The Incheon Airport Maglev Line is an urban maglev line serving the Incheon International Airport and Yeongjong Island. More than just an airport people mover system, it links the nearby areas such as Paradise City and Yongyu where the land reclamation for Incheon Airport started from. On top of that, the Incheon Airport Maglev Line runs free of charge, so here I am to try out my first-ever maglev ride.
Ticket gates are installed before the platform to prepare for fare charging if the need arises.
The area for the contactless readers are currently missing, replaced by a sticker with the word “Free”.
The island platform of Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 station.
The Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev pulled into the station slower than I had expected it to.
Boarding the maglev train.
The Hyundai Rotem logo by the train doors.
The front view out of the Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train.
The overall interior of the Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train. A variety of seats are available.
The route map is available on top of the train doors.
As with most other railways in South Korea, the Incheon Airport Maglev Line travels on the right, similar to road traffic.
Approaching Long Term Parking station.
After Long Term Parking station, the line exits Incheon Airport.
Approaching Administration Complex station. If you are early before your flight, you can do some last minute shopping at e-mart here too.
A nice S-curve after Administration Complex station.
Passing through a viaduct support arch, though I can’t immediately see why this is needed and a regular viaduct pillar can’t be used, aside from aesthetic purposes.
Approaching Paradise City station.
Passing by Paradise City on the right. Don’t visit this place so soon after you land before you lose all your money before your holiday even begins.
There is a trailing crossover after Paradise City station.
After Paradise City station, the line takes a curve right for a long and straight stretch.
Another Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train heading towards Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 station.
The nice view of nothingness from the modern Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train.
Heading onto the long stretch of track. Here, the Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train accelerates to speeds of up to 120km/h.
Crossing with the opposing Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train set.
Not easy to shoot this train as the trains cross with a combined speed of 240km/h.
Speeding on.
Approaching Water Park station.
Station platforms are already capable of longer trains from the 2-car Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev sets currently running.
Heading on to the final stop, Yongyu. The line passes by the length of the AREX Yongyu Depot on the right here.
Yongyu station as seen from the maglev train.
Approaching Yongyu station.
The empty interior of the Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train, save for the on-board staff who will follow the train to the turnback siding after the station.
The Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev train at Yongyu station arrival platform.
The Hyundai Rotem Ecobee Urban Maglev slowly heading off to the turnback siding after the station.
Heading down the escalator.
Heading out of the fare gates freely.
The view of the AREX Yongyu Depot from the Yongyu station exit. I did not go out to explore as I had my luggage with me, and the next maglev train back to the airport was arriving shortly – missing it would mean an even longer wait for the next AREX Express Train departure from Terminal 1.
Overall, a good ride on my very first maglev train experience, and I guess the free fare made it even better. Frequency is currently fixed at 15 minutes, but I guess the overall demand for the line currently does not warrant for it to be sped up at the moment since the line does pass by nothing between Paradise City and Yongyu.
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