Gwangju Metro Explained

Gwangju Metro
Imagesize2:300px
Locale:Gwangju, South Korea
Transit Type:Rapid transit
Lines:1
Stations:20
Began Operation:28 April 2004
Operator:Gwangju Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation
System Length:20.1km (12.5miles)
Map:
Map State:show
Rr:Gwangju Dosi Cheoldo
Mr:Kwangchu Tosi Ch'ŏldo

Gwangju Metro is the rapid transit system of Gwangju, South Korea, operated by the Gwangju Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (GRTC, or Gwangju Metro). The subway network first opened in 2004 with 14 stations. The Gwangju Metro consists of one line, serving 20 operational stations, and operating on 20.1km (12.5miles) of route. It crosses both of the major rivers in Gwangju, the Yeongsan River and the Hwangryong River. Most of the system is underground, except for the sections between Sotae-Nokdong and Pyeongdong-Dosan.

History

Lines

Line 1

See main article: Gwangju Metro Line 1. As of 2021 Line 1 consists of twenty stations. Most trains run between Pyeongdong and Sotae, with about one train per hour continuing towards Nokdong.[1]

Line 2

Line 2 (Korean: [[:ko:광주 도시철도 2호선|ko]]) of the subway is under construction as of 2021. It is scheduled to open in three phases between 2023 and 2025.[2] [3] [4]

Expansions and plans

Plan to extend Line 1

The Gwangju City Government has a plan to extend the current Line 1 eastward to Hwasun and westward to Naju. In 2009, the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development promised to include the Line 1 extension in its '5+2 extensive economic zone' project.[5]

Planned lines

Line 2 was originally planned as a circle line, but the Gwangju City Government also considered a 'South-North type' as well. After the results of a public hearing conducted in 2019 construction started as originally planned, with the first section of the line being scheduled to open in 2023. Phases 2 and 3 are scheduled to open in 2024 and 2025, respectively.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 광주도시철도공사 모바일.
  2. Web site: 광주도시철도 2호선 1단계, 2023년 개통 . 김수현 . 19 June 2019 . Chosun Biz . 7 September 2020 . ko.
  3. Web site: 광주도시철도 2호선 8월 착공…2023년 개통 . . 19 June 2019 . . 7 September 2020 . ko.
  4. Web site: 광주지하철 2호선 착공 17년 논란 끝…순환선 2024년 개통 ]. 김재선 . 4 September 2019 . YNA News . 7 September 2020 . ko.
  5. Web site: Seoul Newspaper:Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development accepted Gwangju's new proposal of 5+2 project. 2009-02-11.
  6. Web site: Gwangju Subway Line 2, two alternatives . 2009-02-06.