Suin Line


The Suin Line is a metro line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway serving the Seoul Capital Area.
The original route, abandoned in 1995, was one of the few narrow-gauge railways in South Korea. Opened by the privately owned Chosen Gyeongdong Railway in 1937, it connected Suwon to Namincheon via Ansan and Siheung; in 1942, it was taken over by another private railway, the Chosen Railway. The Chosen Railway owned the line until all railways in Korea were nationalized after 1945. However, since December 28, 2004, the Suin Line is being reconstructed with standard gauge and double tracking as an integral part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway network and is opening in three phases.
All northbound trains terminate at Oido, all southbound services terminate at Incheon. Express train service serves only Oido, Soraepogu, Incheon Nonhyeon, Woninjae, Yeonsu, Inha University, and Incheon.
Trains along the line are 6 cars long. Platforms at stations are built for 8 cars in preparation for the merging of the Bundang Line with the Suin Line, and are prepared for 10 cars when the extension occurs.
Trains run at an interval of 15 minutes throughout the day.

History

2012:
2014:
2016:
2017:

Future Plans

Phase 3 of the line, which will extend the line east from Oido to Suwon, is expected to open on September 12, 2020. The line will be merged with the Bundang Line to form the Suin–Bundang Line. Trains will run from Cheongnyangni station or Wangsimni station to Jukjeon station, Gosaek station, or Incheon station.
Hagik station is planned to open between Songdo and Inha University in 2020. In addition, a connection line is under consideration at Suwon that will allow KTX trains to run between the Gyeongbu high-speed railway and Incheon Station via the Suin Line by 2025.

Stations

Current alignment

Former alignment

Rolling stock

For the current Suin Line, Korail introduced third generation Class 351000 EMU trains. They are the same as the third generation Class 351000 trains from the Bundang Line, except that they were painted red like the Jungang, Gyeongui and Line 1 trains. These trains have since been repainted to the Bundang line Blue and Yellow livery to match the two combined lines once they merge to the "Bundang Suin line."
For the former Suin Line, the Korean National Railroad built a narrow gauge steam locomotive, the KNR160 Diesel Car, and the KNR18000 Passenger Car. One KNR160 and two KNR18000 are preserved at the railroad museum in nearby Uiwang.

Gallery

These images are in order from Suwon towards Sungui.