Provincial bus fares, insurance cuts

Provincial bus fares, insurance cuts

Interprovincial bus fares will be cut by two satang (0.02 baht) per kilometre from Jan 1 following a request by the government after the diesel pump price dropped about three baht a litre.

Inter-province buses are always on high demand during long public holidays. (Bangkok Post photo)

Suchinda Cherdchai, president of the Association of Inter-provincial Bus Operators, said operators agreed to the fare cut after a meeting with the Transport Ministry.

In exchange to the fare reduction, the association has put proposals to the state-run Transport Co, which supervises the operation of interprovincial buses.

Transport Co president Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said the company has agreed with Ms Suchinda to reduce the minium frequency of bus services, so long as it does not inconvenience passengers.

The company will reduce the fare charged for each trip based on the actual impact.

However, Transport Co refused the proposal for termination of third-class insurance because it would have an impact in the event of accidents, but the company has proposed the establishment of an alternative fund.

“It is understandable. Operators have to pay as much as 100 million baht a year for insurance. So instead of insurance, the premium should be contributed to a fund that could be used for accidents," he said.

The association also wants the Transport Co to allow unused buses to be able to offer services on other routes, and that the fines levied on buses should be only a one-time payment to the Department of Land Transport. The association complained that its members have to pay double fines, with the second payment being made to the Transport Co.

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