Long-distance buses between Chengdu and Chongqing have made a comeback, offering tickets at 50 yuan (about $7) and picking up passengers at metro stations instead of remote terminals. According to Huxiu, the route, once killed off by high-speed rail, is now drawing full loads on many trips.
The revival marks a shift from the old model that saw fares drop to 77 yuan without saving the service. The new approach uses online booking to match capacity with demand, adding buses on Friday evenings and Sunday returns, and placing stops near universities and shopping areas.
Time and Money Recalculated
High-speed rail covers the 300-kilometer trip in about 1.5 hours, but door-to-door travel often takes nearly 3 hours when accounting for transfers, waiting, and security checks. The bus takes longer on the road but cuts out the extra hassle, appealing to students and ordinary commuters who value the savings.
The new buses are also electric, reducing fuel costs, though purchase and charging expenses remain challenges. Lower costs for customer acquisition, scheduling, and energy, combined with rising demand for value, have made the economics work again.
Similar models are emerging elsewhere, such as commuter buses from Yanjiao to Beijing's CBD and low-cost cross-city services in the Greater Bay Area, targeting everyday travelers rather than those in a hurry.
The lesson, as Huxiu notes, is that demand didn't disappear—old modes of operation failed to adapt. By changing stops, schedules, and costs, the bus industry is finding new life.
