Operators behind the air-conditioned public bus No.8, which has consistently ranked at the bottom for its service, have made no improvements despite having drawn the highest number of complaints in the just-ended 2015 fiscal year, a source at the Transport Ministry says.
The bus line, operated by a contracted private operator between Kheha Rom Klao and Memorial Bridge, received 345 complaints, or almost one daily, from members of the public in the 2015 fiscal year (Oct 1, 2014 to Sept 30, 2015), said the source.
The No.8 bus has regularly landed at the bottom of the service ladder and in 2013 was voted the worst in Bangkok in the transport minister's Facebook survey. The most common complaints received dealt with reckless driving, refusing to stop at some bus stops during heavy traffic, being impolite to passengers and refusing to take passengers to their destinations, said the source.
The second on the worst 10 public-private joint bus services was the mini bus No.1, operating between Thanon Tok and Tha Tian, which received a total of 330 complaints during the same period, said the source.
Bus No.122, operating between Huai Khwang and Mor Chit bus terminal, came third on the list with 188 complaints. The fourth worst in the public-private joint bus service category was bus No.75, running between Phuttha Bucha and Hua Lamphong railway station, which drew 170 complaints.
As for bus services operated solely by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the worst performer was bus No.29, operating between Rangsit and Hua Lamphong railway station, which received 60 complaints in the past fiscal year.
The second worst bus service in this category was the bus No.145, operated between Pak Nam and Mor Chit bus terminal, which received 35 complaints. Bus No.34, running between Rangsit and Hua Lamphong, came third with 33 complaints, while bus No.26, operated between Min Buri and the Victory Monument, came fourth with 30 complaints.