For your information, between July and December 2022, Incheon Airport's maglev train will cease operation for maintenance and technical upgrades.
Official inof: https://centreforaviation.com/news/inch ... 22-1147867 Accessed: 2022-07-13
[KR] Ecobee: Maintenance break
Re: [KR] Ecobee: Maintenance break
According to this article (in German) the trains ar set to be out off order for one more year.
https://www.notebookcheck.com/Suedkorea ... 945.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.com/Suedkorea ... 945.0.html
(translation by me). The original source is https://www.jeonmae.co.kr/news/articleV ... xno=932569 (in Korean).The reopening, set for the turn of the year, was resheduled to the middle of 2024
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Miss Maglev
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- Joined: 23. Apr 2021, 13:30
[KR] Incheon Mayor Pushes for Restart of Ecobee Maglev, Still Idle as of Mid-2025
Incheon Mayor Pushes for Restart of Ecobee Maglev, Still Idle as of Mid-2025
Kim Jeong-heon, mayor of Jung-gu District in Incheon, continues to press for the swift resumption of the Ecobee Maglev (Incheon Airport Maglev), which remains out of service as of June 2025. Although multiple restart dates have been announced since its shutdown, operations have yet to resume nearly two years later.
The maglev line, originally suspended for mid-level maintenance from July to December 2022, had its shutdown extended repeatedly. The official reasoning cited ongoing safety inspections under Korea’s Railroad Safety Act. However, Mayor Kim has questioned the true intent, referencing a March 2022 application by Incheon International Airport Corporation to discontinue maglev operations altogether, likely due to unsustainable operating costs and declining ridership.
Adding to the concern, the airport operator has proposed reclassifying the maglev under the “Track Transport Act,” commonly used for cable cars. This change could drastically reduce the number of operational stations from six to just a few, eliminating service to Yongyu Station and further isolating the already underserved Yongyu region, which has suffered from delayed development initiatives.
Residents of the Yeongjong and Yongyu areas, where over 100,000 people rely heavily on limited transit infrastructure, have expressed strong dissatisfaction. One local noted that even the current airport rail line is overcrowded, and canceling the maglev would deepen community frustration over repeated delays in major projects like the GTX-D express line and Seoul Subway Line 9 extension.
Mayor Kim condemned the prolonged suspension, arguing it disrupts local mobility and obstructs tourism-driven economic growth. He emphasized that both Incheon City and the airport authority must prioritize the public interest and move toward a full restoration of the line.
Notably, when the Ecobee Maglev was in service—up until its final day of operation on September 1, 2023—it was entirely free of charge. No tickets were required, gates remained open, and signage clearly indicated that rides were complimentary. Although ticket barriers had been installed, they were never activated.
Info based on several South Korean sources. Compiled 2025-05-16
Kim Jeong-heon, mayor of Jung-gu District in Incheon, continues to press for the swift resumption of the Ecobee Maglev (Incheon Airport Maglev), which remains out of service as of June 2025. Although multiple restart dates have been announced since its shutdown, operations have yet to resume nearly two years later.
The maglev line, originally suspended for mid-level maintenance from July to December 2022, had its shutdown extended repeatedly. The official reasoning cited ongoing safety inspections under Korea’s Railroad Safety Act. However, Mayor Kim has questioned the true intent, referencing a March 2022 application by Incheon International Airport Corporation to discontinue maglev operations altogether, likely due to unsustainable operating costs and declining ridership.
Adding to the concern, the airport operator has proposed reclassifying the maglev under the “Track Transport Act,” commonly used for cable cars. This change could drastically reduce the number of operational stations from six to just a few, eliminating service to Yongyu Station and further isolating the already underserved Yongyu region, which has suffered from delayed development initiatives.
Residents of the Yeongjong and Yongyu areas, where over 100,000 people rely heavily on limited transit infrastructure, have expressed strong dissatisfaction. One local noted that even the current airport rail line is overcrowded, and canceling the maglev would deepen community frustration over repeated delays in major projects like the GTX-D express line and Seoul Subway Line 9 extension.
Mayor Kim condemned the prolonged suspension, arguing it disrupts local mobility and obstructs tourism-driven economic growth. He emphasized that both Incheon City and the airport authority must prioritize the public interest and move toward a full restoration of the line.
Notably, when the Ecobee Maglev was in service—up until its final day of operation on September 1, 2023—it was entirely free of charge. No tickets were required, gates remained open, and signage clearly indicated that rides were complimentary. Although ticket barriers had been installed, they were never activated.
Info based on several South Korean sources. Compiled 2025-05-16