Reducing Commuting Congestion in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... 50 Additional Double-Decker Electric Buses Deployed

The Metropolitan Transport Commission of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 25th that it will add 50 double-decker electric buses to 16 metropolitan bus routes in the Seoul metropolitan area by the end of the year to improve commuting convenience.

Double-decker electric bus introduced on metropolitan bus number 1311 / Photo by Osan City

This is a follow-up measure based on the plan to enhance the convenience of metropolitan bus usage announced at the transportation sector public discussion last month. The allocation plan for each route will be finalized quickly to ensure all buses are in operation within the year.

The double-decker electric bus is an eco-friendly, high-capacity transportation vehicle jointly developed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Hyundai Motor Company in 2019, produced using domestic technology. It can accommodate up to 71 passengers, 27 more than a single-decker bus (maximum 44 passengers). It is gaining attention as a means to minimize road congestion in urban bus-only lanes and alleviate crowding inside buses during commuting hours.

Considering these effects, the Metropolitan Transport Commission is deploying double-decker electric buses on metropolitan bus routes that have high congestion during commuting hours and cover long distances. A total of 100 buses have been introduced from 2020 to last year, and the number will be expanded to 150 this year.

By route, 50 double-decker electric buses will be additionally introduced on 16 routes across 7 local governments, including 4 buses on route 8600(A) from Godani 8 Complex to Seoul City Hall, 3 buses on route M4130 from Hosu Jaipamilrie I-One to Seoul Station, and 5 buses on route G5100 from Kyung Hee University International Campus to Maehun Citizen’s Forest and Yangjae Flower Market.

Kim Bae-seong, Director of Metropolitan Transport Policy at the Metropolitan Transport Commission, said, "To harmoniously solve the urban road congestion problem and the inconvenience of metropolitan bus usage during commuting hours, we will continue to expand the deployment of double-decker electric buses and strive to ease the commuting discomfort of the public even a little."

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