The Incheon International Airport Railroad, officially known as “A’REX” will start initial operations on March 23.

The railway, when completed, will connect Incheon International Airport with Seoul Train Station, stretching 61 kilometres. But in this first phase of operations, the open section will be confined to the route between Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport.

A’REX will be operated with both express and commuter services, the express taking 28 minutes between Incheon and Gimpo. Express services will operate nonstop. Commuter trains will stop at every station but this will only add 5 minutes to the journey. The initial intervals are 12 minutes for commuter trains and one hour for express trains.

The railway will stop at six stations in all, running in order from Incheon International Airport, Incheon Int’l Airport Cargo Terminal, Unseo, Geomam, Gyeyang to Gimpo Airport.

Passengers can transfer to Incheon Subway Line 1 at Gyeyang Station, and change trains at Seoul Subway Line 5 at Gimpo Airport Station; they can also use Seoul Subway Line 9 via Gimpo Station when it is completed.

The line linking Gimpo Airport and Seoul Station, which constitutes the second phase of the project, is scheduled to be opened during 2010.

The one-way fare is expected to be set at 3,100 won for commuter trains and 7,900 won for express trains.