Two passengers suffer dizziness on Seoul's crowded 'hell train' subway line

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Two passengers suffer dizziness on Seoul's crowded 'hell train' subway line

Published: 20 Aug. 2024, 12:13 Updated: 20 Aug. 2024, 18:06

A mechanic inspects a Gimpo Goldline train at a railway depot in October 2023. [YONHAP]

Two subway passengers suffered dizziness while onboard a crowded train on the Gimpo Goldline during rush hour on Tuesday.

At 8:05 a.m. on Tuesday, a man in his 20s showed signs of nausea at Gimpo International Airport Station, according to the subway line operator.

The man reportedly felt dizzy and nauseous while traveling on a train from Gochon Station to Gimpo International Airport Station. He collapsed to the ground upon arriving at Gimpo International Airport Station.

The Gimpo Goldline, an automated, unmanned metro service that opened in 2019, connects Gimpo in Gyeonggi to Seoul's subway system via Gimpo International Airport Station. The line is also commonly called the "hell train," as it often gets overcrowded during rush hour.

Earlier, at 7:58 a.m., a woman in her 30s also experienced dizziness and nausea and got off the train at the same station. She received emergency treatment at the scene.

"Medical staff were looking after people who were vomiting," one passenger told local media outlet Yonhap News, adding that the Gimpo Goldline was exceptionally crowded that day.

An official of the subway line operator said that emergency medical technicians were deployed to assess passengers' health and provide rest areas until they were able to move on their own.

Emergency personnel were then stationed at Gimpo International Airport Station to prevent further incidents caused by overcrowding, particularly during peak commuting hours.

"Both passengers rested at the scene for about 15 minutes," said the official of the subway line operator, adding that neither was taken to hospital.

On Monday, two subway riders, both women, were taken to the hospital after they suffered an anxiety attack while onboard.

Concerns have been raised since last year about potential crowd-related disasters due to the limited number of carriages on the trains and maximum capacity during rush hour.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]