Bus Companies Lament Over Suspension of School Field Trips

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Screenshot - for reference only

 

Tour bus companies across the nation are facing challenging times following a government directive halting school field trips. This decision came after a devastating bus fire in Pathum Thani on Tuesday, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 20 students and three teachers.

 

The Ministry of Education has ordered the temporary suspension for safety evaluations, putting a significant dent in the operations of many tour bus firms.

 

Bus operators like Thawatchai Wongwanitkanwarn from Nakhon Ratchasima insist they adhere to strict safety protocols, regularly inspecting buses and ensuring drivers and vehicles meet the necessary standards. Yet, the blanket suspension has hit their businesses hard.

 

Thawatchai’s fleet consists mainly of double-decker diesel buses, generally used for state agencies and private tours rather than school trips. Other operators, however, rely heavily on providing transportation for schools. The suspension, they argue, affects their single-decker buses used specifically for student outings.

The tragedy involved a severely modified bus more than 50 years old, with improperly installed gas tanks, leading to its operator's licence being suspended. In response, the government announced stricter safety regulations and broader inspections of gas-powered buses nationwide.

 

Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob has enacted a moratorium on school field outings as officials reassess safety practices. With plans already disrupted after the pandemic, tour bus operators now face another setback, reducing their recovery efforts. Passenger numbers have clawed back to only half of what they were before Covid, adding pressure on an already stressed industry.

 

Chamroon Wannapas, owner of Ae Transport in Khon Kaen, noted that about 80% of his contracts were cancelled after the fire, with school customers the most affected. Bus hire fees typically range from 5,000 to 15,000 baht daily, but with cancellations mounting, many operators share Chamroon’s empathetic understanding, offering condolences to the grieving families while hoping for clarity on when services might resume, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2024-10-04

 

[dinsdale]

Typical knee jerk reaction from the govt. 

[Artisi]

And if they did nothing you would still complain. 

 

[herfiehandbag]

Reduced demand should allow them to scrap the older vehicles?