Thailand's upgraded long-haul buses to compete with low cost airlines

BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) - Thailand's Transport Company Limited, under the Ministry of Transport, has equipped its long-haul buses with top-classed entertainment system and digital services to attract more passengers in competition with low-cost airlines. Transport Company Limited introduced the 100 new 15-metre-long leased buses to the public on July 13 at an event in Bangkok marking the celebration of the 86th anniversary of the establishment of the state-run company, which was presided over by Thai Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck. The new buses are equipped with a full service of new seating, new model style and a large television, as well as its key feature of a free Wifi service aboard, set to serve passengers on four main inter-provincial routes with two buses for each route, including Bangkok-Mae Sot, Bangkok-Phuket, Bangkok-Nakhon Phanom and Bangkok-Chiang Mai. The company's board chair, Anusorn Saengnimnuan, told journalists that his company is implementing a main strategy to reduce operation costs, under which a total of 400 long-haul buses leased on an extended period of four years from all producing countries with most-suitable offered fees will be on services for passengers, along with reducing the number of personnel by not recruiting new ones to replace those retire. Anusorn said the strategy is believed to help cut his company's costs by over one billion baht within the next four years. Besides, new bus terminals will be opened, including the Rangsit Terminal for passengers on northern routes, the Bang Na Terminal for passengers on eastern routes and the Charun Sanitwong Terminal for passengers on southern routes. (TNA)