Pattaya’s Air-con Bus Service Is Finally Running

[george]

Pattaya’s air-con bus service is finally running

PATTAYA: -- After many months of delay, Pattaya’s public bus system is finally running. The Pattaya Beach Bus Company, which has the sub-contract to provide public transport, began services on August 23. City administrators and members of the media boarded the bus as it left city hall for the maiden trip.

In the initial stages, three buses will run the Green route over the next 30 days in order to iron out any potential problems. Following this, a further six buses will begin servicing two other routes.

Amnart Luengamornlert, Pattaya Beach Bus Company president, revealed that the company had invested 80 million baht on this part of the public transport concession contract, aimed at easing the city’s growing traffic problems.

Air-con buses, each seating 30 people, will service three main routes with a fare of 30 baht for the entire distance of each route. The month-long test run will also gauge the number of passengers as well as difficulties on the route. The full 24 vehicles are expected to be in service on all three routes in October.

Future plans will see the buses modified to cater to the city’s disabled community, and there will be an increase in bus stops and ticketing venues at hotels, shopping centers and convenience stores.

The three routes are color coded into Red, Green and Yellow lines

Route 1, the Red Line, is the longest at 30 km. A total of 8 busses are scheduled to run this route. The “right hand route” leaves Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya, heads south along Sukhumvit Highway all the way to and down Soi Chaiyapruek, up Jomtien Beach Road, past the Dongtan Corner and up Thappraya Road, through the South Pattaya Road Intersection and continues along Second Road through the Dolphin Roundabout, continuing along Pattaya-Naklua Road to Banglamung Police Station, where it takes a left onto Sukhumvit, past Banglamung District office. The bus then makes a u-turn at the Kratinglai intersection and heads back south on Sukhumvit Road all the way down to Soi Chaiyapruek before making another u-turn and returning northward to the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya.

The Red Line’s “left hand route” leaves Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya and travels north along Sukhumvit Road, turns left at the Banglamung Police Station and travels along Naklua Road to the roundabout, where it makes a right turn down towards Beach Road, travels along Beach Road to the beginning of Walking Street, where it turns left onto South Pattaya Road. The route takes a right at the South Pattaya Second Road intersection and continues along Thappraya Road, along Jomtien Beach Road to Soi Chaiyapruek, up to Sukhumvit Road and returns to the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya.

A total of 3 busses service Route 2, the Yellow line. The starting point is also the Big C car park in South Pattaya. It begins by heading south down Sukhumvit Road, and takes a right onto Thepprasit Road. The route continues along Thepprasit before making a right at the Thappraya Road intersection, makes another right onto Pattaya Third Road under the overhead bridge, then makes its way along Pattaya Third Road to the North Pattaya Road intersection. Here it turns right towards Sukhumvit, makes a U-turn at the Sukhumvit intersection and heads back towards the beach past city hall, then goes round the Dolphin Roundabout to return back to Sukhumvit, heading south down Sukhumvit to the Thepprasit / Sukhumvit intersection, where it makes another u-turn and finally returns to the starting point at Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya.

Route 3, the Green Line, also has right and left hand routes. The outgoing (right hand) route starts from Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya, goes down South Pattaya Road to the South Pattaya / Second Road intersection, where it turns right onto Second Road, continuing up to the Dolphin Roundabout in North Pattaya. At the roundabout, it goes straight along Pattaya-Naklua Road before turning into Soi Potisarn. At the end of Soi Potisarn the buses turn left onto Sukhumvit and run past Bangkok Pattaya, then make a U-turn in front of the mosque before going back along Sukhumvit Road to the Thepprasit intersection, making another u-turn and returning to Big C in South Pattaya.

The Green Line inbound (left hand) route leaves the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya, travels north along Sukhumvit, turns left onto Soi Potisarn in Naklua, and left onto Naklua Road before turning right at the roundabout, goes south along Beach Road to Walking Street and back up to Sukhumvit, turning right and making a u-turn at Thepprasit before returning to the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya. A total of 3 vehicles will service this route.

Ticket prices are 30 baht for one trip, 90 baht for a day pass, 180 baht for a three-day pass and 900 for a monthly pass.

The bus service is scheduled to run daily from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. with service at regular intervals and additional buses at peak time for the most popular routes.

--Pattaya Mail 2005-09-02

[Pattaya_Fox]

Pattaya’s air-con bus service is finally running

PATTAYA: -- After many months of delay, Pattaya’s public bus system is finally running. The Pattaya Beach Bus Company, which has the sub-contract to provide public transport, began services on August 23. City administrators and members of the media boarded the bus as it left city hall for the maiden trip.

In the initial stages, three buses will run the Green route over the next 30 days in order to iron out any potential problems. Following this, a further six buses will begin servicing two other routes.

Amnart Luengamornlert, Pattaya Beach Bus Company president, revealed that the company had invested 80 million baht on this part of the public transport concession contract, aimed at easing the city’s growing traffic problems.

Air-con buses, each seating 30 people, will service three main routes with a fare of 30 baht for the entire distance of each route. The month-long test run will also gauge the number of passengers as well as difficulties on the route. The full 24 vehicles are expected to be in service on all three routes in October.

Future plans will see the buses modified to cater to the city’s disabled community, and there will be an increase in bus stops and ticketing venues at hotels, shopping centers and convenience stores.

The three routes are color coded into Red, Green and Yellow lines

Route 1, the Red Line, is the longest at 30 km. A total of 8 busses are scheduled to run this route. The “right hand route” leaves Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya, heads south along Sukhumvit Highway all the way to and down Soi Chaiyapruek, up Jomtien Beach Road, past the Dongtan Corner and up Thappraya Road, through the South Pattaya Road Intersection and continues along Second Road through the Dolphin Roundabout, continuing along Pattaya-Naklua Road to Banglamung Police Station, where it takes a left onto Sukhumvit, past Banglamung District office. The bus then makes a u-turn at the Kratinglai intersection and heads back south on Sukhumvit Road all the way down to Soi Chaiyapruek before making another u-turn and returning northward to the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya.

The Red Line’s “left hand route” leaves Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya and travels north along Sukhumvit Road, turns left at the Banglamung Police Station and travels along Naklua Road to the roundabout, where it makes a right turn down towards Beach Road, travels along Beach Road to the beginning of Walking Street, where it turns left onto South Pattaya Road. The route takes a right at the South Pattaya Second Road intersection and continues along Thappraya Road, along Jomtien Beach Road to Soi Chaiyapruek, up to Sukhumvit Road and returns to the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya.

A total of 3 busses service Route 2, the Yellow line. The starting point is also the Big C car park in South Pattaya. It begins by heading south down Sukhumvit Road, and takes a right onto Thepprasit Road. The route continues along Thepprasit before making a right at the Thappraya Road intersection, makes another right onto Pattaya Third Road under the overhead bridge, then makes its way along Pattaya Third Road to the North Pattaya Road intersection. Here it turns right towards Sukhumvit, makes a U-turn at the Sukhumvit intersection and heads back towards the beach past city hall, then goes round the Dolphin Roundabout to return back to Sukhumvit, heading south down Sukhumvit to the Thepprasit / Sukhumvit intersection, where it makes another u-turn and finally returns to the starting point at Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya.

Route 3, the Green Line, also has right and left hand routes. The outgoing (right hand) route starts from Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya, goes down South Pattaya Road to the South Pattaya / Second Road intersection, where it turns right onto Second Road, continuing up to the Dolphin Roundabout in North Pattaya. At the roundabout, it goes straight along Pattaya-Naklua Road before turning into Soi Potisarn. At the end of Soi Potisarn the buses turn left onto Sukhumvit and run past Bangkok Pattaya, then make a U-turn in front of the mosque before going back along Sukhumvit Road to the Thepprasit intersection, making another u-turn and returning to Big C in South Pattaya.

The Green Line inbound (left hand) route leaves the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya, travels north along Sukhumvit, turns left onto Soi Potisarn in Naklua, and left onto Naklua Road before turning right at the roundabout, goes south along Beach Road to Walking Street and back up to Sukhumvit, turning right and making a u-turn at Thepprasit before returning to the Big C Supercenter in South Pattaya. A total of 3 vehicles will service this route.

Ticket prices are 30 baht for one trip, 90 baht for a day pass, 180 baht for a three-day pass and 900 for a monthly pass.

The bus service is scheduled to run daily from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. with service at regular intervals and additional buses at peak time for the most popular routes.

--Pattaya Mail 2005-09-02

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Many of the locals will not use this system because they will continue to use the cheaper baht bus operation for their shorter journeys, which means at best it will be relying on the farangs to use it.

I note that the cost of a short trip will be 30 baht or 90 baht for the full day.

One question is how many bus stops will there be and where will they be located?

Also how far will one have to walk between bus stops?

No immediate conversion for disability facilities on the busses and only three busses to be initially operated on the green line (which would seem to me to be running on what should be the busiest route) lends me to think that the bus company are not sure that this system will provide them with a return on their investment.

As far as I am concerned the baht bus operation will barely be affected because of the differential in the cost and the convenience for the passengers.

If the bus company would ensure plenty of bus stops with relatively short distances between and an initial introductory start up fare of say 10 baht a trip and 30 baht a day they may well encourage more users.

As the planned scheme stands I think we will see a few busses and they will be carrying very few passengers.

[barryofthailand]

The bus system was a great idea, and the routes are set up to provide the city with public transportation. As stated by the previous poster, the cost is nthe major problem for local Thai People. If they could some how lower the fare to 10 Baht, i think it could be succesful. Otherwise just another sceme, with a large investment that will unfortunately go by the wayside.

Barry

[britmaveric]

Big Coaches on these streets = disaster!!!!

[daleyboy]

It will be interesting to see how the baht bus drivers react to this new service. Me thinks it wont last long until they get there way

[britmaveric]

Problem is the roads are designed for coaches - if we think tarffic is bad now. God knows what a coach will bring to the mix.

My dosh is with Baht Bus drivers!!!

[thaiflyer1]

Was out and about last night saw the same bus come passed the top of Soi Yamoto 4 times over a 3 hour period and not once was there anybody on board.

I think the of the major drawbacks is the frequency of the service.............who wants to wait 30 mins for a bus when you can jump on a baht bus/motorbike taxi straight away.

[Phil Clark]

Was  out  and  about  last  night  saw  the  same  bus  come  passed  the  top  of  Soi  Yamoto  4  times  over  a  3  hour  period  and  not  once  was  there  anybody  on  board.

I  think  the  of  the  major  drawbacks  is  the  frequency  of  the  service.............who  wants  to  wait  30  mins  for  a  bus  when  you  can  jump  on  a  baht bus/motorbike  taxi  straight  away.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Next time may I suggest you take your camera with you?

You could possibly sell a pic to the Pattaya Mail as they do not appear to have one...

[Humphrey Bear]

Big Coaches on these streets = disaster!!!! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not for Big C. They now have a captive shopping market of all tourists!

(Does Big C contribute anything other than space?)

[Humphrey Bear]

Problem is the roads are designed for coaches - if we think tarffic is bad now. God knows what a coach will bring to the mix.

My dosh is with Baht Bus drivers!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Brit - you saying the roads are designed for coaches - or are NOT designed for coaches?

I would ban anything over a 12-seater from all Pattaya roads. At night all the coaches parked in South Pattaya Road opposite Wat Chaimongkorn are a real traffic hazard. When you get past that and try to walk across the road at Walking Street / Beach Road (on the East side to avoid the shouting viragoes at Marilyn Bar Complex) You can get flattened by the cars trying to avoid the coaches turning round that corner.

No Coaches!! Join the new revolution - give the streets back to the pedestrians!

[barryofthailand]

Hey guys and girls, these buses are not coaches. Remember the bus service Pattaya tried out a year ago or so that caused all the problems with the songtows? well these buses are about the same size. seats 30 passengers. Will last probably through the high season, and once the city managers realize no one is riding the service will be scrapped. The city managers has good ideas, and i give them credit in trying to improve the infostructure of the city. I think before they put something like this into effect they should maybe take a survey and get feedback from the residents.

[Humphrey Bear]

Hey guys and girls, these buses are not coaches.  Remember the bus service Pattaya tried out a year ago or so that caused all the problems with the songtows? well these buses are about the same size. seats 30 passengers. Will last probably through the high season, and once the city managers realize no one is riding the service will be scrapped. The city managers has good ideas, and i give them credit in trying to improve the infostructure of the city. I think before they put something like this into effect they should maybe take a survey and get feedback from the residents.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And 4,000 of the residents are Sawng Thaew drivers!

[barryofthailand]

Hey HB i have no problem with that. I only pay 5 baht for the baht buses anyway.

[Thaigreg]

The bus system was a great idea, and the routes are set up to provide the city with public transportation. As stated by the previous poster, the cost is nthe major problem for local Thai People. If they could some how lower the fare to 10 Baht, i think it could be succesful. Otherwise just another sceme, with a large investment that will unfortunately go by the wayside.

Barry

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was on Pattaya Tai Rd on Wednesday and a bus on the Green Line passed by completely empty

[Kerryd]

Not offering a discount on full day or monthly fares is a mistake in my opinion.

It doesn't offer an incentive to purchase those tickets, especially when they can get cheaper moto-taxis and baht buses on demand.

One way to help make it work would be to reduce the number of baht bus's and moto-taxis on the streets (by not issuing as many licences in the future, they could slowly reduce the numbers).

Problem is, what would those drivers do for a living then ?

[astral]

Even on a monthly pass (900 baht) 30 baht a day it will be too expensive

for the locals and the baht buses will continue to extort and prosper.

[rocky]

Problem is the roads are designed for coaches - if we think tarffic is bad now. God knows what a coach will bring to the mix.

My dosh is with Baht Bus drivers!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There are coaches everywhere shipping hoilday makers, second road is just full of them so another couple cannt make a difference