The First Operation of Double-Decker Electric Buses in Daejeon~Sejong, the Largest Regional Metropolitan Area

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The Metropolitan Area Express Transit Authority (MAETA) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 24th that starting from the 14th of next month, two double-decker electric buses will begin operation on the B1 route running from Daejeon Station through Sejong City to Osong Station.

MAETA is implementing a project to supply eco-friendly large-capacity double-decker electric buses to increase passenger transport capacity and improve air quality. The double-decker electric buses, with 70 passenger seats (11 on the first floor and 59 on the second floor), have 29 more seats than the existing 41-seat buses. It is expected that operating these buses on the B1 route will significantly alleviate congestion during rush hours.

The double-decker electric buses are uniquely manufactured as low-floor buses (buses with lowered floors to allow wheelchair access) among domestically produced seat buses. Before the full-scale operation of the double-decker electric buses, Lee Sung-hae, Chairman of MAETA, plans to conduct a joint inspection with Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, on the 25th of this month.

MAETA plans to expand the introduction of double-decker electric buses to other metropolitan areas beyond the Daejeon region.

Kim Young-guk, Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Policy Bureau at MAETA, said, "With the introduction of double-decker electric buses in the Daejeon and Sejong areas, convenience in metropolitan transportation will greatly improve," adding, "We will continue to make efforts to improve metropolitan transportation in other regional metropolitan areas such as Busan-Ulsan, Daegu, and Gwangju."

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