Free rides in 3rd class public transport

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KoratCat
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Free rides in 3rd class public transport

Ungelesener Beitragvon KoratCat » Sa Aug 02, 2008 2:05 pm

Some might have followed the government initiative of giving free rides to the people. Purpose is said to be benevolence to ease people's expenses for travel. Not like in western countries were it was tested for relieving the streets from individual traffic. The Bangkok Post printed today some observations from the first day in use:

Chaos on first day of free rides

Long waits, big crowds for bus, train services

POST REPORTERS

The government's six-month package of free train and bus rides caused chaos and confusion among commuters on the first day of its launch. ''Go inside and stay close. The doors cannot be closed now. Share space, please,'' said Somthawil Rodrasami, a bus conductor of passenger bus No 29 running between Rangsit and Hua Lamphong.

The conductor's non-airconditioned bus provided free services under the government's scheme to ease the financial burden of the public.

On the first day of free rides, the number of passengers using her bus doubled during the morning rush hour. The bus was crowded with up to 270 passengers a trip, said Mrs Somthawil.

Pin-anong, a company employee, said she took a free ride on bus No 70 running between Prachanives 3 and Sanam Luang, but she was not happy with the service.

''It's crowded and hot. I have to wait at least half an hour for a bus offering free services. Other passengers have to wait more than one hour for the arrival of only one bus. So who can go to work on time? I had better take a pay-bus service so I will neither waste time nor become stressed,'' said Mrs Pin-anong.

A third-class train at Bang Sue station is crowded with passengers on the first day of the government's launch of free train and bus rides. — THITI WONNAMONTHA

Pimchanok Kaewmongkok, a secondary school student, said she did not want to pin her hopes on the free bus services as she had to wait several hours for a bus.

However, Nongnutch, 60, said the free rides won her heart.

In recent months, she had opted to stay at home to save money.

On the first day of free bus rides, she left her home in Charansanitwong to get on bus No 203 to Sanam Luang. The free service saved her about 50 baht a day.

Boonsri Thonprom, a housewife, said she caught the normal bus, mistaking it for a special bus, and left it after the conductor came to collect the fare.

Office worker Suthin, 42, said he set off early to catch the free bus offered close to his home, but it is not because he is poor. He said the service was free because the government was subsidising it.

''There's no free lunch. Why do I have to pay twice?'' he said.

He pays income tax and should not have to open his wallet when the government is ''generous'' enough to come up with a scheme which dents the public purse.

The free train service also received mixed reactions from passengers. Most said the free service was too limited in scope as it was available only on short-route and non-express trains.

Suchitra Sirichan, a cloth vendor who boarded a Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani train service yesterday, said she was disappointed that the free ride did not include long-distance trips.

''Only small groups of people living in Bangkok and urban areas will benefit from the scheme. Those who live in remote areas who have low incomes will still have to pay,'' said Ms Suchitra.

Free train services available under the scheme run from Bangkok to satellite provinces such as Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Ratchaburi, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Hua Hin station in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Passengers travelling from Bangkok have to pay if they get off the line further on from these stations.

Kamnan Thongkaewla-ead, 67, who paid a full-price train ticket to Pattani province, said he did not expect any substantial benefit from the scheme.

''It is just a show the government uses to gain support from the public,'' he said.

Passenger Chintana Ratanaburi, who travelled to Phichit, said she was happy with the free-ride initiative because she could take a free train to meet her son in the province more often.

However, she said it was a shame the service did not last longer. The free-ride scheme runs until January 31.

The State Railway of Thailand predicts train passengers will increase 20% during the period.

Chiang Mai railway station was quiet as most people were not aware that free services were offered. In Nakhon Ratchasima, free train rides confused people as trains that offered free services were not clearly marked.
Bangkok Post Aug. 2, 2008

There's even talk of the airport fees being halved:

The fees have been halved at Sakon Nakhon, Khon Kaen, Trang, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Mae Sot, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Loei, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Chumphon, Tak, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Phetchabun, Roi Et and Ranong airports.
Bangkok Post Aug. 2, 2008

I didn't know Korat Airport was in operation at all. People write a lot of confusing stuff about that on the other forums.
Es gibt nichts Gutes, ausser man tut es! Erich Kästner, 1899 - 1974

Isaan Rollie
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Re: Free rides in 3rd class public transport

Ungelesener Beitragvon Isaan Rollie » Sa Aug 02, 2008 7:32 pm

My wife's cousin took that free ride to Bangkok this morning as well. Pooyai has managed to get her a lucrative job in "public relations" for a political party. 500 Baht a day, maybe even up to 1,500 if she gets into the first line were the cameras record and then does yell and scream loud like a really angry citizen. Now she even got free transportation to her place of employment. :wink:

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KoratCat
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Re: Free rides in 3rd class public transport

Ungelesener Beitragvon KoratCat » Sa Aug 02, 2008 9:23 pm

It is always of advantage to have a lot of busy- and ordinary-looking public transportation at hand when you need to move pawns in a territorial conflict like now with Cambodia over Preah Vihear. :wink:
Es gibt nichts Gutes, ausser man tut es! Erich Kästner, 1899 - 1974

mcmurphy
Korat-Isaan-Forum-Gast

Re: Free rides in 3rd class public transport

Ungelesener Beitragvon mcmurphy » So Aug 03, 2008 12:28 pm

The affordable radios to enable the masses to listen to Hitlers propaganda come to my mind! :?


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