Daejeon expands night bus, special train services for fall festivals

Daejeon is expanding its nighttime tourist transportation network, linking major night-tourism districts and key festival venues to make it easier for visitors to get around after dark.

The city announced Friday that it is operating the "D-Universe" double-decker loop bus and special tourist trains through November in partnership with the Daejeon Tourism Organization, aiming to improve nighttime mobility for visitors on weekends and during major festival periods.

The D-Universe bus runs a loop connecting Daejeon Station's east plaza, Hanbat Arboretum and the Expo Water Plaza. It will operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — excluding the chuseok holiday — for a total of 24 days from Friday through Nov. 15. Regular service hours run from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with five departures a day at one-hour intervals.

During the Daejeon Bread Festival and Daejeon International Wine Expo, running Oct. 16 through Nov. 8, daytime service will be added, extending hours to 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with eight runs per day. The expanded schedule is designed to help festival-goers visit major tourist attractions and enjoy nighttime activities.

The city is also running special tourist trains for visitors from the Greater Seoul area to coincide with the two festivals. The trains will operate on Oct. 17 and Nov. 6, offering a tourism product that combines the Paldo Jangter tourist train and connecting buses to take passengers to Daejeon's signature festivals and major nighttime attractions.

"We are putting in place transportation that connects Daejeon's major festivals and nighttime attractions so visitors can enjoy the city's nights more conveniently," said Kwon Gyeong-min, director of the city's culture, sports and tourism bureau.

The D-Universe bus accepts walk-up passengers on-site for 1,000 won in cash, while the special tourist trains can be booked through the Korail Tourism Development website.