200% Increase In 2 Years

[marquess]

I have read today that the Don Muang Tollway is to increase its charges from 35 Baht to 60 Baht, as of 22nd Dec. I for one will avoid using it, anyone else have any thoughts. I notice that in the evenings that tollway isn't as busy at it used to say at 21.00 when it was 20 Baht. One suspects that it will become more of race track in the future.

[Pib]

The new rates are indeed steep/a big percentage increase. Heck, I don't even like paying the current fares when I occassionally get on the tollways...seems like I'm just throwing money out the window.

[madjbs]

Heck, I don't even like paying the current fares when I occassionally get on the tollways

You don't like occasionally paying 35 baht to avoid being stuck in traffic for an hour or two?

[marquess]

The Don Muang Tollway is perhaps not the best time saving one, as it goes exactly the same route as the road below, which has no traffic lights. In a normal evening say around 21.00 it might save me 10 mins no more, but in the rush hour about 25-30 mins. For the 60 Baht I am prepared to leave earlier or arrive home slightly later. I understand that they are losing money, but they would be better off increasing the rates gradually say by 10 Baht each month until they reach the desired tariff rather than just alienate their customers. Incidentally when it was 20 Baht I used to use it all all times.

[billd766]

I can remember hen they were building the Don Muang tollway and you had to use the Vibvadhi-Rangsit road and if you wish to use the old road then please be my guest.

When I ride my motocy I have to use the bottom road and quite frankly speaking it is crap.

I would much rather pay 20 baht moree for a much faster and smoother ride but each to his own.

[gregb]

Good God!

I stopped using it after the rate was changed from 20 baht to 55 baht (35 getting on and 20 getting off). They are out of their minds if they think any sane person is going to be crazy enough to pay 60 baht at Din Daeng (I assume the exit will go up also). I'm sure they are raising the price because they aren't making enough revenue now that everyone gave them the finger and started using the free road for raising it last year.

Vipawadee-Rangsit is right below and takes only about 20 minutes longer during traffic periods. Sometimes you have to wonder what is going through the minds of these people. Oh well, I'm already used to staying under. I only take the tollway in the very rare occasion I am running late. At the new, mind bogglingly exhoribitent fee, I don't think I'll ever be that late.

Good for them I say. I don't like supporting those greedy bastards anyway. I hope they choke on their own stupidity. Try paying off your debts with that!

[Benjie]

How much extra money spent on petrol is used waiting an extra 20-30 minutes to get home, going at a snails pace?

[marquess]

I have just read an article that some academic called Somkid is trying to take them to court arguing that they are violating their contract. The increase is too steep, normally I take it about 21.30 when coming back from Rama 9 but I think that I will just carrying on the other tollway that one that goes to Chang Wattana as this is only an extra 10 Baht on top of the 45 that I have already paid.