PUBLIC TRANSPORT
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
Fares on all buses in greater Bangkok will be slashed by 50 satang for "hot" coaches and one baht for air-conditioned travel from Monday.
Tickets on interprovincial buses will be cut by three satang per kilometre.
The decision, made by the Central Land Transport Committee yesterday, follows the fall in diesel prices on the world market.
Ordinary white-blue buses now charge a flat rate of 8.50 baht, and the cream-red buses 7.50 baht. Fares for minibuses are 6.50 baht and songtaew passenger trucks charge six baht.
Air-conditioned buses charge between 11 and 25 baht depending on the type of vehicle.
The fare reduction is based on diesel prices of 21 to 22 baht a litre and on the assumption the government will reintroduce an excise tax on oil at 2.70 baht per litre after the exemption period ends on Jan 31.
For intercity buses, fares will decline by three satang per kilometre because the prices for batteries, tyres and lubricant oil have not been reduced, said transport deputy permanent secretary Chaisak Angsuwan, who chairs the committee.
Chairat Sa-nguansue, director-general of the Land Transport Department, said passenger van fares will not be cut because it is an optional form of travel. Buses were basic public transport.
Transport authorities would also not touch the rates charged by motorcycle taxis, he said.
Activist Boonchai Rungrueangpaisansuk, who campaigned for lower fares, argued there should be a larger fare cut than the rate decided by the committee.
He said the fares could be reduced by up to 2.50 baht for Bangkok buses and up to nine satang per kilometre for inter-provincial buses, because many buses now run on natural gas.
Transport Co managing director Wuthichart Kalayanamitr said travellers who had already booked interprovincial bus tickets for the holiday season will receive the fare reduction when they check in for tickets before their trip.
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