Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 4 hrs ago
Seoul starts regular night service for driverless Cheonggye bus
Seoul has started regular night service for its driverless Cheonggye A01 bus in central Seoul.
The route runs 4.8 kilometres between Cheonggye Plaza and Gwangjang Market, passing Cheonggye 3-ga and Sewoon Arcade.
City officials say it is the first driverless bus in South Korea to run a regular night schedule.
Two buses operate on weekdays from 7 p.m., leaving every 30 minutes for nine daily trips; there is no service on weekends or public holidays.
Rides are free for now, but passengers must tap a transit card when boarding, and a safety operator rides on each bus.
Each vehicle can carry up to eight passengers.
Seoul says the service is intended to make it easier to visit nearby sights and businesses at night, and it plans to move towards paid service in the future.
Seoul began regular night service on October 22 for its driverless Cheonggye A01 bus.
The bus runs a 4.8-kilometre round trip between Cheonggye Plaza and Gwangjang Market.
Two buses operate on weekdays from 7 p.m., departing every 30 minutes for nine trips a day.
The service is free for now, but passengers must tap a transit card when boarding.
The city says the service is intended to improve nighttime travel and support tourism and local businesses.
- Who
- Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the service. Residents and tourists can use it.
- What
- The driverless Cheonggye A01 began regular night bus service.
- When
- October 22, 2026. It runs on weekdays from 7 p.m. to 11:50 p.m.
- Where
- Along a 4.8-kilometre round trip between Cheonggye Plaza and Gwangjang Market in Seoul.
- Why
- The city aims to make nighttime travel easier and connect transport with culture, tourism and local spending.
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Seoul conducted trial runs of the night service and checked safety with outside experts.
Regular night service began on the Cheonggye A01 route.
- Route
- Cheonggye Plaza–Cheonggye 3-ga–Cheonggye 5-ga (Gwangjang Market), 4.8 km round trip
- Fleet
- 2 buses
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes; 9 trips a day
- Operating days and hours
- Weekdays, 7 p.m.–11:50 p.m.; no weekend or public-holiday service
- Fare
- Free for now; passengers must tap a transit card
- Capacity
- Up to 8 passengers per bus, with 1 test driver on board