Pyeongtaek Launches Route 5503 Wide-Area Bus Service in Western District

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Route 5503 wide-area bus connecting Pyeongtaek's western district with Seoul's Sadang Station launched on the 1st.

Route 5503 departs from Anjung Terminal, passes through the Uiwang toll gate, and runs to Sadang Station, operating 18 times daily on weekdays. From the Uiwang toll gate, passengers can transfer to Gangnam Station, Jamsil Transfer Center, Yangjae Station, and Gyodae Station, while Sadang Station offers connections to Seoul Metro Lines 2 and 4.

The bus launch is attributed to Pyeongtaek City's active administrative efforts. In fact, wide-area bus routes entering major metropolitan areas like Seoul are legally limited to within 50 kilometers, but the Anjung-Sadang route exceeds 50 kilometers. Through persistent persuasion of the government, Pyeongtaek City successfully enabled the route's opening.

The city anticipates that the bus launch will resolve the inconvenience faced by residents in the western district, who previously either used expensive express buses or traveled to Pyeongtaek Station to use railway services for trips to Seoul.

The city particularly emphasized that the six vehicles deployed on Route 5503 are hydrogen fuel-cell buses. This marks the first instance of hydrogen vehicles being introduced to a wide-area bus route in Pyeongtaek City, and these vehicles will be charged at the Pyeongtaek Port Hydrogen Transportation Complex Base.

The opening ceremony for Route 5503 wide-area bus took place on the 1st at the plaza in front of Anjung Sports Complex, with approximately 120 attendees including local lawmakers, provincial assembly members, city council members, and residents celebrating the launch of the new bus route.

Mayor Jung Jang-seon stated, "With the opening of the wide-area bus between Anjung and Sadang, we expect improved mobility for citizens in the western district," and added, "We will continue to make various efforts to expand public transportation services in Pyeongtaek's western district."