Incheon's GTX-B line to get new Cheonghak Station after clearing government review

A long-sought plan to add a new station to the Greater Seoul Area Express Railway (GTX) B line in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu has cleared a key government hurdle, paving the way for construction to begin.

The city of Incheon announced Friday that the GTX-B line additional station project had received final approval from the Ministry of Interior and Safety's central investment review for local fiscal projects.

The project calls for building a new station — tentatively named Cheonghak Station — near the Cheonghak intersection in Yeonsu-gu, on the main GTX-B line between Incheon National University Entrance Station and Incheon City Hall Station.

The total project cost of about 269.4 billion won ($201 million) will be borne entirely by the city of Incheon. Construction is scheduled to run from 2027 through 2033.

The additional station is expected to open in early 2034, following supplementary construction after the GTX-B main line opens in 2031.

The city plans to delegate construction and operations to a private project operator under a consignment agreement.

The project had earlier cleared a feasibility check by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at the end of last year, receiving a benefit-cost ratio of 1.03.

It subsequently passed a feasibility study by the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration and then the Ministry of Interior and Safety's central investment review, completing the administrative and regulatory groundwork needed to commit city funds.

The city plans to move quickly on follow-up steps, including securing approval from the Incheon City Council, signing a consignment agreement with a private operator before the end of the year, and drawing up the relevant budget for next year.

Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae said the new station "will significantly improve transportation access for residents of Yeonsu-gu's older urban core and strengthen Incheon's overall metropolitan rail competitiveness."

The GTX-B line stretches 82.8 kilometers from Songdo in Incheon, at Incheon National University Entrance Station, through Yeouido, Yongsan and Seoul Station, to Maseok in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Construction broke ground in August 2025.

The line is being built as a key rail corridor linking the southwestern and northeastern parts of the greater Seoul metropolitan area within a 30-minute commute.