What’s good for the taxis is good for the buses.
Bus operators yesterday petitioned the Ministry of Transport for fare hikes to offset a decade of cost increases.
Wittaya Premchit of the Bus Operator Network said the organization is requesting fares increase by THB2 for both air-conditioned and non-airconditioned buses, as he claimed the operators have collected fares lower than the net cost (THB9.6) for almost 10 years now.
The fare for a non-airconditioned bus is currently THB8 and THB12-22 for those equipped with air conditioning.
Over 30 percent of all 3,800 bus operators in Thailand have not seen profit in recent years, Witthaya added, and they will be forced to stop running if fares are not adjusted by end of this year.
The operators also asked the government to find them a source of low-interest loans in order to improve service. The operators are seeking loans totalling THB400 – 500 million for improvements.
Soithip Traisuit, Transport General Secretary, said she will pass on the information to the Department of Land Transport for consideration while the operators insisted they will return next week to follow up, Bangkok Biz News reported.
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