public transport

  • Transport News

    FAIL! One in seven public transport vehicles didn’t pass safety tests

    One in seven public transport vehicles failed safety checks in the first week of a new program Vehicles failed the tests mostly because of a low-quality brake systems and excessive black smoke emissions In better news, only three of 10,236 drivers failed the exam About one in seven public Thai transport vehicles have failed safety checks in the first week…

  • Transport News

    Department of Land Transport vows to get tough on public transportation in Thailand

    PHOTO: Wikipedia A major crackdown is planned on the country’s public transport, following orders from Thailand’s new transport minister, Saysayam Chidchob. It’s understood this will even include asking passengers in public transport vehicles if they feel they’re being driven safely. If they don’t, the driver can be prohibited from going any further. In addition, drivers who are found to be…

  • World News

    Minister orders investigation into head-on collision in Sa Kaew killing 11

    PHOTO: Thai PBS World Following a collision between an articulated truck and a passenger van killing 11 people and injured 4 yesterday morning, the Transport Minister is calling for an investigation. The accident happened in Sa Kaew province, about 200 kilometres east of Bangkok. Thai PBS reports that the van driver was among those killed, crushed to death behind the…

  • Transport News

    New transport minister backtracks on previous government’s van upgrade policy

    The previous government was hellbent on upgrading many of the country’s old vans to new buses and min-buses. The proposals, and the decline of August 13, was met with a lot of opposition with public transport operators who would have to take on the new investment in upgrading equipment. The previous government’s intentions were to improve the levels of safety…

  • Transport News

    Pattaya officials tell Bali Hai Pier vans, taxis and baht bus drivers to clean up their act

    PHOTO: Pattaya Mail Pattaya officials have now banned passenger vans from parking at Bali Hai Pier and discussing the situation with baht bus operators. Ronakit Ekasingh, Pattaya’s deputy mayor held a meeting on Monday about the traffic problems and chaos that was overwhelming the busy tourist pier. In a story earlier this week public-transport operators were caught fighting over customers.…

  • Transport News

    Van, baht bus and taxi drivers fight for passengers at Pattaya pier

    PHOTO & VIDEO: Ruk Siam News Pattaya taxi, van and baht bus drivers, authorised and unauthorised, are fighting over tourists at the Bali Hai pier. Ruk Siam News says that efforts by the Pattaya City Council to sort out the issue at the south Pattaya port have been ineffectual and that there are often more drivers than passengers vying for…

  • Transport News

    Chiang Mai’s red bus drivers plan mass protest against Grab

    The war to dominate Chiang Mai’s local public transport sector is hotting up with the drivers of the city’s Rot Daeng vans (red song taews) planning a mass protest against the growing popularity of the Grab Taxis. Sanook reports that Bunniam Buntha, representing Chiang Mai’s Rot Daeng drivers, says they plan to assemble the 2,465 members in a mass protest. Sanook…

  • Tourism News

    Chiang Mai Song Thaew drivers see red over Grab

    Chiang Mai’s Grab vs traditional public transport continues. The issue has simmered for two years with occasional outbreaks of violence and an ongoing war of words on social media. Thai PBS reports that the spat has become a major problem again between the public Red Song Thaews and Grab Cars in the northern city. On the one hand members of…

  • Chiang Mai News

    Phuket tram project seeks private sector investment

    (The term ‘tram’ and ‘light rail’ are variously used to describe the new public transport project for Phuket.) The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is now inviting the private sector and local administrative bodies to get behind and invest in a mass-transit project in Phuket. The project is valued around 35 billion baht. The next rounds of talks…