seoul Station) stop at Yeongdeungpo station, but southbound services are unable to due to the lack of a raised platform. This service was introduced on September 25, 1982.[5]

Former express services include:

Electrification

Seoul Subway Line 1 is powered by 1500 V direct current on the underground tunnel segment between Cheongnyangni station and Seoul Station, and by 25000 V alternating current (60 Hertz frequency) on the rest of the line. Because of this different manner of offering electric current, there are neutral sections between Cheongnyangni station and Hoegi station, as well as between Seoul Station and Namyeong station. All Line 1 rolling stock are similarly required to be multi-system compatible with both electrification systems.

Stations

Until 2000, the 7.8km (04.8miles) underground city-center portion run by Seoul Metro Corporation—one of Seoul Metro's predecessors—was the only section properly referred to as Line 1 and labeled red on maps. On the other hand, the remaining sections of the rail line run by Korail were referred to as Korean National Railroad of Seoul and the local all-stop services labeled either blue or gray on maps, while the express services were labelled thin red. Since 2000, all adjacent through-running Korail services from the Gyeongbu, Gyeongin and Gyeongwon Lines, as well as later Korail-operated extensions and branches, are officially bundled together with the aforementioned underground portion as part of a greater Line 1, and the labeling on maps was changed and standardized to the current dark blue color (as illustrated in the map below); also to avoid confusion with Line 4's light blue color. (A slightly different shade of red is now used to label the Shinbundang Line which opened in 2011.)

Main Lines

Local lines:

Express lines:

GW: Gyeongwon Express (Dongducheon - Incheon) GI: Gyeongin Express (Yongsan – Dongincheon) GI LE: Gyeongin Limited Express (Yongsan – Dongincheon) GB A: Gyeongbu Express (Cheongnyangni – Cheonan or Sinchang) GB B: Gyeongbu Express (Seoul – Cheonan or Sinchang)※ Only Korail trains are used for express trains.
Key:
Stops at the station
Does not stop at the station
Limited service
Station
Number
Station Name
Station Name
Station Name
GWGIGI LEGB AGB BTransferLine NameDistance
Total
Distance
Location
100SoyosanKorean: [[:ko:소요산역|소요산]]No serviceNo serviceNo serviceGyeongwon Line---0.0Gyeonggi-doDongducheon-si
101DongducheonKorean: [[:ko:동두천역|동두천]]2.52.5
102BosanKorean: [[:ko:보산역|보산]]1.64.1
103Dongducheon JungangKorean: [[:ko:동두천중앙역|동두천중앙]] 1.45.5
104JihaengKorean: [[:ko:지행역|지행]]1.06.5
105Deokjeong
(Seojeong Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:덕정역|덕정]] <br /><small>([[:ko:덕정역|서정대학교]])</small>5.612.1Yangju-si
106DeokgyeKorean: [[:ko:덕계역|덕계]] 2.915.0
107Yangju
(Kyungdong Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:양주역|양주]] <br /><small>([[:ko:양주역|경동대]])</small>5.320.3
108NogyangKorean: [[:ko:녹양역|녹양]] 1.621.9Uijeongbu-si
109Ganeung
(Eulji Univ. Medical Center)
Korean: [[:ko:가능역|가능]] <br /><small>([[:ko:가능역|을지대병원]])</small>1.323.2
110UijeongbuKorean: [[:ko:의정부역|의정부]]1.224.4
111HoeryongKorean: [[:ko:회룡역|회룡]]1.626.0
112Mangwolsa
(Shinhan Univ. Campus Number 1)
Korean: [[:ko:망월사역|망월사]] <br /><small>([[:ko:망월사역|신한대 제1캠퍼스]])</small>1.427.4
113DobongsanKorean: [[:ko:도봉산역|도봉산]]2.329.7SeoulDobong-gu
114DobongKorean: [[:ko:도봉역|도봉]]1.230.9
115Banghak
(Dobong-gu Office)
Korean: [[:ko:방학역|방학]] <br /><small>([[:ko:방학역|도봉구청]])</small>1.332.2
116Chang-dongKorean: [[:ko:창동역|창동]]1.733.9
117NokcheonKorean: [[:ko:녹천역|녹천]]1.034.9
118Wolgye
(Induk Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:월계역|월계]] <br /><small>([[:ko:월계역|인덕대학]])</small>1.436.3Nowon-gu
119Kwangwoon Univ.Korean: [[:ko:광운대역|광운대]] 1.137.4
120SeokgyeKorean: [[:ko:석계역|석계]]Makes all stops1.138.5
121SinimunKorean: [[:ko:신이문역|신이문]]1.439.9Dongdaemun-gu
122Hankuk Univ. of Foreign StudiesKorean: [[:ko:외대앞역|외대앞]] 0.840.7
123HoegiKorean: [[:ko:회기역|회기]] 0.841.5
124Cheongnyangni
(University of Seoul)
Korean: [[:ko:청량리역|청량리]] <br /><small>([[:ko:청량리역|서울시립대입구]])</small>Makes all stops
Mugunghwa-ho, Nuriro, ITX-Saemaeul, A-Train, DMZ Train & ITX-Cheongchun services
Seoul Metro Line 11.442.9
125Jegi-dong
(Korea Association of Health Promotion)
Korean: [[:ko:제기동역|제기동]] <br /><small>([[:ko:제기동역|한국건강관리협회]])</small> 1.043.9
126Sinseol-dongKorean: [[:ko:신설동역|신설동]] (Seongsu Branch) 0.944.8
127DongmyoKorean: [[:ko:동묘앞역|동묘앞]] 0.745.5Jongno-gu
128DongdaemunKorean: [[:ko:동대문역|동대문]]0.646.1
129Jongno 5(o)-ga
(Samyang Group)
Korean: [[:ko:종로5가역|종로5가]] <br><small>([[:ko:종로5가|삼양그룹]])</small> 50.846.9
130Jongno 3(sam)-gaKorean: [[:ko:종로3가역|종로3가]] 30.947.8
131Jonggak
(Standard Chartered Bank Korea)
Korean: [[:ko:종각역|종각]] <br /><small>([[:ko:종각역|SC제일은행]])</small> 0.848.6
132City HallKorean: [[:ko:시청역 (서울)|시청]]1.049.6Jung-gu
133Seoul StationKorean: [[:ko:서울역|서울역]]서울 (Seoul Station branch)
Mugunghwa-ho, ITX-Saemaeul, S-Train & DMZ Train services
1.150.7
134NamyeongKorean: [[:ko:남영역|남영]] Gyeongbu Line1.752.4Yongsan-gu
135YongsanKorean: [[:ko:용산역|용산]]
Mugunghwa-ho, Saemaeul-ho, ITX-Saemaeul, ITX-Cheongchun & G-Train services
1.553.9
136NoryangjinKorean: [[:ko:노량진역|노량진]]2.656.5Dongjak-gu
137DaebangKorean: [[:ko:대방역|대방]] 1.558.0Yeongdeungpo-gu
138SingilKorean: [[:ko:신길역|신길]]0.858.8
139YeongdeungpoKorean: [[:ko:영등포역|영등포]] ●↑ Mugunghwa-ho, Saemaeul-ho & ITX-Saemaeul services
1.059.8
140SindorimKorean: [[:ko:신도림역|신도림]] 1.561.3Guro-gu
141GuroKorean: [[:ko:구로역|구로]] 1.162.4
142Guil
(Dongyang Mirae Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:구일역|구일]] <br /><small>([[:ko:구일역|동양미래대학]])</small>No serviceGyeongin Line1.463.8
143GaebongKorean: [[:ko:개봉역|개봉]] 1.064.8
144Oryu-dongKorean: [[:ko:오류동역|오류동]]1.366.1
145Onsu
(Sungkonghoe Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:온수역|온수]] <br /><small>([[:ko:온수역|성공회대입구]])</small>1.968.0
146Yeokgok
(The Catholic Univ. of Korea)
Korean: [[:ko:역곡역|역곡]] <br /><small>([[:ko:역곡역|가톨릭대]])</small>1.369.3Gyeonggi-doBucheon-si
147Sosa
(Seoul Theological Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:소사역|소사]] <br /><small>([[:ko:소사역|서울신대]])</small>1.570.8
148Bucheon
(Bucheon Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:부천역|부천]] <br /><small>([[:ko:부천역|부천대]])</small>1.171.9
149Jung-dongKorean: [[:ko:중동역 (부천)|중동]] 1.773.6
150SongnaeKorean: [[:ko:송내역|송내]] 1.074.6
151BugaeKorean: [[:ko:부개역|부개]] 1.275.8IncheonBupyeong-gu
152Bupyeong
(The Catholic Univ. of Korea Incheon St. Mary's Hospital)
Korean: [[:ko:부평역|부평]] <br /><small>([[:ko:부평역|가톨릭대 인천성모병원]])</small>1.577.3
153BaegunKorean: [[:ko:백운역|백운]] 1.779.0
154DongamKorean: [[:ko:동암역|동암]] 1.580.5
155GanseokKorean: [[:ko:간석역|간석]] 1.281.7Michuhol-gu
156JuanKorean: [[:ko:주안역|주안]] 1.282.9
157DohwaKorean: [[:ko:도화역|도화]]1.083.9
158Jemulpo
(Incheon Univ. Jemulpo Campus)
Korean: [[:ko:제물포역|제물포]] <br /><small>([[:ko:제물포역|인천대학교 제물포캠퍼스]])</small> 1.084.9
159DowonKorean: [[:ko:도원역|도원]] 1.486.3Jung-gu
160DongincheonKorean: [[:ko:동인천역|동인천]]1.287.5
161IncheonKorean: [[:ko:인천역|인천]]No service1.989.4
↑ Joins other services at Guro Station ↑
141GuroKorean: [[:ko:구로역|구로]] Gyeongbu Line---62.4SeoulGuro-gu
P142Gasan Digital Complex
(Mario Outlet)
Korean: [[:ko:가산디지털단지역|가산디지털단지]] <br /><small>([[:ko:가산디지털단지역|마리오아울렛]])</small>디지털No service2.464.8Geumcheon-gu
P143DoksanKorean: [[:ko:독산역|독산]] 2.066.8
P144Geumcheon-gu OfficeKorean: [[:ko:금천구청역|금천구청]] 1.268.0
P145SeoksuKorean: [[:ko:석수역|석수]] 2.370.3Gyeonggi-doAnyang-si
P146Gwanak
(Anyang Art Park)
Korean: [[:ko:관악역|관악]] <br /><small>([[:ko:관악역|안양예술공원]])</small> 1.972.2
P147AnyangKorean: [[:ko:안양역|안양]] (limited service)2.474.6
P148Myeonghak
(Sungkyul Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:명학역|명학]] <br /><small>([[:ko:명학역|성결대]])</small> 2.276.8
P149GeumjeongKorean: [[:ko:금정역|금정]] 1.478.2Gunpo-si
P150GunpoKorean: [[:ko:군포역|군포]] 2.280.4
P151Dangjeong
(Hansei Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:당정역|당정]] <br /><small>([[:ko:당정역|한세대]])</small> 1.281.6
P152Uiwang
(Korea Nat'l Univ. of Transportation)
Korean: [[:ko:의왕역|의왕]] <br /><small>([[:ko:의왕역|한국교통대]])</small> 3.084.6Uiwang-si
P153Sungkyunkwan Univ.Korean: [[:ko:성균관대역|성균관대]] 2.987.5Suwon-si
P154HwaseoKorean: [[:ko:화서역|화서]] 2.690.1
P155SuwonKorean: [[:ko:수원역|수원]]
Mugunghwa-ho, Saemaeul-ho, ITX-Saemaeul, G-Train, & S-Train services
2.192.2
P156SeryuKorean: [[:ko:세류역|세류]] 2.995.1
P157Byeongjeom
(Hanshin Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:병점역|병점]] <br /><small>([[:ko:병점역|한신대]])</small> 4.399.4Hwaseong-si
P158SemaKorean: [[:ko:세마역|세마]] 2.4101.8Osan-si
P159Osan Univ.Korean: [[:ko:오산대역|오산대]]2.7104.5
P160OsanKorean: [[:ko:오산역|오산]]2.7107.2
P161JinwiKorean: [[:ko:진위역|진위]]4.0111.2Pyeongtaek-si
P162SongtanKorean: [[:ko:송탄역|송탄]]3.8115.0
P163Seojeongni
(Kookje College)
Korean: [[:ko:서정리역|서정리]] <br /><small>([[:ko:서정리역|국제대학]])</small>2.2117.2
P164PyeongtaekJije
(Korea Nat'l Univ. of Welfare)
Korean: [[:ko:평택지제역|평택지제]] <br /><small>([[:ko:평택지제역|한국복지대학]])</small>4.8122.0
P165PyeongtaekKorean: [[:ko:평택역|평택]] Mugunghwa-ho, Saemaeul-ho (limited service) & ITX-Saemaeul (limited service)3.7125.7
P166Seonghwan
(Namseoul Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:성환역|성환]] <br /><small>([[:ko:성환역|남서울대]])</small> (limited service)9.4135.1Chungcheongnam-doCheonan-si
P167JiksanKorean: [[:ko:직산역|직산]] 5.4140.5
P168DujeongKorean: [[:ko:두정역|두정]] 3.8144.3
P169CheonanKorean: [[:ko:천안역|천안]] Mugunghwa-ho, Saemaeul-ho, ITX-Saemaeul & S-Train services3.0147.3
P170BongmyeongKorean: [[:ko:봉명역|봉명]] Makes all stops (limited service)Janghang Line1.3148.6
P171Ssangyong
(Korea Nazarene Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:쌍용역 (천안)|쌍용]] <br><small>([[:ko:쌍용역 (천안)|나사렛대]])</small>1.6150.2
P172Asan
(Sun Moon Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:아산역|아산]] <br /><small>([[:ko:아산역|선문대]])</small> Mugunghwa-ho, Saemaeul-ho & G-Train

(at Cheonan-Asan Station)
1.6151.8Asan-si
P173TangjeongKorean: [[:ko:탕정역|탕정]] 1.8153.6
P174BaebangKorean: [[:ko:배방역|배방]]3.1156.7
P175Punggi (2025)풍기 豊基
P176OnyangoncheonKorean: [[:ko:온양온천역|온양온천]] Mugunghwa-ho, Saemaeul-ho, & G-Train services4.9161.6
P177Sinchang
(Soonchunhyang Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:신창역 (아산)|신창]] <br><small>([[:ko:신창역 (아산)|순천향대]])</small>5.1166.7

Yeongdeungpo – Gwangmyeong shuttle service

Station
Number
Station Name
Station Name
Station Name
TransferLine NameDistance
Total
Distance
Location
↑ Same stops as all-stop Gyeongbu Line services until Yeongdeungpo ↑
Geumcheon-gu OfficeKorean: [[:ko:금천구청역|금천구청]] (Main Lines)
GwangmyeongKorean: [[:ko:광명역|광명]]

Byeongjeom Depot spur service

Station
Number
Station Name
Station Name
Station Name
TransferDistance
Total
Distance
Location
↑ Joins other Gyeongbu Line services at Byeongjeom ↑
Byeongjeom
(Hanshin Univ.)
Korean: [[:ko:병점역|병점]] <br /><small>([[:ko:병점역|한신대]])</small>
SeodongtanKorean: [[:ko:서동탄역|서동탄]]

Historical timeline

1974

August 15: Line 1 is officially opened with 9 stations from Seoul to Cheongnyangni (whose distance is 7.8km (04.8miles)), creating a system of 28 stations (excluding the 9 metro stations) on national railroads from Seongbuk station (now: Kwangwoon University station, the then-northern terminus) to Incheon Station and Suwon Station. Korail is named Korean National Railroad, with Line 1 just referring to the Seoul-Cheongnyangni section.

1978

December 9: The Gyeongwon Line from Yongsan to Seongbuk opens as a new branch, with Ichon and Seongsu (now part of the Jungang Line).

1979

February 1: Yuljeon Station is opened.

1980

January 5: Sinimun Station is opened.

April 1: Seobinggo, Hannam and Hoegi (now part of the Jungang Line) are opened.

July 10: Seongsu is renamed Eungbong Station

1982

August 2: Seoksu Station is opened.

1984

January 1: Yuljeon Station is renamed Seongdae-ap Station.

May 22: Sindorim Station is opened.

November 20: Baegun Station is opened.

1985

January 14: Seokgye Station is opened.

April 20: Chang-dong is opened as a northward extension.

August 22: Wolgye and Nokcheon are opened.

October 18: Oksu Station (now part of the Jungang Line) is opened.

1986

September 2: 6 stations from Uijeongbu to Chang-dong are opened as a northward extension.

1987

October 5: Uijeongbu Bukbu Station is opened.

December 31: Jung-dong Station is opened.

1988

January 16: Onsu Station is opened.

October 25: The Ansan Line is opened as a southward branch, from Geumjeong Station to Ansan Station.

1994

July 11: Ganseok and Dowon are opened.

December 1: Seongdae-ap Station is renamed to Sungkyunkwan University.

1995

February 16: Guil Station is opened.

1996

January 1: Hwigyeong Station is renamed to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Station

March 28: Bugae Station is opened.

1997

April 30: Sosa Station is opened.

1998

January 7: Singil and Doksan are opened.

2000

Korea National Railroad and Line 1 are integrated as Seoul (Metropolitan) Subway Line 1.

2001

November 30: Dohwa Station is opened.

2003

April 30: Seryu and Byeongjeom are opened as a southward extension. The Ansan Line service is replaced with an extended Seoul Subway Line 4.

2004

August 25: Bugok Station is renamed Uiwang Station.

2005

January 20: 8 stations from Byeongjeom to Cheonan are opened as another southward extension.

December 16: The Gyeongwon Line branch from Yongsan Station to Hoegi Station and the Jungang Line from Hoegi Station to Deokso Station open and are renamed to the separate Yongsan-Deokso Line. This service was the predecessor to the current Jungang Line.

December 21: Dongmyo Station is opened.

December 27: Sema and Osan College Stations are opened.

2006

June 30: Jinwi and Jije Stations are opened.

July 1: Garibong Station is renamed to Gasan Digital Complex.

December 15: 8 stations from Soyosan to Uijeongbu Bukbu are opened as a northward extension. A spur line to Gwangmyeong Station is created. Uijeongbu Bukbu Station is renamed to Ganeung.

2007

December 28: Deokgye Station is opened.

2008

December 15: 6 stations from Cheonan to Sinchang are opened as another southward extension.

December 29: Siheung Station is renamed to Geumcheon-gu Office.

2010

January 21: Dangjeong Station is opened.

February 26: Seodongtan Station is opened.

2015

February 3: Gyeongin Line express trains start stopping at Gaebong and Jemulpo stations.

2017

July 6: A new limited express service was launched between Yongsan and Dongincheon stations.

2019

December 30: All Gyeongbu Line express trains start stopping at Geumjeong and Sungkyunkwan University stations and are extended to Cheongnyangni. Gyeongbu Line express trains no longer stop at Gunpo station.

2021

October 30: Tangjeong station opened as an in-fill station between Asan and Baebang.

2023

December 16: Three stations from Soyosan station to Yeoncheon station on the Gyeongwon Line are opened as a northward extension of the line.[6]

Rolling stock

Current

Former

Depots and facilities

(from north to south)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://infra.seoul.go.kr/archives/1092 . ko:지하철건설현황 . Seoul City Government . ko . Status of Subway Construction . 2014-02-22.
  2. Web site: 서울교통공사 블로그 : 네이버 블로그. 2021-05-31. blog.naver.com.
  3. Web site: Seoul's first subway line opened in 1974. Korea Times. 2014-07-25. 2011-02-13.
  4. <오후여담>좌측통행, Munhwailbo
  5. Web site: 20일부터 하루3회 서울驛(역)~水原(수원) 직통電鐵(전철)운행.
  6. News: 병극 . 장 . 14 December 2023 . "전철 1호선의 진격...경원선 동두천-연천까지 달린다" . “The advance of subway line 1... Gyeongwon Line runs from Dongducheon to Yeoncheon.” . Rail Economy News . 20 December 2023.