Busan has launched a late-night autonomous bus service on its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line connecting Naeseong Intersection and Jungdong. The pilot aims to improve late-night mobility while expanding real-world testing of autonomous public transportation.
The pilot will operate from January 26 through June 30. Service runs on weekdays from 11:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. the following morning, with no service on the first Friday of each month. The route spans approximately 10.4 kilometers, linking Dongnae Station and Naeseong Intersection with the Haeundae-gu Office Intersection. A one-way trip takes about one hour. Buses operate four one-way trips per night (two round trips), with a 60-minute headway in each direction. Rides are free during the pilot period, and standard city bus fares will apply once regular service begins.
For safety, standing passengers are not permitted, and onboard capacity is limited to a maximum of 15 passengers. All riders must wear seat belts, and a safety operator is onboard each vehicle to respond to unexpected situations. The city has strengthened inspection and monitoring procedures before, during, and after operations, with enhanced safety measures tailored to late-night service conditions.
The launch follows nearly two months of trial operations conducted from November through January, during which driving safety and system stability were confirmed. Earlier daytime autonomous bus services on the Osiria route also demonstrated operational reliability through public use, paving the way for gradual expansion of operating hours and service areas.
During the trial phase, key autonomous driving technologies were tested, including vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication, high-precision map-based navigation, and stable operation in dedicated bus lanes. Emergency response capabilities and system reliability were also evaluated, helping establish operational data for deployment in real public transit environments.
Busan plans to continue analyzing driving data collected during operations to further improve service quality. The city will also review phased expansion of operating hours and routes, steadily building operational experience to integrate autonomous buses into everyday urban transportation.
Source: Busan Metropolitan City Government
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