SafekipediaSeoul Subway Line 4
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Seoul Subway Line 4 is a long subway line that crosses from the southwest to the northeast across the Seoul Metropolitan Area. It is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system and helps many people travel around the city each day. The main part of the line in Seoul City is run by Seoul Metro, and some trains continue their journey to the Ansan and Gwacheon Lines operated by Korail.
The line starts in the south at Oido in Siheung City and ends in the north at Jinjeop in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. The newest part of the line, called the Jinjeop Line, is owned by a company from Namyangju-si and operated by Seoul Metro.
In 2021, the part of the line run by Seoul Metro had over 219 million passengers for the whole year. That means about 601,000 people used the line every single day! During busy times on weekdays, there are express trains that stop at fewer stations to help people get to where they need to go faster.
History
Seoul Subway Line 4 began operating on April 20, 1985, running from Sanggye to Sadang. Over the years, the line grew longer. On April 21, 1993, it was extended north to Danggogae and south to Namtaeryeong. In 1994, it reached Ansan, adding a part of the Gwacheon Line and a new station at Namtaeryeong.
In July 2000, the line was stretched further west from Ansan to Oido. Surisan station opened in July 2003. In 2010, a special express service started only going north from Ansan, stopping only at a few stations before becoming a local train to Danggogae. In September 2014, a similar express service began going south to Ansan.
By July 2017, express trains also went all the way to Oido, stopping at every station between Ansan and Oido. In September 2020, the express service changed to stop at Choji but skip Singiloncheon, and trains started running all the way from Hayang University to Oido.
In March 2022, the Jinjeop Line opened, extending Line 4 north from Danggogae (now called Buramsan) to Jinjeop. Plans are in place to make express trains skip more stations north of Sanbon starting in 2023 to make trips faster.
Stations
Depots, junctions, and points of interest
This part of the Seoul Subway Line 4 has many important spots and places where trains stop or change tracks.
- Jinjeop Depot will open in December 2024 and will replace another depot for some trains.
- There is a special area underground after Danggogae station where trains can turn back.
- Changdong Depot is used for some trains and connects to another line.
- Before Chungmuro station, there is a track that connects to a different subway line.
- Dongjak Bridge is a notable bridge on the line.
- Near Chongshin University and Sadang stations, there is a place where tracks cross over each other.
- At Hanyang University, ERICA Campus, there is another underground area for trains to turn back.
- Between Namtaeryong and Seonbawi stations, trains switch from driving on the right to the left side of the track, and the power for the trains changes between two types.
- After Geumjeong station, there is a track that connects to another line.
- Before Choji station, there is a track that connects to a different railway line.
- Ansan Depot is used for basic care of some trains.
- Siheung Depot is used for more detailed care of trains and also helps maintain trains on another line.
- In Oido, there is the largest group of old shell piles along the west coast of South Korea.
Rolling stock
Current
Seoul Metro
- Seoul Metro 4000 series
- 1st generation, DC only: 4-01~4-26 (Restricted to Jinjeop-Sadang)(Retirement in Progress)
- 1st generation, DC & AC: 4-51~4-71 (Retirement in Progress)
- 2nd generation: 4-81~4-85
- 3rd generation: 4-50~4-70
- 4th generation: 4-01~4-26
Korail
- Korail Class 341000 (ex-Korail Class 2030)
- 3rd generation: 341-31~341-37
- 4th generation: 341-38~341-60
- Trains 341-53~341-55 are temporary running on Line 1.
Seoul Metro 4000 series EMU (2nd generation)
Korail Class 341000 (2nd generation)
Korail Class 341000 (3rd generation)
Former
Seoul Metro
- Seoul Metro 3000 series (former 4000 series)
- Wide-width GEC Traction chopper resistor controlled electric car (1985–1993; transferred to Seoul Subway Line 3)
Korail
- Korail Class 1000 (Ansan Line only, transferred to Seoul Subway Line 1)
- Korail Class 341000 1st generation: 341-01~341-25, (1993-2024)
- Korail Class 341000 2nd generation: 341-26~341-30, (1999-2025)
Seoul Metro (former) 4000 series GEC stabled at Changdong Depot
arriving_at_Oksu.jpg)
Seoul Metro 3000 series GEC (Former 4000 series GEC), June 2013
.JPG)
Korail Class 1000 (2nd batch)
Korail Class 341000 (1st generation)
Ridership
| Seoul Subway Line 4 Ridership | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Ridership | Change (%) | Remarks |
| 2026 | |||
| 2025 | 290,905,000 |  0.5 | |
| 2024 | 289,474,890 | 3.7 | |
| 2023 | 279,191,000 | 12.1 | |
| 2022 | 248,951,000 | 13.4 | Expansion to Jinjeop opens |
| 2021 | 219,587,000 |  1.3 | |
| 2020 | 222,536,000 | 31.9 | Through service with Suin-Bundang Line begins |
| 2019 | 326,793,000 | 0.3 | |
| 2018 | 325,897,000 | 3.5 | |
| 2017 | 337,778,000 | 2.6 | |
| 2016 | 346,954,000 | 14.7 | Highest on record |
| 2015 | 302,565,000 | 1.8 | |
| 2014 | 308,201,000 | 0.6 | |
| 2013 | 306,485,000 | 0.1 | |
| 2012 | 306,926,000 | 0.6 | |
| 2011 | 308,843,000 | 1.7 | |
| 2010 | 303,625,000 | 2.2 | |
| 2009 | 297,132,000 | 0.6 | |
| 2008 | 295,222,000 | 1.1 | |
| 2007 | 298,621,000 | 1.9 | |
| 2006 | 304,327,000 | 0.7 | |
| 2005 | 306,528,000 | 1.9 | |
| 2004 | 312,581,000 | 2.1 | |
| 2003 | 306,222,000 | 1.5 | |
| 2002 | 310,747,000 | 1.7 | |
| 2001 | 305,665,000 | 2.3 | |
| 2000 | 298,717,000 | 0.7 | Expansion to Oido opens |
| 1999 | 296,685,000 | 0.5 | |
| 1998 | 298,268,000 | 2 | |
| 1997 | 304,436,000 | - | |
Images
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Seoul Subway Line 4, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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