October 1-2 Seoul Subway and Bus Last Train and Bus Times Extended Until 2 AM

Seoul City’s Special Traffic Measures for Chuseok Holiday ... Intensive Disinfection at Bus Terminals and Connected Subway Stations
Traffic Volume Dispersed through Urban Expressway Traffic Forecast ... Bus-Only Lanes Operated Until 1 AM Next Day

On January 26, ahead of this year's Lunar New Year, cars are moving on the Gyeongbu Expressway near Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the northbound (left) and southbound lanes. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City announced on the 28th that it will implement a 'Chuseok Holiday Special Transportation Plan' to ensure that citizens can spend the holiday safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, the city will concentrate personnel at eight major subway stations?Seoul, Cheongnyangni, Suseo, Express Bus Terminal, Gangbyeon, Nambu Terminal, Sangbong, and Gimpo Airport?that are accessible via bus terminals and other transportation modes such as air and KTX, which frequently see inflows from provinces and other external areas, to strengthen disinfection and quarantine measures.

Terminal waiting rooms, ticket offices, boarding and alighting areas, and rest areas will be disinfected intensively at least three times a day. Hand sanitizers and hand soaps will be provided throughout the terminals, and fever detectors and isolation rooms will be installed within terminals to immediately isolate any suspected infected individuals. Citizens must wear masks when using public transportation, and refusal to wear masks or obstructing operations may result in police charges.

In accordance with the government's 'Comprehensive Plan for Chuseok Livelihood Stability,' the city will extend subway and bus last service times until 2 a.m., linked with late-night train and intercity bus operations, to allow citizens who must travel to return home safely during late hours. Nine owl bus routes and about 3,100 late-night exclusive taxis will also operate normally throughout the holiday period, ensuring no inconvenience for those arriving late in Seoul and needing to travel within the city.

Since many citizens are expected to prefer using private cars to minimize contact with others during travel, traffic volume will be dispersed through urban expressway traffic forecast services. Real-time information on road traffic and incidents will be provided via the Seoul Transportation Information Center TOPIS website, Seoul Transportation Portal app, Twitter, and other channels.

The bus-only lane on the Gyeongbu Expressway (Hannam IC to Sintanjin IC), usually operating from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., will have its operating hours extended from September 29 to October 4, running from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the following day to facilitate faster and safer travel for express and intercity bus passengers.

However, city bus routes passing through Seoul Municipal Cemetery will not increase service frequency and will operate at normal levels. Although these routes have been increased during holidays in previous years to accommodate visitors, this year, due to COVID-19 prevention measures including the closure of indoor columbariums within the cemetery, visits and travel are discouraged.

Strict enforcement against illegal parking and stopping will be conducted in habitual violation areas such as roads near train stations and terminals, fire alarms and firefighting facilities, and child and elderly protection zones, which are closely related to public safety. However, enforcement will be relaxed around traditional market areas to support small business owners.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.