ADL’s Seoul trial ‘overwhelmingly positive’

An ‘overwhelmingly positive response’ was received from passengers, drivers and operating companies taking part in a three week trial of an ADL Enviro500 tri-axle in Seoul, South Korea. Hundreds of passengers per day had the opportunity to travel in the double decker on inter-urban routes between Suwon and Sadang; Namyang and Jamsil; and Gimpo and Seoul Station throughout December 2014. Early indications from online research commissioned by ADL shows over 90% of respondents welcome the vehicle’s introduction. The manufacturer claimed its bus ‘easily’ travelled on the designated routes without any infrastructure issues. It also reported that the drivers adapted quickly to the characteristics of the Enviro500.

Director and General Manager of ADL’s Asia Pacific operations, Paul Davies, said, ‘The double deck trial was borne out of a search for buses with a higher seating capacity to meet the needs of the daily commuters. What we’ve proven is that the Enviro500 not only fulfils this basic requirement, it also brings with it many other benefits – most notably the improved access for wheelchair users, excellent fuel efficiency, outstanding manoeuvrability and the fact that it can carry twice as many seated passengers as the current single deck buses. We look forward to working with Gyeonggi Provincial Government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Gyeonggi Research Institute as the project moves to the next phase.’