AREX Express or all-stop: choose by your hotel station
AREX Express uses separate tickets and assigned seats, while the All-Stop Train accepts transit cards and serves intermediate stations; compare their fares, journey times and arrangements for traveling with children and luggage.
AREX Express or all-stop: choose by your hotel station
The AREX Express Train runs between Incheon Airport T1 or T2 and Seoul Station without intermediate stops, with an assigned seat. The All-Stop Train calls at Hongik University, Gongdeok, Digital Media City, Magongnaru and Gimpo Airport, among other stations. It accepts transit cards and has no assigned seating.[1][2][3] For Seoul Station and a seat throughout the journey, consider the Express; for an intermediate station, start with the All-Stop Train. Ticketing and fares differ too.
Time on the train
The official pages checked on September 10, 2026 listed Express journey times of about 43 minutes between Seoul Station and T1, and about 51 minutes between Seoul Station and T2.[1] The equivalent All-Stop journeys were about 59 and 66 minutes respectively, with some services taking another 2–6 minutes.[2]
Those times exclude buying tickets, waiting for a train, walking to the platform and any transfer after Seoul Station. A long wait for the Express, or accommodation near an All-Stop station, can change which option gets you to your accommodation first.
Express: a separate ticket and an assigned seat
Buy a separate Express ticket and travel in your assigned seat. An ordinary transit-card tap at the gate will not let you board.[1] VisitKorea's transit-card guide also excludes the Express from ordinary AREX transit-card use.[5]
On the September 10 check, the official page listed an adult promotional fare of KRW 13,000 and a child fare of KRW 9,500. Look at the promotion's eligibility conditions and the final payment amount when buying. If traveling with a child, the purchase process is also the time to establish whether they qualify for the child fare and what ticket and seat they need.[1]
Put large bags in the designated spaces and keep aisles and doors clear. For oversized luggage, consult the official guidance or staff about the limits that apply to your journey.[1]
An Express Train carriage. Photo: Minseong Kim, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
All-Stop: use a transit card and get off at an intermediate station
You can use a transit card on the All-Stop Train as you would on urban rail. Fares depend on the stations you travel between, card type and age, so use the official fare table for your journey when preparing a card or ticket.[3][5] With a child, look up the card or ticket they need, age-based fare eligibility and seating conditions as well.
Seats are not assigned, and you may have to stand when it is busy. Boarding and transfers with children and large bags can be more demanding during commuting hours. For accommodation near Hongik University, Gongdeok or another intermediate station, however, getting off there can save a transfer or a journey back from Seoul Station.[2] Follow the station announcements so you are ready for your stop.
An All-Stop Train carriage. Photo: TurnOnTheNight, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
If your destination requires a transfer
The Express's assigned seat is worth considering if your accommodation is close to Seoul Station. Neither train goes directly to Myeongdong or Gangnam. For Myeongdong, include the subway, bus or taxi journey from Seoul Station. For Gangnam, compare a transfer at an intermediate All-Stop station with taking the Express via Seoul Station.
Use your accommodation's exact address to find the nearest station and exit and the number of transfers. With a wheelchair, stroller, difficulty walking or large bags, elevators, changes in level, transfer distances and the walk from the station matter as much as the fare. Follow the signs through the transportation center and ask airport or railway staff if you need help.[4] Express and All-Stop gates may be separate, so follow the signs for your train.
Late arrivals, timetables and refunds
Look up departures for the terminal your flight uses, T1 or T2. Choose a train based on when you can reach the platform after immigration and baggage claim, rather than the scheduled landing time. The Express and All-Stop trains have separate timetables, so look up the last departure for each.[1][2]
If you may miss the last train, read the ticket's change and refund terms before purchasing. Once rail services have ended, use the airport's official transport information to find another way to travel rather than buying a train ticket.[4]
AREX ticket gates at Incheon International Airport Station. Photo: Kanchi1979, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
The journey times and fares above were checked on the official pages on September 10, 2026. Service intervals, first and last departures, platforms and discounted fares can change. Consult the official timetables and fares the day before your flight and again just before leaving the airport.[1][2][3]
Photo credits
• AREX Express Train concourse (cover) — MNXANL, CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:202403_AREX_Express_Train_Concourse_at_Incheon_International_Airport_Terminal_1_Station.jpg
• Express Train carriage — Minseong Kim, CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Korail_A%27rex_Direct_Train_Interior.jpg
• All-Stop Train carriage — TurnOnTheNight, CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_AREX_Class_2000_20240502093327.jpg
• AREX ticket gates at Incheon International Airport Station — Kanchi1979, CC BY 2.5 — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AREX-Incheon-International-Airport-Station-Gates.JPG
Sources
1. https://www.airportrailroad.com/train/express/introduce
2. https://www.airportrailroad.com/train/normal/introduce
3. https://www.airportrailroad.com/train/normal/fare
4. https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/1512/subview.do
5. https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/infoBscView.do?vcontsId=140663