First "microbus" unveiled - but it's a "Johnny No Mates"

[webfact]

First "microbus" unveiled - but it's a "Johnny No Mates"

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Plans to change Thailand's notorious minivans for swanky new "microbuses" have got off to a very sluggish start.

 

The minivan operators - infamous for running the speedy and accident ridden services - have been slower than slow to meet deadlines.

 

The first minibus that starts operation today will not have any friends - there will be just ONE on the road.

 

The department of land transport had requested that all operators of minivans older than 10 years be changed for the new 20 seater or larger microbuses up to 30 seats.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Ratchaburi-Krungthep Khon Song Co Ltd are the only company so far to do this. They are changing one of their fleet of two that will run between the Thai capital and Ratchaburi.

 

This is a 20 seater. The fare will be 67 baht for the 99 kilometer trip.

 

Their other minivan is less than ten years old so will remain in service.

 

Chertchai Sanansrisakhorn of the Department of Land Transport said that reaction to the changes had been slow and this was only one minivan registered to be changed from October 1 to October 6.

 

The department want to see all minivans phased out on stopping routes out of Bangkok within 300 kilometers of the capital.

 

The new microbus is fitted with an ABS braking system and GPS tracking.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-10-09

[lust]

67baht for a 99km fare? Might want to check your numbers again.

[scorecard]

 

And no mention of:

 

-  Additional / better driver training.

-  Additional requirements needed to get a license to drive a bus, etc.

-  Stronger punishment for driver transgressions, including very severe punishment for DUI, plus severe punishments for the bus owners.

-  GPS / other monitoring systems

-  Internal speed governing & recording devices. 

etc

[colinneil]

Change all the mini vans for micro buses. Brilliant idea.

Only problem is it will be the same d+++heads driving.

[Thian]

The rear-axle is too much to the front so if it's fully loaded there won't be enough weight on the front-axle which leads to skidding in rainy conditions.

 

The thing also looks ridiculous cheap, why not buy good ones from Mercedes or Toyota or so?

[chrisinth]

Seems a lot of thought has gone into the financials for this change-out.

 

Wonder what the minivan to microbus trade-in is? Takes a lot of 67 baht fares (in this case) to make that change......

 

I use minivans quite often from BKK to Rayong/Ban Chang for 160 baht; not much profit for the operators there after fuel, tollways, etc.

[kotsak]

With that axle positioning I bet it can do wheelies as well.. The locals will love it..

[quadperfect]

Yea right this is going to flop .

[wump]

2 hours ago, lust said:

67baht for a 99km fare? Might want to check your numbers again.

67 Baht x 20 = 1,340 THB. Doesn't sound too bad for a drive of 60-80 minutes. If the bus is running on NGV (which costs next to nothing) and the driver is paid the usual 500 Baht a day there'd be still a nice profit to be made. 

Edited October 9, 2017 by wump

[AGareth2]

2 hours ago, lust said:

67baht for a 99km fare? Might want to check your numbers again.

sounds about right

[max woodword]

I'd like to buy one and turn it into a little camper !

[greeneking]

our minibus service to Bangkok will pick you up at your house which means departure time can vary a bit after maybe a dozen pickups at different addresses.

20 pickups will be even slower or they will no longer be offered meaning an 80 baht local taxi fare to the bus station first?  Can't see this as any useful improvement for me.  Maybe the benefits are only for the agents selling the microbuses.

[PETERTHEEATER]

The new microbus is fitted with an ABS braking system and GPS tracking.

 

 

....but no seat belts?

[greenchair]

So I see there is nowhere for luggage, so probably the Isle will be the luggage compartment. 

Now the driver can fit 30 in the 20 seat bus instead of 18 in the 15 seat bus and kill 20 when he falls asleep instead of 15.

 

[AGareth2]

3 minutes ago, greenchair said:

So I see there is nowhere for luggage

these are supposed to be replacements for the minivan

[tompelli]

Made in China, imported as ASEAN?

[sirineou]

1 hour ago, Thian said:

The rear-axle is too much to the front so if it's fully loaded there won't be enough weight on the front-axle which leads to skidding in rainy conditions.

 

The thing also looks ridiculous cheap, why not buy good ones from Mercedes or Toyota or so?

Not enough information in this article to determine the balance of the vehicle one way or another,   if it is front engine driven then the weight of the engine combined with suspension components would alleviate any such problem. Moving the wheels  forward improves it;s turning radius making it more maneuverable in city driving. 

[smutcakes]

Any idea what brand these are and which connected person is behind the company who can supply them or brokers their acquisition for a nominal sum?

[VocalNeal]

Much bigger than existing so takes up more space when parked so will cause even more traffic chaos?

[Thian]

11 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Not enough information in this article to determine the balance of the vehicle one way or another,   if it is front engine driven then the weight of the engine combined with suspension components would alleviate any such problem. Moving the wheels  forward improves it;s turning radius making it more maneuverable in city driving. 

Yes and with the backseats full of heavy farang it will do wheelies.

 

This looks much better to me!

[impulse]

16 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Any idea what brand these are and which connected person is behind the company who can supply them or brokers their acquisition for a nominal sum?

 

Looks like this company from the logo on the photo in the OP and linked article.  Can't tell which of their many models it is...

 

http://en.yutong.com/products/ZK6729D-CIS.shtml

 

 

 

Edited October 9, 2017 by impulse

[impulse]

Just now, Thian said:

Yes and with the backseats full of heavy farang it will do wheelies.

 

This looks much better to me!

 

If you've got 2-5 times as much money...  Remember, Thai people can't afford to pay Euro bus fares.

 

Looks like a typical copy of a Toyota Coaster, with Chinese characteristics, of course.

 

[sirineou]

2 minutes ago, Thian said:

Yes and with the backseats full of heavy farang it will do wheelies.

 

This looks much better to me!

and much more expensive.

Horses for courses. 

 

[Thian]

Just now, impulse said:

 

If you've got 2-5 times as much money...  Remember, Thai people can't afford to pay Euro bus fares.

 

Looks like a typical copy of a Toyota Coaster, with Chinese characteristics, of course.

 

Well if they can improve the reputation of Thai buses they will get more passengers so make more money every day, in that case they can afford the MB buses....

I don't care though, will never go in a bus in thailand since i've seen too many accidents with them.

[smutcakes]

Incorrect info

Edited October 9, 2017 by smutcakes
Incorrect

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, Thian said:

Well if they can improve the reputation of Thai buses they will get more passengers so make more money every day, in that case they can afford the MB buses....

I don't care though, will never go in a bus in thailand since i've seen too many accidents with them.

 

People who can pay that extra fare generally own cars, or they're tourists who are pretty much a captive market. 

 

And it's not the badge on the vehicle that's ruining their reputation.  It's the kamikaze drivers.  Otherwise, the Toyota's they're running now would be safe.

 

[worgeordie]

1 hour ago, wump said:

67 Baht x 20 = 1,340 THB. Doesn't sound too bad for a drive of 60-80 minutes. If the bus is running on NGV (which costs next to nothing) and the driver is paid the usual 500 Baht a day there'd be still a nice profit to be made. 

This bus has also got to be paid for ,plus running costs,so not a lot

of meat left on the bone

regards worgeordie

[worgeordie]

31 minutes ago, tompelli said:

Made in China, imported as ASEAN?

Via Malaysia,where they are assembled,well the mirrors bolted on

regards worgeordie

[impulse]

11 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

1 hour ago, wump said:

67 Baht x 20 = 1,340 THB. Doesn't sound too bad for a drive of 60-80 minutes. If the bus is running on NGV (which costs next to nothing) and the driver is paid the usual 500 Baht a day there'd be still a nice profit to be made. 

This bus has also got to be paid for ,plus running costs,so not a lot

of meat left on the bone

regards worgeordie

 

Just out of curiosity, what's the taxi fare for a 99 km ride? (Let's assume the wait-o-meter is turned off for this hypothetical.

Edited October 9, 2017 by impulse

[CGW]

39 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Not enough information in this article to determine the balance of the vehicle one way or another,   if it is front engine driven then the weight of the engine combined with suspension components would alleviate any such problem. Moving the wheels  forward improves it;s turning radius making it more maneuverable in city driving. 

Doubt many will be able to sit at the back of the bus! they will be catapulted out of there seats with every minor bump due to configuration and the antique leaf springs fitted as "suspension"