Airport Railroad adds four daily direct trains between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station
In short
Airport Railroad (공항철도) said on 21 October that from 23 October it will raise daily direct train runs between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station from 52 to 56. The four extra trains run between 11:00 and 18:00, two in each direction, cutting the average interval in that period from 39 to 35 minutes.
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Airport Railroad (공항철도) said on 21 October that it will raise the number of daily direct train runs between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station from 52 to 56, starting 23 October. The four added trains run between 11:00 and 18:00, two in each direction. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
In that period the average interval between direct trains shortens from 39 minutes to 35 minutes. Seoul Economic Daily, Dong-A Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun and Asia Economy reported that daily seat supply rises by 960 seats. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The company gave occupancy figures to explain the choice of hours. Average seat occupancy in the 11:00 to 18:00 period was 85.3% this year, and the 15:00 hour averaged 98.7% last month. Seoul Economic Daily, Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun said the 98.7% figure referred to trains from Incheon Airport toward Seoul Station in September. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Direct trains carry a high share of foreign visitors. Foreigners made up 79.8% of all direct-train passengers last year. Seoul Economic Daily, Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun said the added runs should also help foreign tourists who change to KTX at Seoul Station to travel to other regions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Dong-A Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun and Asia Economy linked the change to a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport policy to improve transport links between Incheon Airport and regional areas. Dong-A Ilbo said this was the company's explanation. The Yonhap report and Maeil Business did not mention such a link. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Regular train timetables will also be partly adjusted because of the extra direct trains. The changed timetables can be checked on station notices and on the company's official website. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Park Dae-su (박대수), president of Airport Railroad, said the company would raise seat supply in the hours of concentrated demand to improve travel convenience for airport users and foreigners, according to Yonhap, Maeil Business and Asia Economy. Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun quoted him as saying the change was meant to raise convenience for Incheon Airport users. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The company says the change is meant to ease seat shortages at busy midday hours, when it reports high occupancy. Foreign visitors made up 79.8% of direct-train passengers last year, according to the company's figures.
Key facts
- From 23 October, daily direct train runs between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station rise from 52 to 56. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The four added trains run between 11:00 and 18:00, two in each direction. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The average interval in that period falls from 39 minutes to 35 minutes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Daily seat supply rises by 960 seats. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Average seat occupancy in the period was 85.3% this year, and the 15:00 hour averaged 98.7% last month, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Foreigners made up 79.8% of all direct-train passengers last year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Timetables for regular trains will also be partly adjusted. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Airport Railroad announced on 21 October that direct trains between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station will go from 52 to 56 runs a day from 23 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The four added trains run between 11:00 and 18:00, two in each direction, and the average interval in that period shortens from 39 to 35 minutes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Regular train timetables will be partly adjusted, and the new timetables are available on station notices and the official website. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Park Dae-su (박대수), president of Airport Railroad, said the added runs are meant to raise seat supply in high-demand hours. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the 98.7% occupancy figure applies only to trains toward Seoul Station. Three outlets describe it as the 15:00 hour on the Incheon Airport to Seoul Station direction in September, while others give only last month's average for the 15:00 hour without a direction.
- Whether the added runs are linked to a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport policy on links between Incheon Airport and regional areas. Three outlets describe such a link, with one saying the company explained it that way, but the Yonhap report and two other outlets do not mention it.