Establishment of Temporary Platform at Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit Samgye Station, Operations to Start in 2027
The Gyeongnam Gimhae City has decided to establish a temporary platform for the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit Samgye Station.
Construction will begin next year, with operations expected to start in 2027.
This is likely to change the surrounding areas, including Samgye Seohui Star Hills, into transit-oriented developments.
Confirmation of Establishment of Temporary Platform in Samgye-dong, Construction to Begin Next Year
Gimhae City held a mid-term report meeting on the ‘Design Service for the Installation of a Temporary Platform at the Light Rail Vehicle Depot’ with Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit Co., Ltd. last February. During this meeting, the eastern side of the vehicle depot in front of Samgye Seohui Star Hills was confirmed as the final location for the temporary platform.
The originally considered candidate site near the rear gate of Bunsung Village Complex 5 has been excluded due to safety concerns. After comprehensive review of accessibility and economic viability, the current location was selected.
This temporary platform is planned to start construction in 2025 and continue for a year, followed by a six-month trial operation, with formal operations expected to begin in 2027.
Background Behind Promoting Temporary Platform Instead of Official Station
The Samgye-dong area has long demanded the establishment of a formal light rail station due to population growth. In particular, the distance issue with the existing Gaya Station has been consistently raised, especially with the emergence of large apartment complexes of over 6,000 households. However, the new station project has been canceled due to a lack of economic viability.
Gimhae City conducted feasibility studies and safety reviews in 2017 and 2022, but the benefit-cost (B/C) ratio did not meet the threshold of 1.0. In 2023, a reassessment by the Korea Development Institute (KDI) also evaluated the project viability to be low with a B/C of 0.42, making government funding unfeasible.
In this context, Gimhae City decided to establish a temporary platform using its own budget of less than 10 billion won without government funding. The estimated project cost is currently expected to be in the range of 5 billion to 6 billion won, which the city will fully cover. This measure is expected to contribute to enhancing transportation convenience for local residents.
Effects of Establishing Samgye Station in Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit
Once the temporary platform in Samgye-dong becomes operational, the surrounding areas including Samgye Seohui Star Hills are likely to emerge as a new transit-oriented development.
First, residents' transportation convenience is expected to significantly increase. Residents who previously had to travel to Gaya Station will now be able to directly access the light rail from Samgye-dong.
Additionally, an increase in property values is anticipated. With the establishment of the new platform, the value of apartments and commercial facilities in the Samgye-dong area is likely to rise.
Finally, local economic revitalization is expected. The formation of transit-oriented development is likely to increase the influx of commercial facilities, further invigorating the economy in the Samgye-dong area.
Train Operation Method and Future Plans
Gimhae City plans to include the temporary platform in the light rail operation route. Accordingly, the light rail is expected to stop at the temporary platform every third run. To maintain the existing scheduling intervals as much as possible, only certain trains will be adjusted to pass through the temporary platform.
These trains will have conductors on board but will operate in a semi-automatic manner using an unmanned operation system. After stopping, the trains will continue to operate to the existing Gaya Station and will turn around in front of the cathedral. This measure appears to be an effort to provide better convenience to light rail users.
Prospects and Challenges of Samgye Station Development
Once the temporary platform in Samgye-dong is operational, significant improvements in transportation accessibility in the surrounding areas, including Samgye Seohui Star Hills, are anticipated. However, there are some limitations as the temporary platform is not an official station.
Currently, Gimhae City is reviewing operational plans based on the model of the Uijeongbu Light Rail Transit’s temporary stations. In the future, if sufficient passenger demand arises, there is also a possibility of converting the temporary platform into an official station. However, there are challenges to be addressed regarding scheduling intervals and limited train stops.
A Gimhae City official stated, “The goal is to alleviate inconveniences for local residents through the establishment of a temporary platform and to enhance transportation convenience in the Samgye-dong area.” They added, “We plan to consider additional improvement measures based on the operational results in the future.” If these plans are realized, they could provide significant help to local residents.
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