Interprovincial bus fares to fall up to 20%

Interprovincial bus fares to fall up to 20%

Passengers leave an airconditioned tour bus at Mor Chit terminal in Bangkok after travelling from Nakhon Ratchasima. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Passengers leave an airconditioned tour bus at Mor Chit terminal in Bangkok after travelling from Nakhon Ratchasima. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Interprovincial bus operators will be allowed to offer promotional discounts on fares of up to 20% to improve their competitiveness with low-cost airlines.

Darun Saengchai, deputy permanent secretary for transport, said the Central Land Transport Committee had decided to allow operators to introduce promotional fares, instead of the old fixed fare system based on distance.

The committee agreed to set both ceiling and floor ticket prices, and allow discounts of up to 20% on the old fixed fare.

This allows bus services operating between Bangkok and the provinces, and services between provinces, the flexibility to set their own promotional fares to attract travellers, in the same way low-cost airlines attract passengers.

He said the change would affect 400 to 500 routes under the Land Transport Department's supervision. Each operator would be offered a contract amendment by the end of November. 

Land transport director-general Sanit Phromwong said the fare adjustment would be voluntary. Each operator could decide their own promotional details, but the department expected to see lower fares,  especially during the New Year festival.  

He said floor fares were necessary to prevent price dumping that might damage some small operators.

Nopparat Karoonyavanich, acting president of the state-run Transport Co, said the company would not pioneer promotional fares, to avoid complaints from the private sector.

He expected the fare cuts by New Year.

The company would next week circulate the committee’s resolution to all its contracted bus operators, so they could contact the Land Transport Department and begin procedures to allow them to adjust prices.

Based on a maximum 20% cut in fares, the cost of a ticket on an airconditioned bus between Bangkok and Pattaya would be cut to 92 baht from 115; Bangkok - Nakhon Ratchasima to 157 baht from 196; Bangkok - Chiang Mai to 400 baht from 500; and Bangkok - Phuket to 482 baht from 603. 

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