Seoul Subway Line 5

Line 5
Line 5 train approaching Yeouinaru Station
Overview
Native name	5호선（五號線） O Hoseon
Type	Rapid transit
System	Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Status	Operational
Termini	Banghwa Sangil-dong / Macheon
Stations	51
Operation
Opened	15 November 1995
Operator(s)	Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation
Technical
Line length	52.3 km (32.5 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Route map

Seoul Subway Line 5 of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, dubbed the purple line, is a long line crossing from the west to the east across the Seoul National Capital Area, South Korea. Line 5 holds the distinction of being one of the two subway lines in Seoul to cross under the Han River (the other being Bundang Line), which is done at two points (between Mapo–Yeouinaru and Gwangnaru–Cheonho). The line also branches into two different lines at Gangdong Station to terminate at Sangil-dong Station and Macheon Station.

The total length of this line is 52.3 km. Once the longest underground tunnel constructed, today it is the 3rd longest fully underground subway line in the world just behind Guangzhou Metro Line 3 and Beijing Subway Line 10 (see world's longest rapid transit tunnel).

The line was built 1990~1996 and is an important east-west link connecting Gimpo Airport, the Yeouido business area, downtown Seoul, and the Gangdong residential districts.

In 1996 Line 5 was implemented with Automatic train operation. However, it was deemed that a driver would be necessary in case of a breakdown of the automation system, therefore each subway train has one driver on board.

It was the world's longest underground railway line for 9 years until Guangzhou Metro Line 3 came into operation in 2005.

In December 2010 the line is recorded as having the third highest WiFi data consumption in the Seoul Metropolitan area. It averaged 1.67 times more than the other 14 subway lines fitted with WiFi service zones.