'Called via Smartphone App'... Incheon Geomdan New Town I-MOD Bus Operation Extended for 2 Years

Demand-responsive I-MOD bus
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon Housing & City Development Corporation (iH) announced on the 25th that it will extend the operation of the I-MOD (Incheon-Mobility On Demand, demand-responsive) bus service currently running for the convenience of residents in Geomdan New Town.

iH decided to extend the operation of the five I-MOD buses in Geomdan New Town, which were originally scheduled to run only until the end of this year, for two more years until the end of 2024. This decision was made considering the increase in residents in Geomdan New Town and the ongoing construction of the Geomdan extension line of Incheon Subway Line 1.

The demand-responsive buses in Geomdan New Town, which have been operating since August last year, consist of three 45-seat buses (MODU) running to Gyeyang Station during commuting hours, and two 16-seat internal circulation buses (I-MOD) running between Geomdan New Town and nearby subway stations such as Wanjeong Station and Gyeyang Station.

The I-MOD bus is a smart mobility service that allows passengers to call a vehicle to their desired bus stop via a smartphone app and travel to any bus stop they want regardless of fixed routes.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) searches for the fastest route in real-time and dispatches the buses accordingly. Unlike conventional buses that stop at every station on a fixed route even if there are no passengers, I-MOD determines the stops based on passenger locations and destinations.

Along with extending the operation of the I-MOD buses, iH plans to reduce fares starting January 1 next year.

The current I-MOD bus fares of 1,800 KRW for adults, 1,200 KRW for youth, and 700 KRW for children will be lowered to 1,250 KRW for adults, 870 KRW for youth, and 500 KRW for children, aligning with city bus fare levels.

The fare for the 45-seat MODU buses supporting commuting to Gyeyang Station will remain at the current 950 KRW.