| Title |
Adequacy of Staffing Levels in Outsourced Metropolitan Urban Rail Operations: The Bucheon Section of Metro Line 7 |
| Authors |
임광균(Lim, Kwang-kyun) ; 윤경철(Yun, Gyeong-Cheol) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.12652/Ksce.2026.46.2.0181 |
| Keywords |
도시철도운영; 위수탁협약서; 위수탁인력; 광역철도 Urban railway operation; Delegation agreement; Personnel for delegated operation; Metropolitan railway |
| Abstract |
As urban railway lines originally centered in Seoul have been extended across the metropolitan area, the authority and responsibility of local governments for railway operations have expanded. However, many local governments lack sufficient organizational capacity and manpower for railway operation and therefore outsource operations to experienced railway operators. In this process, continuous debates have arisen regarding the appropriateness of staffing levels, actual manpower input, and cost settlements for outsourced sections. This study empirically examines the appropriateness of staffing levels under the delegation agreement between Seoul Metro and Incheon Transit Corporation for the Bucheon section of Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 7. To achieve this, the staffing levels specified in the operation agreements were compared with unit staffing levels derived from operational performance in the directly operated section, while differences across operational fields and previously suggested staffing standards were also examined. The analysis shows that both Seoul Metro and Incheon Transit Corporation exhibit tendencies toward overestimation in agreement-based staffing levels compared to performance-based benchmarks. When recalculated based on unit staffing levels, the appropriate staffing levels are estimated at approximately 70 personnel for Seoul Metro and 161 personnel for Incheon Transit Corporation. Across operational fields?including rolling stock and control, station services, train operation, and technical maintenance?the agreement-based unit staffing levels were generally higher than those observed in the directly operated section. The results of this study are expected to serve as fundamental data for establishing more rational staffing standards for delegated urban railway operations and for improving inter-agency operation agreements and cost settlement systems in the Seoul metropolitan railway network. |