Bus Companies Lament Over Suspension of School Field Trips

[webfact]

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?

[Gottfrid]

58 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Typical knee jerk reaction from the govt. 

What does it take for you to wake up. More dead people, more children burnt to death?

This is the right approach as they will find many faulty buses during inspection, and as I understand the cancellation on school trips will be during the 2 month they have as time to check the total fleet of buses. To even dare to make such comment as you did, shows your lack of empathy and understanding of the situation.

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Typical knee jerk reaction from the govt. 

Totally agree.

Just so that they 'look good'.

Who is inspecting the 10s of thousands of buses to deem them road worthy?

How long will they be off the road? (Until the who-ha dies down.)

 

[Tropicalevo]

40 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

What does it take for you to wake up. More dead people, more children burnt to death?

This is the right approach as they will find many faulty buses during inspection, and as I understand the cancellation on school trips will be during the 2 month they have as time to check the total fleet of buses. To even dare to make such comment as you did, shows your lack of empathy and understanding of the situation.

 

Whist this tragedy is devastating, far more people die in accidents from modified trucks, cars or motorbikes.

No one is 'suspending' them.

 

No one is inspecting the batteries in e-vehicles and bikes where they spontaneously catch fire.

 

This particular accident has caught the press's attention and therefore also the public.

We are all horrified about what has happened.

But deep down, we all know that it will happen again, sometime in the future, regardless of what is done now.

 

THAT is also a tragedy.

[ravip]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Typical knee jerk reaction from the govt. 

 

10 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Totally agree.

Just so that they 'look good'.

Who is inspecting the 10s of thousands of buses to deem them road worthy?

How long will they be off the road? (Until the who-ha dies down.)

 

So what would you suggest?

Ignore and carry on as usual?

 Please be more specific.

[anchadian]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Typical knee jerk reaction from the govt. 

Exactly.
 

Like many initial reactions from the govt, this will in time be all forgotten.

 

Shame on the govt.

[Tropicalevo]

21 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Exactly.
 

Like many initial reactions from the govt, this will in time be all forgotten.

 

Shame on the govt.

And shame on all business owners who will break the law in the name of greed. 

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

What does it take for you to wake up. More dead people, more children burnt to death?

This is the right approach as they will find many faulty buses during inspection, and as I understand the cancellation on school trips will be during the 2 month they have as time to check the total fleet of buses. To even dare to make such comment as you did, shows your lack of empathy and understanding of the situation.

The correct approach is not to allow it in the first place. This is just the usual reactionary process that will lead to very few changes. I have empathy, buckets of it but I've also lived here for over 20 years and seen how things happen. As for checking the fleet as I stated elsewhere this will mean over 200 buses checked per day and this is only the gas conversions. What about all the diesel buses? All in 60 days?

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Totally agree.

Just so that they 'look good'.

Who is inspecting the 10s of thousands of buses to deem them road worthy?

How long will they be off the road? (Until the who-ha dies down.)

 

Every journey begins with the first step.

So it's good the Govt take action and care to avoid similar tragedies.👍

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

Whist this tragedy is devastating, far more people die in accidents from modified trucks, cars or motorbikes.

No one is 'suspending' them.

 

No one is inspecting the batteries in e-vehicles and bikes where they spontaneously catch fire.

 

This particular accident has caught the press's attention and therefore also the public.

We are all horrified about what has happened.

But deep down, we all know that it will happen again, sometime in the future, regardless of what is done now.

 

THAT is also a tragedy.

 

Thai culture, everyone raves about it.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

The correct approach is not to allow it in the first place. This is just the usual reactionary process that will lead to very few changes. I have empathy, buckets of it but I've also lived here for over 20 years and seen how things happen. As for checking the fleet as I stated elsewhere this will mean over 200 buses checked per day and this is only the gas conversions. What about all the diesel buses? All in 60 days?

No, they have actually not mentioned the diesel buses in connection with the check. Only gas. 200 buses per day will not be a massive amount as it regards the whole country.

If you have lived here in over 20 years, I have over 24 years, then you would know better, and not use the word allow. Where have they allowed anything? You have seen soo much, but you still not understand that the ones that wish to modify do that, without anybody allowing anything. What is wrong, is that they do not do regular checks, outside the yearly one, when I am sure the tanks are removed to make buses pass inspection or money given to pass or just not checked. Still, the government is not allowing this.

[lordgrinz]

58 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, they have actually not mentioned the diesel buses in connection with the check. Only gas. 200 buses per day will not be a massive amount as it regards the whole country.

If you have lived here in over 20 years, I have over 24 years, then you would know better, and not use the word allow. Where have they allowed anything? You have seen soo much, but you still not understand that the ones that wish to modify do that, without anybody allowing anything. What is wrong, is that they do not do regular checks, outside the yearly one, when I am sure the tanks are removed to make buses pass inspection or money given to pass or just not checked. Still, the government is not allowing this.

 

The problem is that laws are only on the books to protect the officials, even though they knowingly do nothing to enforce the laws, which makes them complicit.

[Mr Meeseeks]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

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.

 

What standards are those, I wonder?

 

Certainly not any recognised international standards, that is for sure.

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

regularly inspecting buses and ensuring drivers and vehicles meet the necessary standards.

Thai standards for inspecting any vehicle are beyond a joke. They know ZILCH on how to carry out a real inspection. 

[Will B Good]

 

 

 

This should be handled....and maybe it is.....in the same aircraft disasters are handled.....unless it involves Boeing aircraft of course.

 

All coaches ground until certificates of worthiness are issued.

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

No, they have actually not mentioned the diesel buses in connection with the check. Only gas. 200 buses per day will not be a massive amount as it regards the w

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

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.

😕

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

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.

Zero sympathy for the guilty bastards who run illegal vehicles.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Passenger numbers have clawed back to only half of what they were before Covid, adding pressure on an already stressed industry.

BS

[Gottfrid]

43 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

 

😕

Did you reflect over that I posted in connection with the check? What buses they have in a fleet, I never talked about. Please, now provide real evidence instead of irrelevant.

 

In connection with information of the check, they only focused on checking CNG buses.

[brianthainess]

Just now, Gottfrid said:

Did you reflect over that I posted in connection with the check. What buses they have in a fleet, I never talked about. Please, now provide real evidence instead of irrelevant.

 

I have no idea what you are blabbering on about. One of the operators said even his diesel buses have been grounded, if that's what you are referring to.

[jippytum]

If the coach operators could transport children and teachers safely curtailing field trips would not be necessary. 

Coach operaters  cost cutting measures have placed young lives in danger. 

[Gottfrid]

7 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

I have no idea what you are blabbering on about. One of the operators said even his diesel buses have been grounded, if that's what you are referring to.

Means that you have not been reading, but just posting. Below you have the quote from the news article, as well as the link to the article.

 

On 10/2/2024 at 5:37 PM, snoop1130 said:

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced today that all the 13,000 plus public buses which use compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel must be subjected to thorough checks within 60 days.

 

Are we good now? Back on track?

[brianthainess]

8 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Means that you have not been reading, but just posting. Below you have the quote from the news article, as well as the link to the article.

 

Are we good now? Back on track?

Nope......

[anchadian]

9 minutes ago, jippytum said:

If the coach operators could transport children and teachers safely curtailing field trips would not be necessary. 

Coach operaters  cost cutting measures have placed young lives in danger. 

Exactly.
 

[Gottfrid]

9 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Nope......

Yes, that´s what she suggested, but the relevant authority has only put out an order to inspect CNG buses.

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

The correct approach is not to allow it in the first place. This is just the usual reactionary process that will lead to very few changes. I have empathy, buckets of it but I've also lived here for over 20 years and seen how things happen. As for checking the fleet as I stated elsewhere this will mean over 200 buses checked per day and this is only the gas conversions. What about all the diesel buses? All in 60 days?

 

From above:

"As for checking the fleet as I stated elsewhere this will mean over 200 buses checked per day and this is only the gas conversions. What about all the diesel buses? All in 60 days?"

 

Given the tragedy which has just occurred seems to me that the appropriate ministry / ministries need to urgently / very urgently update their checking requirements and how the checking is done and create some new methodologies including monitoring of these checks and install a system whereby the checks are more frequent and cannot be performed by the same 'checking agent' more than once in a 5 year period.

 

In other words a solid rework of the process, plus an independent committee which seriously / strictly / deeply rechecks all the required items, 

 

Plus much more serious legal processed and much bigger fined and any person caught not doing their job properly instant jail for 5 years and banned from any further employment ver with any gov't agency. 

[kwilco]

Every bus needs to be re-tested before it's allowed back on te raod - it will take time - but banning school trips per se is not the answer.

THe secondary problem is the corruption involved in testing the vehicles - this has been in place for decades.