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‘Like First Class on the Road’ Premium Express Bus Services Expand
- 14 New routes based on national surveys, 7 routes ↑… To be in service after Lunar New Year (mid-March)
□ MOLIT (Minister Kim Hyun-mee announced that it will introduce premium express bus services in 14 areas such as the Seoul-Daejeon, Seoul-Gyeongju, Seoul-Samcheok, and Busan-Gwangju routes to improve express bus service levels and for enhanced convenience of users, while also expanding the number of services in seven routes including the Seoul-Masan, Seoul-Gunsan, and Seoul-Gangneung routes.
□ Premium express buses are luxury buses built to provide safe and comfortable services, and it has been popular among passengers since it began operations on November 15, 2016. It has offered new operations and expansion of existing routes every year with the continued request of passengers, and a total of 154 buses are in operation in 25 routes as of now.
□ A survey was held to gather opinions on the satisfaction level of currently operating premium express buses and the 21 routes that will be newly introduced and expanded via the express bus mobile app and internet reservation site over eight days from November 28 to December 5, 2018, prior to introducing new premium express bus services.
ㅇ (Satisfaction) 86%, or 2,866 out of 3,319 people said that they were satisfied with the premium express bus with intent for reuse at 91%, thus showing high satisfaction among passengers.
ㅇ (Introduction of new routes) 88%, or 2,924 out of 3,324 people replied positively on introducing new routes, and it was found that 7,676 (90%) out of 8,572 people agreed with the 14 new routes, while 4,790 (90%) out of 5,295 people agreed to expanding the seven existing routes.
□ The 14 new routes and 7 expanded routes were determined by reflecting the survey results carried out on premium express bus passengers, and it is planning to begin operations after Lunar New Year (mid-March) in accordance to the delivering schedule of premium express buses. The number of routes and daily number of services are as shown below.
□ Currently, the express bus industry offers the ‘premium express bus mileage program’ that accrues points based on premium express bus usage performance and weekday (Monday-Thursday) fair discount (15%) to promote premium express buses and to enhance user convenience.
ㅇ The routes that will be newly added will also offer the same weekday (Mon-Thu) fare discount* (15%) and plans are to offer additional discounts for the East Seoul-Masan, East Seoul-Jinhae, Seoul-Masan, Seoul-Changwon, and Seoul-Gangneung routes. Details are as follows.
□ Reservations for the expanded and new premium express bus services will begin after the Lunar New Year holidays (mid-March) according to the premium express bus shipping schedule. Related contents can be checked through the express bus internet reservation website (www.kobus.co.kr, www.hticket.co.kr), express bus mobile app or the national express bus transportation cooperative (02-536-6460~2).
□ The MOLIT Public Transport Division manager said, “The addition and expansion of premium express buses was decided by reflecting the satisfaction level and demands for more bus operations by users based on survey results.”
ㅇ The manager added, “We will continue to actively take in opinions on premium express buses to continuously pursue expansion of premium express buses to create a premium bus that passengers will choose through better services, etc.”
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