Wide-Area Call Bus Service Launches Between Suwon's Dangsu District and Seoul's Sadang Station

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The 'wide-area call bus' service connecting Suwon's Dangsu District and Seoul's Sadang Station began operation on the 26th.

The opening ceremony, held at the parking lot of the Suwon Dangsu Public Housing District Development Project Office, was attended by Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, local residents, and officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The wide-area call bus, a demonstration project from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Wide-Area Transportation Committee, is a demand-responsive transportation service for inter-city and inter-provincial travel. Passengers can reserve their desired bus time and seats to reduce waiting time, and with fewer stops than existing wide-area buses, it offers a new transportation option that shortens travel time.

Three 45-passenger large buses will operate through four bus stops at the Dangsu public housing district and Sadang Station. Each bus runs six times daily for a total of 18 trips per day. Trial operations will run from the 26th to the 29th, followed by official launch on March 4th. Free rides are available during the trial period.

Passengers must reserve their boarding location, time, and seat through the 'Kakao T' app before boarding. Monthly advance reservations between the 16th and 20th of each month allow commuters to apply for regular rides during the following month's peak hours. The fare is 2,800 won based on transportation card rates, same as conventional wide-area buses, with Metropolitan Area integrated transfer discounts applied.

Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Transportation in the Dangsu District will become more convenient with the launch of the wide-area call bus," adding, "We will continue our efforts to ensure residents can comfortably use public transportation."

Currently, approximately 6,000 households reside in the Dangsu area. A total of approximately 15,000 households are expected to move in sequentially by 2027.