The day is finally here…for some anyway. The final Bundang Line Extension from Mangpo (망포) to Suwon (수원) will finally opened today (Saturday 30 November). Over the past three years the southern end of the line has been extended in stages with Jukjeon – Giheung (5.1km) and Giheung – Mangpo (7.4km) being completed in the Decembers of 2011 and 2012 respectively. Of course the northern extension from Seolleung to Wangshimni was also opened in 2012.

The extension is 5.2km long and has three new stations – Maetangwonseon (매탄권선), Suwon (수원시청) and Maegyo (매교) before arriving at Suwon Station (수원역) where it meets Line 1. “Express” services will also operate from Suwon to Jukjeon station – stopping only at Suwon, Suwon City Hall, Mangpo, Giheung and Jukjeon. Following Jukjeon, all services (including express ones) will stop at all stops since extra tracks were not built for express trains during the original construction of the line. This means that while normal services from Suwon to Wangshimni take 85 minutes, express services will still take 76 minutes. Here is an image of the express train times leaving from Wangshimni and Suwon stations (only Korean sorry).

Once the Suin Line to the west of Suwon is completed passengers will be able to travel from Wangshimni to Incheon as the Bundang and Suin lines will connect directly to one another. This is the reason why both lines are the same colour. It’s still uncertain what the combined line will eventually be called. There is also speculation that there may be some controversy over the name of the line with some news outlets reporting that Seongnam citizens are likely to want to keep the Bundang name.

Photos from the new extension can be viewed here.