Seoul to expand Line 9 express service and introduce express buses

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced a new public transportation plan to alleviate heavy congestion on Subway Line 9, effective next month on the 16th. To reduce overcrowding, the city will adjust the ratio of express to local trains during morning rush hours. Between 5:40 AM and 7:00 AM, the service pattern will shift from a one-to-one ratio of express to local trains to a two-to-one ratio, effectively increasing the number of express trains.

This adjustment is expected to increase total morning train operations by eight trips and reduce peak congestion levels on certain sections by approximately 20 percentage points. The city aims to achieve this by optimizing existing train schedules rather than waiting for the delivery of new rolling stock.

Additionally, the city will pilot four express bus routes that connect outlying residential areas directly to major downtown hubs like City Hall and Yeongdeungpo. These buses will skip intermediate stops to reduce travel time by an estimated 10%. The pilot program will include three daily runs per route during early morning and rush hour periods, with future expansions to be considered based on demand and effectiveness.