Seoul to run two consecutive Line 9 express trains to ease rush-hour crush

Seoul will expand express train service on subway Line 9 during rush hours and introduce express bus routes running directly from outer districts to the city center, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday. Both measures take effect Nov. 16.

The plan extends the city's ongoing effort to improve commute conditions as part of its goal of becoming a "quality-of-life city." It targets the most congested time slots and corridors to cut travel times and improve convenience for commuters. The proposal also incorporates recommendations from the G3 Transportation Subcommittee on efficient rush-hour operations.

For Line 9, the city will for the first time since the line opened adjust the ratio of express to local trains by time of day and move up the window during which trains are concentrated on the route during peak hours.

Line 9 passes through major business districts including Yeouido and Gangnam, drawing heavy ridership during rush hours. Even with the maximum available rolling stock already deployed, peak-hour congestion reaches 182.3 percent on the inbound express segment between Noryangjin and Dongjak stations and 192.5 percent on the outbound segment between Dongjak and Noryangjin.

Drawing on years of operational data, the city redesigned the train schedule by time of day to improve transport efficiency.

From 5:40 a.m. to 7 a.m. on the inbound direction — from Gaehwa Station toward Central Veterans Hospital Station — the train pattern will shift from alternating one express and one local train to running two consecutive express trains followed by one local train.

The city said the change boosts capacity by altering how existing trains are operated, without acquiring new rolling stock, making it a more efficient use of a limited fleet.

The revised schedule is expected to add eight train runs during the morning period and shorten express train headways. At Dongjak Station, inbound express headways during the 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. window will narrow from 6 minutes 20 seconds to 6 minutes, while outbound headways will shrink from a range of 8 minutes 40 seconds to 13 minutes down to a range of 6 minutes 20 seconds to 8 minutes.

Congestion on outbound express trains during the morning commute is projected to fall from 192.5 percent to 172.1 percent, a reduction of 20.4 percentage points, while inbound congestion is expected to ease from 182.3 percent to 174.2 percent, an improvement of 8.1 percentage points. The city said the effect is equivalent to introducing 24 new train cars across four sets, and that the scheduling adjustment alone could raise capacity without the roughly 66 billion won ($49.2 million) in procurement costs and the years of lead time that new rolling stock would require.

"Congestion is high, but adding new Line 9 cars through a fresh order would mean waiting until 2030," said Yeo Jang-gwon, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's transportation bureau. "Just by adjusting the Line 9 schedule we can run eight more trains and expect to cut congestion by about 20 percent."

On the bus side, the city will also pilot four express bus routes along dedicated median bus lanes, stopping only at key stops to shorten morning commute times.

Unlike regular buses that stop at every stop along a route, the express buses will pick up passengers in outer districts, skip intermediate stops and serve only major stops in the city center. The core aim is to cut travel time for long-distance commuters by reducing the number of stops.

The initiative is designed to address the commuting difficulties faced by residents in Seoul's outer districts, who have long been underserved. While the broader metropolitan area has access to rapid transit options such as the GTX and wide-area express buses for fast entry into central Seoul, residents in Seoul's own outer neighborhoods have had comparatively fewer options and have struggled with longer commutes.

The buses will run directly from residential hubs to employment-dense downtown areas. For example, Express Bus 150, running from Dobong to City Hall, will pick up passengers at outer stops including Dobongsan Station and Ssangmun Station, bypass intermediate stops such as Suyu Station, Mia Station and Mia Sageori Station, and serve major stops around Jongno and City Hall.

Long-distance commuters can use the express buses while passengers heading to intermediate stops or traveling shorter distances can take regular buses. Vehicles operating as express buses will return to their regular routes once the morning rush hour ends.

The four pilot corridors were selected based on commuter demand and median bus lane conditions: the Dobong-Mia corridor, Cheonho-daero, Susaek-Seongsan-ro and Gonghang-daero. The specific routes are Express Bus 150 (Dobong Garage to City Hall Station), Express Bus 370 (Gangdong Garage to Chungjeongno Station), Express Bus 470 (Sangam Garage to City Hall Station) and Express Bus 605 (Gangseo Garage to Yeongdeungpo Station). Each route will operate three times — once in the early morning and twice during the morning rush hour.

The city expects the express bus service to reduce the number of stops by 45.8 percent compared with regular routes and cut travel time by about 10 percent. It plans to analyze ridership and operational results before considering further route expansion.

The city will complete the necessary preparations — including revising the train timetable and readying bus operations — this month, with both the Line 9 schedule overhaul and the express bus pilot launching Nov. 16.

"We will continue to drive operational innovation in Seoul's public transit so that citizens can feel a real difference in reduced congestion and shorter commute times by improving the efficiency of existing services," Yeo said.