Transport Co.,Ltd. to launch 2,000 vans to compete with private van operators

The Transport Co.,Ltd. will launch 2,000 vans to provide transport service in five routes to compete with private vans which operate on the routes without authorization.

Acting Managing Director of the Transport Co.,Ltd., Wuthichart Kanlayanamitr (วุฒิชาติ กัลยาณมิตร) reveals that the five routes are located in Bangkok’s vicinities. Two routes pass the Mae Klong (แม่กลอง) area in Samut Songkhram Province. The rest three pass the Chulachomklao (จุลจอมเกล้า) Royal Military Academy in Nakhon Nayok Province, Kampaengsaen (กำแพงแสน) area and the city area in Nakhon Pathom Province respectively.

However, Mr Wuthichai says the company has to submit the amended standards of the vans to the Department of Land Transport for approval before the vans can operate.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 April 2007

BMTA increases safety of passengers who use public vans

The Director-General of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), Mr. Pinate Puapattanakul, says all public vans must follow the new regulations to ensure public safety.

Mr. Pinate says they must remove all their tinted window films, and the drivers have to turn on the lights inside the vehicles at all times when they are on service. In addition, the names of the drivers and the vehicles’ licence plates must be clearly displayed for the passengers to see. Mr. Pinate says these measures will increase the safety of passengers, following the news that a public van driver assaulted and raped a female passenger. He says violators will have their licenses confiscated.

The BMTA Director-General says approximately 6,641 public vans are using about 116 routes in Bangkok. Around 550 of them are using ten routes linking to Suvarnabhumi Airport. He says the BMTA has a plan for all public vans to install NGV engines as PTT Public Company Limited is ready to allocate a budget of two billion baht to encourage the public van operators to use NGV.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 April 2007