Ten lines totaling 145.66 km — including Busan express rail and Yeonsan 2nd Centum Line — approved; four candidate lines spanning 33.82 km also designated

A route map of Busan's urban rail network plan [Provided by Busan city government]
A route map of Busan's urban rail network plan [Provided by Busan city government]

Busan city announced Friday that its "Second Busan Metropolitan City Urban Rail Network Construction Plan (2026–2035)," submitted for approval last June, has cleared a National Transport Commission review and received final approval and public notice from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The plan is a statutory document drawn up every 10 years under the Urban Railway Act and serves as the top-level framework guiding future urban rail construction. It was developed to reflect changes in development projects and urban transport conditions across the Busan transport zone since the first plan, as well as anticipated shifts in the city's spatial structure — including the construction of Gadeokdo New Airport, the redevelopment of the North Port, and the development of Eco Delta City and the Centum 2 district.

Ten lines with a combined length of 145.66 km were selected under criteria requiring a cost-benefit ratio of at least 0.7 or a composite evaluation score of at least 0.5. They are: a Busan express rail line linking Gadeokdo New Airport with Myeongji, Busan Station, Centum and Osiria; the Busanhang Line connecting the old city center with the North Port redevelopment zone; the Jeonggwan Line linking the Busan–Yangsan–Ulsan metropolitan railway with Jeonggwan new town and the Donghae Line's Jwacheon Station; the Songdo Line serving the tourism and lifestyle corridor of western Busan; the Gangseo Line connecting Eco Delta City with the Myeongji area; the Gijang Line linking urban rail Line 4 with the Ilgwang district; the Yeonsan 2nd Centum Line connecting Yeonsan Station with Togok and the Centum 2 district; the Osiria Line to improve access to the Osiria tourism complex; and express upgrades for urban rail Line 2 and Line 1.

Four candidate lines totaling 33.82 km were also designated for routes deemed necessary due to urban development and changing transport conditions, despite falling short on economic viability. They are the Oryukdo Line, a branch line connecting Jurye with Busan Station, the East Busan Line, and the Deokcheon–Choeup–Seomyeon Line.

Busan city carried out a series of procedural steps to develop the plan, including a preliminary review by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, consultations with the city council, public hearings involving residents and experts, coordination with relevant agencies, and deliberation by the Urban Transport Policy Working Committee, before securing final ministry approval through the National Transport Commission.

A city official said the approval "signifies that the Busan urban rail network plan has been recognized at the national level as both a policy priority and a necessary undertaking, and it carries great significance as the first gateway cleared toward the full-scale pursuit of individual urban rail projects."

The city plans to proceed with follow-up steps — including preliminary feasibility studies and the drafting of basic plans — taking into account each line's economic viability and project conditions. It also intends to examine connecting branch lines centered on the Busanhang Line, specifically the Munhyeon–Citizen's Park and Daeyeon–Oryukdo segments, as part of efforts to build an urban rail network linking key hubs in the old city center and the coastal zone.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com