An Accessibility Analysis of Korean High-Speed Rail: Case Study of Seoul Metropolitan Area

Korea's high-speed rail has being creating substantial positive impacts on forming a desirable modal share structure for intercity passenger travel. The patronage, however, is approximately half of that forecast. Accessibility improvement is generally accepted as one of the most urgent methods of increasing ridership. In this paper, a systemized accessibility analysis with a case study of the Seoul metropolitan area is made. A modified Hansen type measure is developed. An ANOVA test and a GIS-based mapping audit are used as tools for the assessment. Finally, zones of opportunity that could yield the greatest high-speed rail demand increase are identified and some railway expansions for improving accessibility of the region are recommended.