Why Korea Built The World's Fastest Subway System

Welcome to Railways Explained! In this video, we dive into the transformative Great Train Express (GTX) project in South Korea, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing urban transit and drastically reducing commute times in the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area.
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Discover how the GTX project, comprising three initial lines (A, B, and C) and three future extensions (D, E, and F), aims to cut down the average commute time from two hours to just 30 minutes. With trains reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h, GTX is set to become the world's fastest subway system, surpassing even London's Crossrail and France's RER.
We'll explore:
• The significance of the GTX in easing Seoul's notorious traffic congestion.
• The ambitious construction timelines and key milestones for Lines A, B, and C.
• The socio-economic impact on South Korea, including potential boosts to the birth rate and housing market challenges.
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#railway #metro #korea

[@caffeinated_boi]

In San Francisco we spent almost 2 billion dollars to dig less than 2 miles of underground subway. I'm amazed at how cheaply Koreans are able to build their new subway line.

[@klopkerna3562]

cost of living are different. California is way way way more expensive than Seoul.

[@henrystoes6508]

just a hunch, but south korea is probably using way fewer contractors and they actually build transit on a regular basis so they don’t have to spend billions on acquiring the knowledge every time they do it

[@asier_getxo]

@@klopkerna3562 not really that much of a difference, it's one of the richest and most industrialised countries in the world, not Somalia.

[@Dogod2]

Check out the Transit Costs Project. It's not that it's cheap in Korea, it's expensive in the US (and the English speaking world generally). They researched why it's so expensive here. Cost of living is part of it, but a surprisingly small part.

[@juanmcm]

Well, in my opinion in SF there is a differentiating factor to what has already been expressed by other commentators of the famous and notorious -NIMBYs- (yep _not in my back yard)_ of the Anglo-Saxon world... Yes friends, I'm talking about that idyllic city being in a seismic zone and this will also mean that with some kind of emergency or containment or security infrastructure, the cost of the infrastructure itself will increase.

[@BrakeCoach]

The GTX project is so underrated, i wish more people would check it out!

[@user-zp6et1qp1m]

As a Korean, I think that GTX is not very necessay. At least GTX A, B, C is effective, but E, F, G, H is really useless and wasteful.

[@BrakeCoach]

@@user-zp6et1qp1m yes, GTX A, B, and C create necessary corridors, but D E F onwards seem to be a pipe dream, with the cost benefit analysis not done yet. A line 9 style system would work for those alignments.

[@S-OIL_Korea]

@@user-zp6et1qp1m있으면 좋지 뭔 필요가없어

[@user-zp6et1qp1m]

@@S-OIL_Korea 연선 땅값 올라서 좋긴 하겠지ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 근데 실상은 걍 예산낭비임. A노선 하나 만드는 데만 1조5천억 꼬라박았는데 그짓거리를 A부터 H까지 하겠다고?

[@user-ds9qf1tf5c]

@@S-OIL_Korea 위성도시끼리 GTX로 연결할 필요가 어디 있음..

[@johnfranciscastilloatienza2555]

I like GTX, the Korean High Speed Metro

[@s.r2889]

The Great Express Train

[@ytn00b3]

You meant KTX

[@frafraplanner9277]

@@ytn00b3 That's the high speed rail system, we're talking about the new high speed *metro* that's being built in Seoul

[@KTX_510]

​@@frafraplanner9277 To be exact, it's the subway.

[@creaturexxii]

High-speed metro trains are a really cool mode of transport 🚈

[@katrinabryce]

On the western end of the Elizabeth Line, it is shared with Great Western Railway services. The Class 387 trains they use for their *slow* services do 110mph (177km/h). They also use those trains (different subclass with a different internal layout and painted a different colour, but fundamentally the same model) on the Heathrow Express. The fast trains on that route are operated using Class 800/802 train sets which run at 125mph (201km/h). Those are intercity services, but also serve as a metro-like commuter service to Twyford/Reading/Didcot.

[@E11or]

What a great addition to a usual subway line.

[@michaelhall8586]

I’m a massive fan of the South Korean high speed railway

[@RailwayNetworks]

Interesting project, definitely something that all the big cities of the world should think about..

[@andrewmcfarland57]

God bless your family.

[@stevens1041]

Really great idea. Can't wait to try it out someday for myself.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

This is one of the most major if not the largest metro project and I am just hearing about it... all I watch is metro infra projects.... This is going to change SEOUL

[@mimmom9362]

Long time no see. Great sponsor for another great video.

[@topicone1417]

Similar project in india name RRTS where urban express train run in city to reduce travel time of people. And around 40km already operational

[@oadka]

I was going to post a similar comment!

[@topicone1417]

@@oadka 😄

[@polaris1985]

it does not work inside Delhi, its useless for Delhi people, this GTX works inside city so is better, similar network in India is not possible.

[@---jc7pi]

This whole as network for 26 billion is absurdly amazing. That's money more then well spent.

[@suspiciousafternoon]

South Korea is freaking amazing, wow.

[@WanderlustGoGo]

Some cities really doing the homework and preparing for the future ❤

[@pacificostudios]

California should start looking at high speed rail as a way to achieve what Korea's GTX does. A "blended service" line from Palmdale to Burbank, Los Angeles, Fullerton, and Anaheim would dramatically improve commuting between the Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Orange County. Then build the next blended service line east toward Riverside and Temecula. Unlike Seoul, the CA HSR projects in SoCal do not require long tunnels under urban areas.

[@RailwaysExplained]

The next video will be about the California HSR project update. Stay tuned.

[@pacificostudios]

@@RailwaysExplained - I suggest looking at the topic from the perspective of what blended service with Metrolink would achieve. Much as CalTrain used CA HSR money to rebuild its San Jose-San Francisco line years before HSR even arrived. I'll even collaborate with you.

[@RailwaysExplained]

We have already written the script, focusing on the recurring issue of missed deadlines and the overall value of the project. Your proposal is certainly intriguing, and we will consider it. Please contact us via email so we can further discuss and structure the scope.

[@IELife-de2oc]

Riverside county would do better to try to extend the sprinter from Escondido to riverside stopping in Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and ending at the south Perris metro link station. . Metro link is run very badly. Extending connections using a better designed light rail would be for the best. The population increases in Riverside county are extreme in those areas. They need to extend public transportation there before building more houses and complicating future construction options.

[@pacificostudios]

@@IELife-de2oc - Sorry, Sprinter would be way too slow. The top speed is only 55 MPH.

[@hairypotter259]

So cool

[@thakuromkarsingh2096]

Rrts system of delhi is really similar. Hope to see a video on that as well

[@RafaquaQuetta]

ex ept Delhi will never be on the same lvl even in 100 years

[@ashishbhardwaj9300]

​@@RafaquaQuettawhy are you crying here ?

[@RafaquaQuetta]

@ashishbhardwaj9300 just a statement, it's you who sounds salty, not me.

[@aaryankumar8770]

​@@RafaquaQuettaI disagree We're talking about delhi not lahore 😊

[@manashsharma6886]

​@@RafaquaQuettait's not a statement but hypothesis. give some solid reasons to prove your point

[@lawrencebautista1]

My only qualm on the GTX so far is that the seats are uncomfortable, not even padded, unlike their regular subway cars. And I was expecting they'll install a transverse seating layout instead or at least a mix of longitudinal or transverse seating like in London's Elizabeth line, since this is a commuter/suburban line. It still has emphasis on standing passengers more than sitting passengers typical of Asian commuter rail running like a regular rapid transit/subway. I also wish Japan can build something similar to this. I know Tokyo metropolitan area now has a mature railway network, but I believe there is still an opportunity to build a GTX or Elizabeth line-style semi-high speed commuter/suburban rail network in Tokyo linking from the city center to the neighboring cities and prefectures. It is really a pain riding the JR commuter rail lines during rush hours and standing inside the train for hours as the seating layout is the same as their subway. Although the Shinkansen also functions as some kind of a semi-high speed commuter rail line like the GTX with thousands of commuters using it every day commuting from Shizuoka, Kanagawa, Yokohama, Saitama, Takasaki and Utsunomiya.

[@klopkerna3562]

Japan already has an extensive rail system. It is dense and crowded but I'm not sure they will have enough space to build something similar.

[@falcon9ft710]

ライナーis their gtx, im korean we only had few, meaningless rapid service on our subway But 東京 already have decent 特急、快特、快速、ライナー , etc.. GTX style would surely be faster, but not much difference

[@TrebleSketch]

Think work culture is one of the biggest challenges in South Korea. Same with Japan, tho reducing travel and commute times will always be appreciated by all. Spending less time commuting is good :>

[@파도0903]

There's a lot of things that are misrepresented in the video. At the beginning of the video, the administrative district of Incheon Metropolitan City was incorrectly marked, and in the middle of the video, the locations of some stations on the GTX-B line were incorrectly marked. Viewers around the world watching the video may misunderstand or get confused, so I hope you can check it in more detail and thoroughly next time and make the video! 😊😊

[@Computer895]

Nice video

[@doujinflip]

Government: Less time commuting means more time for workers to start and raise a family. Businesses (and what would actually happen): Less time commuting means more unpaid overtime for workers entertaining their bosses and clients as they compete for bonuses/promotion/continued employment.

[@frafraplanner9277]

Yeah, the high speed metro is an amazing project and should be completed, but it will NOT have an effect on the birth rate.

[@petrhajduk9955]

Government: I will build new fast metro so that people have more free time People: Great, now I can move further away to my dream house / Now I have to move further away due to the increasing rents.

[@Matty002]

its so frustrating to hear other countries building SO much rail for not much money while the us is barely builds a few miles of one line for billions, while constantly getting crazy delays

[@utkarshparate3333]

India is building RRTS (Now RapidX) in & around DELHI is same type of high speed metro system

[@hazelnut3794]

🍛

[@jonasrettig327]

so they are building regional zug / train

[@chinmaytripathi7665]

Delhi is also working on same kind of system named Namo Bharat RRTS and it's already operational and future lines are being discussed as well to connect many of its sub cities and suburbs

[@chinmaytripathi7665]

RRTS stands for regional rapid transit system

[@Любадрель-у9з]

It isn't the same

[@lielakoma]

12:00 you mention increased housing prices around Dongtan station, but the area is an expanding high tech manufacturing hub attracting well paid engineering jobs, so most likely the housing prices would see an increase regardless.

[@tommarney1561]

Perhaps housing in other areas is under pressure to decline in price by an equivalent amount, though the decline would be far more diffuse geographically.

[@trainsandscifi]

Londons Crossrail and Paris RER as German S-Bahn systems are not counted as subway. They are called Surburban trains, to connect to regions arround with the City.

[@etbadaboum]

In Paris they are used as such to go from one side of the city to another. RER A as a ridership of 1M per day, qualifying it as a metro.

[@trainsandscifi]

@@etbadaboum maybe for a normal passenger it seems to be the same, but when a "city-train" is operated like a railway train, compartible with normal railway System (gauge, electric, signals, using the same kind of rolling stock just adapted for city uses, ...) it is not defined as a metro. Metros/subways/undergrounds on the other hand have much more in commun with trams. Besides Berlin and Hamburg also has that: U-Bahn (metro) and S-Bahn (surburban), you could call Berlin S-Bahn also as metro as well, but it isn't. S1 and S2 in Hamburg never leaves the City, while S3 is using between Buxtehude and Stade normal railway tracks for example, a subway can't do that just like that. Also "S-Bahn Karlsruhe" needs to change the System, when it starts using railway infrastructure.

[@etbadaboum]

@@trainsandscifi You make it sound like it's very different but the lines are much more blurrier

[@trainsandscifi]

@@etbadaboum it makes a differnt in operation. During the time when Berlin was splitted up, West-Berlin used subway trains for western S-Bahn lines, but it's just because they use the same gauge and power system. But this was an exception. And S-Bahn Berlin with a max speed of 100 km/h, very limited clearence diagram, power system of 750 V of side rails, not leaving the city, is most close to a subway. But it's operared by Deutsche Bahn, using signales compartible with railways. And it is, as I said, no subway. Paris RER lines A and B are partly operated by RATP, but still operated like a railway (edit: with overhead-lines, a width of 2.9 m and most important railway signales). So as London Overground and Crossrail.

[@AM_Nevrekar]

Make a video on shinkansen E8 series train

[@metrotrujillo]

you make it. at leas say please

[@jermainetrainallen6416]

Great explanation as usual. This is a large project but it sounds as if it is being handled very well. Just wish we could run projects like this here in the UK i.e. fully commit to a project rather than cancellingg aspects of it midway through

[@technicalgamerz2440]

In india we already have RRTS 🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@Любадрель-у9з]

It is suburban rail 🤔

[@Groaznic]

Ayo train main, congrats on your new children!

[@user-ed4ff3vf1o]

It was too late and expensive to make new passing line to run rapid survices in metro so we just decided to make new high-speed line XD

[@user-zw9yl5io9q]

I am a Korean who lives in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. When GTX-C (Deokjong Station)opens in our city, it will reduce the number of hours taken by public transportation to less than 30 minutes. It is great to be able to enjoy the Seoul living area even a little far from Seoul. With that expectation, real estate prices in the area have risen significantly

[@tilmanarchivar8945]

The link is broken bc of a break

[@RailwaysExplained]

We have updated the links. You can now access the Harting website. Sorry for any inconvenience!

[@WanderlustGoGo]

Public transport is the future ❤

[@mohitsuthar3893]

Delhi has done it already. Many other lines are under construction.

[@hazelnut3794]

yummy deli manjoo ?

[@KTX109]

I rode first train of GTX-A when it was first opened, and i was surprised at the speed and non vibration However, GTX lines have very high costs So many people in our country do not use it and they think building new lines of gtx is waste of money now

[@vegetassj1629]

I mean they're building this line 50 m underground in depth so they need somewhere or the other to recoup those costs

[@etbadaboum]

Lots of holes in this video, otherwise interesting. Elizabeth line is not fully underground and is 21 km underground. Incheon is also famously known for its airport. Other cities in South Korea will get this system too. Paris RER is 600 km long and 81.5 km underground. China has many such high-speed underground metro lines like, for example, Guangzhou line 18.

[@filipehn8860]

Can yo talk abut the SRJ Stocholm Roslagen järnvägar(Railways) or Lanakatten i uppsala sweden in workin there and livin in sweden plese talk abut it

[@tighnarikawaii]

hello, I'm Korean and My dream is becoming station employee at gtx station. I'm very looking forward to completing all GTX Lines

[@S-OIL_Korea]

나랑꿈이같구나 게이야

[@Creepex]

I want a video about romanian railways

[@torquetrain8963]

Can only dream of something wonderful like that here in our automotive dictatorship car centric dystopia here in America.

[@inaweoftheworld]

There’s a Seoul video in your add.

[@portfolioremileblanc]

2 main issues to this projects: - price ticket - very very few stations (low connection between station)

[@johnosullivan-nq2wd]

forcing more people into the greater Seoul metropolitan area. The project itself is a great initiative but the timing of it can not be any worse with the plummeting birthrate.

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

The South Koreans are going insanely ham with the trains, they already outdid Japan in total rail quite a bit ago and Japan is still a gold standard for trains....and now high speed subway metros?

[@-Osiris-]

Japan was the gold standard... about 30 years ago. Newer systems in HK, many cities in China, Seoul, Singapore, etc. are much better

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

@@-Osiris- Ehhh the Japanese shinkansen is still top tier for intercity. And the Tokyo MRT is still holding up its head high despite being relatively old.

[@-Osiris-]

@@Cecilia-ky3uw I'm not saying it's not good, it's great! I'm just saying it other systems are much better nowadays. I'd be interested to hear what criteria your talking about. In terms of speed, Japan is not the fastest. Network length/interconnectedness? Japan is not the biggest. Stations? This is more subjective so we can agree to disagree here but I don't think Japan has the most advanced stations (see high speed rail stations in China if you want to see what the gold standard looks like). The *only* criterion Japan will always be the best on is customer service. And yes MRT is very good there's no denying it, light-years better than anything in the States, but the global gold standard? 30 years ago that was true, not anymore.

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

@@-Osiris- Japan isn't the fastest, or biggest(why is this a criterion), and the stations are relatively enough. Otherwise the trains are reliable and very timely. It does not fall far behind in speed and it serves despite having relatively less tracks compared to other cities. It is certainly still a gold standard. You can't tell me Tokyo cannot count itself with Singapore and and Shanghai and Hong Kong or Taipei in how good the rail is, in terms of HSR speed, you're arguing over a few kilometres per hour(in maximim achieved speed). And in terms of general speed, there is no gap at all between it and Singapore and Shanghai and Hongkong and Taipei unless you want to argue over the details, all of them travel at 80~km per hour. Otherwise Japan has consistently been the major country with extensive rail usage for a long time. Singapore is a city state. Hong Kong and Shanghai are both in China, and so the actual rail trio in country terms are China, Japan and SK, and the oldest of these and yet still competitive one is the Japanese one(the Chinese one is a fairly ludicrous overbuilding project) while the South Korean one is already higher in length than the Japanese one. But otherwise, who else?

[@-Osiris-]

@@Cecilia-ky3uw "Japan has consistently been the major country with extensive rail usage for a long time"... Yes, they've been doing it a long time, so what? I'm going to step off here as my intention was just to give a different opinion. The only (and last) thing I'll say is whether high speed intercity rail or metro rail, there are plenty of other places that do it better with their own technologies and systems (in terms of technologies not just the Chinese and Koreans but Germans and French especially), and besides the heritage factor of the shinkansen and the fact that the Japanese did it first, I don't think there is any consensus that Japan is the best in 2024

[@tighnarikawaii]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/onW4i2qZnamUn8U 님 영상 외국인 유튜버의 영상에 자료로 쓰여졌네요 ㅎㅎ

[@My-nl6sg]

currently my home city Guangzhou's Metro Lines 18 and 22 running at 160kmh is the world's fastest urban subway system. I look forward to Seoul's GTX running 180kmh when it comes out, blurring the distinction between HSR and subways. This should really encourage more world cities to invest in more efficient urban transit

[@jancowell]

I love how instead of tackling workplace culture to promote a higher fertility rate, they just add more efficient metro lines 🤣

[@user-zg2yd5mg6g]

🤡

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

Like public transit quality doesn’t raise birth rates at all. Like US, known for bad public transit and car dependency standing in stark contrast with South Korea has fertility rate more than twice that of South Korea

[@gardelitozz7184]

el gobierno prohibe que las parejas tengan intimidad y llora por la fertilidad?? jasdjk

[@crispinleung]

Gyeonggi is pronounced Kyongghee

[@thisin.]

what accent is that? lithuanian?

[@KevinOBrien-nn4lz]

Here India is happy with tande Bharat speed 80km/hr😂

[@juanmcm]

I think that this type of public transport infrastructure reinforces the idea that these means of transport are more important than private transport I am the first one who prefers to use the car instead of a crowded means like the metro or a bus that also (at least in my city) have a service schedule from 6 to 1:30 in the morning, BUT in 90% of the cases it is better to leave the car at home and thus not congest the cities more. This transport in large and/or highly populated cities, a system like this is a good option, as well as I think the tram can also be and not so expensive because there are no tunnels in between.

[@johnosullivan-nq2wd]

forcing more people into the greater Seoul metropolitan area. The project itself is a great initiative but the timing of it can not be any worse with the plummeting birthrates and an overly competitive society.

[@vishalchaudhary2710]

Delhi's RRTS line is similar. 83km with operational speed of 160kmph and top speed of 180kmph. It costs $4.5 billions. It is taking almost 4.5 years to comlete

[@고고고고-w6f]

한국인은 빨리빨리 하는 걸 좋아합니다.

[@一气周流]

Also China, Guangzhou Metro Line 18. Design speed of 160kph

[@VivekPatel-ze6jy]

3:46 in terms of speed, Thameslink would be a better comparison - that reaches ~177km/h, but not in the city center tunnels

[@Stargate2077]

So Seoul is building what multiple US cities have had for 50 years?

[@1manAF84]

There isn't an American city that comes close to density, speed, and cost of the public transportation system in the Seoul metropolitan area.

[@Stargate2077]

@@1manAF84 The speed and scope of the trains being discussed here were implemented in the United States in San Francisco, DC, and Atlanta back in the 1970s.

[@hazelnut3794]

?

[@footsyk867]

They should make sure there is enough parking at the stations outside Seoul so people can drive to the train station and leave their cars there.

[@chjin1796]

At present, there are many high-speed subways with the fastest speed of 160 km/h in China. China is likely to build faster subways than South Korea claims by 2030.

[@TheRandCrews]

are high speed metro/subways practically replacing regional/commuter rail then becomes a subway in city limits?

[@unepintade]

​@@TheRandCrewsYes and has been for a while, just look at Paris's RER replacing many of the former transiliens

[@klopkerna3562]

in China it's also useful because cities there have the size of regions on other countries

[@hazelnut3794]

yup, made in china itself and unlike Korea, a very one-sided construction project that does not reflect the intention and consideration of compromises of residents in areas adjacent to all routes.

[@qolspony]

Why can't Korea just pay for each baby? And subsidize housing. And provide at least 6 months work leave? They also need to get to the bottom of their high suicidal rate.

[@antiquehealbot6543]

Parental paid leave is actually surprisingly well provided in Korea. The real issue is property bubble and severe gender conflict. Korean property market is LEVERAGED TO THE TITS. Not only household but also property development. Can you imagine 35x or more leverage is common practice for property developers? Any downward pressure in housing market will have a devastating blow to entire economy as most of assets of Korean household is in real estate.

[@일상의노예-z7b]

Well, we do that, and its not working, probably because the collapsing birth rate is part of a bigger problem.

[@stefanoparlatore7141]

@@antiquehealbot6543In such high density areas I think the best solution is Singapore’s public housing

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

@@stefanoparlatore7141Yet Singapore has second lowest fertility rate in the world. Doesn’t work there either

[@user6343]

Now let's take down tje marketing facade. They are building a super modern regional rail system which seems not ti ve integrated with legacy rail lines (both advantages and disadvantages) which not only will cut commute times but also enable people to live even farther away and commuting for the same time (not good as they have to use even more energy for the increase in person kilometers)

[@devilox9401]

This is Similar project of delhi ncr rrts 8 lines capable of 160 km/h to 180 km/h high speed metro plese make a video on it

[@lagcom]

The pronunciation and accuracy errors in this video is laughable Pronunciation is atrocious, as if you didn’t even do a basic google search for the pronunciation. You used the logo for the department of justice when mentioning section of Line B that will be government-operated.

[@fuun17]

I suggest you hire Nick Badley to narrate your video rather than your weird accent which causes headache.