Seoul Subway Line 1

Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a rapid transit and commuter rail line which links central Seoul, South Korea to Soyosan Station in the northeast, Incheon in the southwest, and Sinchang (Soonchunhyang Univ.) via Suwon and Cheonan in the south. The central underground portion of this rail line is the oldest subway section in the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system. Its branches and services cover a large part of the Seoul Capital Area; totaling in route length.

The underground section between Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni station, which is referred to as Seoul Metro Line 1 (), is currently operated by Seoul Metro. The line first opened in 1974 as the Korean National Railroad of Seoul with through services to national mainline railways from Seongbuk station (now: Kwangwoon University station) to Incheon and Suwon Stations. At the time, the 7.8 km underground portion run by Seoul Metro Corporation—one of Seoul Metro's predecessors—was called Line 1 and labeled red on maps. On the other hand, the remaining sections of the rail line run by Korail were labeled either blue or gray on maps, and the express lines were red. In 2000, the adjacent through-running Korail services from the Gyeongbu, Gyeongin and Gyeongwon Lines were officially bundled together as part of a greater Line 1, and the labeling on maps was changed to the current dark blue color.

Frequent service is provided between Soyosan, Dongducheon, Uijeongbu, Cheongnyangni, Seoul, Yongsan, and Guro, where trains split between Incheon in the west and Byeongjeom and Cheonan in the south. Express trains operate from Yongsan and Seoul stations to Dongincheon and Sinchang(Soonchunhyang Univ.) stations. Trains run every 3-6 min in the central route between Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni, every 6-9 min between Seoul and Guro, every 8-10 min between Guro and Incheon and between Guro and Byeongjeom, every 10-15 min from Byeongjeom to Cheonan, and every 35 min between Cheonan and Sinchang and service up to the Dongducheon area and Soyosan station.

Trains travel along Gyeongbu (Seoul-Cheonan), Gyeongin (Guro-Incheon), Janghang (Cheonan-Sinchang(Soonchunhyang Univ.)), and Gyeongwon (Hoegi-Soyosan) railway lines. The line runs on the left-hand side of the track, as opposed to the right-hand side of the track like all other Seoul Metropolitan Subway lines (another exception to this is Seoul Subway Line 4 although it runs on the right-hand side until Namtaeryeong station, and operates on the left-hand side for the parts afterwards) since railways in Korea generally run on the left side.

Rapid (Express) trains

Korail operates a variety of express "rapid" (급행, 急行) trains for long distance commuter services on Line 1. These services include:
* Gyeongin line express services from Yongsan to Dongincheon, operating express between Guro and Dongincheon, including:
** Regular express services, introduced on January 29, 1999, following quadruple-tracking of the Gyeongin Line.
** Faster limited express (특급) trains, introduced on July 7, 2017.
* Gyeongbu line express services from Cheongnyangni to Cheonan or Sinchang, operating express between Gasan Digital Complex and Cheonan and running local elsewhere.
* Green Gyeongbu line express service from Seoul Station to Cheonan or Sinchang, originating at a platform adjacent to Seoul Station, skipping all stations between Seoul Station and Geumcheon-gu Office Station, making intermediate stops at Anyang, Gunpo, Uiwang, and Sungkyunkwan University, and then following the red Gyeongbu line express service pattern south of Suwon. Northbound services (departing from Cheonan/Sinchang and terminating at Seoul Station) stop at Yeongdeungpo station, but southbound services are unable to due to the lack of a raised platform. This service was introduced on September 25, 1982.
* Gyeongwon line express services from Dongducheon (although several trains originate from Soyosan) to Incheon, operating express between Dongducheon and Kwangwoon University and running local between Incheon and Kwangwoon University.

Former express services include:
* One late night Gyeongin line express service that originated at Soyosan, made all stops to Guro, then made express stops until Incheon.
* Yeongdeungpo-Byeongjeom Gyeongbu line express service, skipping all stations between Yeongdeungpo and Anyang and then following the Yeongsan-Cheonan/Sinchang express service pattern south of Anyang until Byeongjeom. This service was introduced on August 25, 2014 and was discontinued on December 9, 2016.
* Two faster Yongsan-Sinchang limited express trains (one in each direction), introduced in 2013. This train only operated on weekends and holidays. It was discontinued on July 1, 2018.

Electrifcation

Seoul Subway Line 1 is powered by 1500 V direct current between Cheongnyangni station and Seoul Station, and by 25000 V alternating current elsewhere. Because of this different manner of offering electric current, there are neutral sections between Cheongnyangni station and Hoegi station, as well as between Seoul Station and Namyeong station.

Stations

Main Lines

Local lines:
* Soyosan, Dongducheon, Uijeongbu or Yangju — Incheon
* Uijeongbu (3 times only on weekdays), Kwangwoon Univ. or Cheongnyangni — Cheonan, Sinchang, or Seodongtan
* Yeongdeungpo — Gwangmyeong (shuttle)

Express lines:
* ''GW: Gyeongwon Express (Soyosan or Dongducheon - Incheon)''
* ''GI: Gyeongin Express (Yongsan – Dongincheon)''
* ''GI LE: Gyeongin Limited Express (Yongsan – Dongincheon)''
* ''GB A: Gyeongbu Express (Cheongnyangni – Cheonan or Sinchang(Soonchunhyang Univ.))''
* ''GB B: Gyeongbu Express (Seoul – Cheonan or Sinchang(Soonchunhyang Univ.))''
※ Only Korail trains are used for express trains.

Key:

Yeongdeungpo – Gwangmyeong shuttle service

Byeongjeom Depot spur service

Historical Timeline

1974
:August 15: Line 1 is officially opened with 9 stations from Seoul to Cheongnyangni (), creating a system of 28 stations (excluding the 9 metro stations) on national railroads from Seongbuk station (now: Kwangwoon University station, the then-northern terminus) to Incheon Station and Suwon Station. Korail is named Korean National Railroad, with Line 1 just referring to the Seoul–Cheongnyangni section.

1978
:December 9: The Gyeongwon Line from Yongsan to Seongbuk opens as a new branch, with Ichon and Seongsu (now part of the Jungang Line).

1979
:February 1: Yuljeon Station is opened.

1980
:January 5: Sinimun Station is opened.
:April 1: Seobinggo, Hannam and Hoegi (now part of the Jungang Line) are opened.
:July 10: Seongsu is renamed ''Eungbong Station''

1982
:August 2: Seoksu Station is opened.

1984
:January 1: Yuljeon Station is renamed Seongdae-ap Station.
:May 22: Sindorim Station is opened.
:November 20: Baegun Station is opened.

1985
:January 14: Seokgye Station is opened.
:April 20: Chang-dong is opened as a northward extension.
:August 22: Wolgye and Nokcheon are opened.
:October 18: Oksu Station (now part of the Jungang Line) is opened.

1986
:September 2: 6 stations from Uijeongbu to Chang-dong are opened as a northward extension.

1987
:October 5: Uijeongbu Bukbu Station is opened.
:December 31: Jung-dong Station is opened.

1988
:January 16: Onsu Station is opened.
:October 25: The Ansan Line is opened as a southward branch, from Geumjeong Station to Ansan Station.

1994
:July 11: Ganseok and Dowon are opened.
:December 1: Seongdae-ap Station is renamed to Sungkyunkwan University.

1995
:February 16: Guil Station is opened.

1996
:January 1: Hwigyeong Station is renamed to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Station
:March 28: Bugae Station is opened.

1997
:April 30: Sosa Station is opened.

1998
:January 7: Singil and Doksan are opened.

2000
:Korea National Railroad and Line 1 are integrated as Seoul (Metropolitan) Subway Line 1.

2001
:November 30: Dohwa Station is opened.

2003
:April 30: Seryu and Byeongjeom are opened as a southward extension. The Ansan Line service is replaced with an extended Seoul Subway Line 4.

2004
:August 25: Bugok Station is renamed Uiwang Station.

2005
:January 20: 8 stations from Byeongjeom to Cheonan are opened as another southward extension.
:December 16: The Gyeongwon Line branch from Yongsan Station to Hoegi Station and the Jungang Line from Hoegi Station to Deokso Station open and are renamed to the separate Yongsan-Deokso Line. This service was the predecessor to the current Jungang Line.
:December 21: Dongmyo Station is opened.
:December 27: Sema and Osan College Stations are opened.

2006
:June 30: Jinwi and Jije Stations are opened.
:July 1: Garibong Station is renamed to Gasan Digital Complex.
:December 15: 8 stations from Soyosan to Uijeongbu Bukbu are opened as a northward extension. A spur line to Gwangmyeong Station is created. Uijeongbu Bukbu Station is renamed to Ganeung.

2007
:December 28: Deokgye Station is opened.

2008
:December: 6 stations from Cheonan to Sinchang(Soonchunhyang Univ.) are opened as another southward extension. Siheung Station is renamed to Geumcheon-gu Office.

2010
:January 21: Dangjeong Station is opened.
:February 26: Seodongtan Station is opened.

2015
:February 3: Gyeongin Line express trains start stopping at Gaebong and Jemulpo stations.

2017
:July 6: A new limited express service was launched between Yongsan and Dongincheon stations.

2019
:December 30: All Gyeongbu Line express trains start stopping at Geumjeong and Sungkyunkwan University stations and are extended to Cheongnyangni. Gyeongbu Line express trains no longer stop at Gunpo station.

2021
:August Tangjeong station will be opened.

Future Plans

Line 1 will be extended northward from Soyosan Station to Yeoncheon Station on the Gyeongwon Line, replacing the current "''Commuter Train''" service operating there. Construction on this extension began in September 2014 and is expected to be completed in May 2023.

Rolling stock

Current

* Seoul Metro 1000 series
** Rheostat-controlled electric car (rebuilt cars) – since 1974
** VVVF inverter-controlled electric car – since 1999
* Korail Class 311000
** First generation – since 1996
** Second generation – since 2003
** Third generation – since 2005
** Fourth generation – since 2019 (Korail Class 312000)
* Korail Class 319000 (for Gwangmyeong Shuttle) – since 2006

File:SMSC_EMU_Old1000_2nd.jpg, Seoul Metro 1000 series rheostat-controlled EMU (rebuilt cars)
File:Seoul Metro Line 1 train leaving Geumjeong.jpg, Seoul Metro 1000 series VVVF inverter-controlled EMU
File:Korail Class 311000 EMU.jpg, Korail Class 311000 (First generation)
File:Korail Line 1 Yongsan-Cheonan express train passing Uiwang.JPG, Korail Class 311000 (Second generation)
File:Korail_Line_1_train_leaving_Yongsan.JPG, Korail Class 311000 (Third generation)
File:Korail Class 312000.png, Korail Class 312000 (Fourth generation)
File:Korail Line 1 Yeongdeungpo-Gwangmyeong shuttle train at Sindorim.jpg, Korail Class 319000

Former

* Seoul Metro 1000 series
** Rheostat-controlled electric car (1st batch) – 1974-2002
* Korail Class 1000
** First generation – 1974-2004 (some non-driving cars lasted until 2014)
** Second generation – 1986-2017 (some non-driving cars lasted until 2019)
** Third generation – 1994-2020

File:Korail_1000_Series_Subway_Train_-_Flickr_-_skinnylawyer.jpg, Preserved Korail Class 1000 (1st batch car)
File:KORAIL EMU1000 2nd-First.jpg, Korail Class 1000 (2nd batch)
File:1R05 img 8784.jpg, Korail Class 1000 (3rd batch)
File:Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corp old EMU 1000.jpg, Seoul Metro 1000 series (1st batch car) on Gyeongbu Line, October 1988

Depots and facilities

''(from north to south)''
* Majeon signal box between Deokye and Yangju Stations
* Chang-dong Depot (shared with Line 4)
* Seongbuk Depot
* Imun Depot
* Guro Depot
* Siheung Depot (actually after Oido Station on Line 4, also used for heavy maintenance of Line 1 trains owned by Korail, accessed by a crossover located after Geumjeong Station)
* Byeongjeom Depot

See also

* Subways in South Korea
* Seoul Metropolitan Subway
* S-train

References

External links

Map, station and route finder

{{South Korea rapid transit

Seoul Metropolitan Subway lines
Railway lines opened in 1974