PHITSANULOK — The "Ban Rao" buses that have been a fixture in this northern province for half a century have rolled into history at a local museum.
Narinsak Buranakett (third from left), manager of Phitsanulok Service Co, hands over one of his buses to the Bancha Museum on Saturday. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)
Narinsak Buranakett, the manager of Phitsanulok Service Co, on Saturday handed over one of his buses to the Bancha Museum. He hopes that when local residents and visitors see it, they will remember its rich history.
He said he didn't have to think twice after museum founder Bancha Vajasuwat contacted him about adding the bus the bus into its collection.
"I feel proud of handing over a Ban Rao bus to the Bancha Museum to keep for the public so they can remember that Phitsanulok province had this service," he said.
Passengers ride one of the Ban Rao buses, the pride of Phitsanulok, just before the service ended on Nov 30. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)
Phitsanulok Transport ran the service in town for 52 years with a fleet of ordinary and air-conditioned buses plying five routes, including a circle route which was the most famous.
The company and its buses became known as "Ban Rao", meaning "our hometown", reflecting the pride local people took in the service.
Many people were stunned and saddened after the company announced that the buses would make their final journeys on Nov 30. Passengers juimped aboard on the final day to take pictures with the drivers and conductors in their familiar pink uniforms, and some even kept their tickets as souvenirs.
Mr Narinsak told the Bangkok Post in November that he could not continue operating the buses as rising fuel prices had forced him to close the family-run business.
Mr Bancha thanked the manager and the founders of the service, Aroon and Chuanchuen Pakprapai, for the delivery and promised to keep the exterior of the bus unchanged. The museum is considering installing a home air-conditioner and fitting out the interior as a reading room for children, he added.
The company has sold some of its other buses to new operators.