Phuket's transport evolution

[webfact]

Phuket's transport evolution
Phuket Gazette



PHUKET: -- The long awaited new Airport Express bus service between Phuket Airport and the island’s premier party and entertainment town, Patong, started to roll last Friday, four days later than expected.

"We thought we could start on July 15, but we had to push the launch date back," Mr Prakob Panyawai, the owner of the bus operating company, explained, adding that the extra time was necessary to take care of all the details.

"We have finished the graphic art for the posters to be displayed at the bus stops and sent it to a shop for processing and printing."

Each of the nine bus stops will display a map of the bus route, a picture of the bus, the company website address and contact phone numbers.

Passengers will be able to board the buses at the following stops:
Phuket Airport: under the pedestrian bridge to Terminal 2
Muang Mai: in front of the Highway Police checkpoint
Thalang: in front of Thalang Police Station
Tesco Lotus Thalang
Tah Reua: at the Heroines Monument bus stop
Koh Kaew: in front of the Boat Lagoon
Bypass Rd: at Billion Assets Plaza on Phra Phuket Kaew Rd (to Patong)
Thung Thong: in front of the Caltex gas station
Patong: in front of JJ Plaza behind Jungceylon

The buses will only stay for 10 minutes at the final stop before departing. They will also not be allowed to pick up people from anywhere else in Patong. The prices of tickets will range from 50 to 150 baht.

With the bus stops ready in place, the vehicles checked and registered and all the safety issues addressed, all that’s left to do is promote the project.

"All the buses have been checked at the PLTO and have passed inspection. However, the final details of the marketing campaign are still being drawn up. All this should be finished soon," added Mr Prakob.

The beginnings of the service will be modest, with just six buses operating, but Mr Prakob is full of hope for the future.

"It has taken months to get to this point, I want to see the buses on the roads as soon as possible. Once we have the Patong route, we can expand the service to include routes from the airport to Rawai and Kamala," he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-s-transport-evolution-21734.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-25

[chooka]

Will the mafia simply accept this or will a police escort be provided for the buses?

[DiNiro]

Let's get ready to RUMBLE !

[Xonax]

Ans how many hotel´s are located around the Bus-stop in Patong? As far as I remember none at all, so you will have to use the Tuk-Tuk mafia anyway, or stay in a hotel with a shuttlebus, that can take you to the bus-stop!

[TackyToo]

Will the mafia simply accept this or will a police escort be provided for the buses?

The next headline could turn out Thai style- same same but different: Phuket transport revolution!

[belg]

leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeets get reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaady tooooooooo ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbleee

(old wwe)

or

wieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeee

(ufc)

when to expect the first road blocks ?

[Rinrada]

Bit of GOOD NEWS innit

[Valentine]

Ans how many hotel´s are located around the Bus-stop in Patong? As far as I remember none at all, so you will have to use the Tuk-Tuk mafia anyway, or stay in a hotel with a shuttlebus, that can take you to the bus-stop!

Probably the main reason why tt mafia "allowed" the service to go into Patong.

[stevenl]

Will the mafia simply accept this or will a police escort be provided for the buses?

Since the buses are already running you're a bit late with your remark.

But he, who cares, you managed to get the word mafia in again in the Phuket forum.

[DiNiro]

Ans how many hotel´s are located around the Bus-stop in Patong? As far as I remember none at all, so you will have to use the Tuk-Tuk mafia anyway, or stay in a hotel with a shuttlebus, that can take you to the bus-stop!

Probably the main reason why tt mafia "allowed" the service to go into Patong.

Exactly.

Now the tuk tuks can screw over the visitors without that airport run.

[bangarang]

These mafia drivers are a simple joke for postponing this so long. I dont see how they can see the future business this provides for them. From what I understand anyways they are limited to how many taxis they can have at the airport anyways. I guess they were unable to see the potential of setting up taxi points from all the new stops where customers would get off since this bus wouldnt drop you off in front of your hotel, you still need to find it and with the horrible layout of patong and no street signs I doubt that many would brave this walk by themselves... they would definitely hire a short ride tuk tuk. With 9 short trip possibilities for now, thats not too bad.

[Cuban]

Exactly what does that time table attempt to communicate - has the person that "designed it" ever seen a bus time table before?

[JulesMad]

Let's give it a month...

[Bagwan]

Oh googy goody. Off the airplane, onto the bus, first stop Tesco for shopping.

P.S. The term Express Bus Service has something really foreboding about it.

[chooka]

Will the mafia simply accept this or will a police escort be provided for the buses?

Since the buses are already running you're a bit late with your remark.

But he, who cares, you managed to get the word mafia in again in the Phuket forum.

oops sorry forgot, Chalerm clean them all up.

[chooka]

Oh googy goody. Off the airplane, onto the bus, first stop Tesco for shopping.

P.S. The term Express Bus Service has something really foreboding about it.

No stops between stops.

[bangarang]

Exactly what does that time table attempt to communicate - has the person that "designed it" ever seen a bus time table before?

Whats wrong... it shows the departing time at each end of the spectrum... This isnt the first world... You cant have exact time for every stop, but whats your issue with the Time Table.

[hawker9000]

Ans how many hotel´s are located around the Bus-stop in Patong? As far as I remember none at all, so you will have to use the Tuk-Tuk mafia anyway, or stay in a hotel with a shuttlebus, that can take you to the bus-stop!

Isn't Jungceylon Plaza (stop #9) that big shopping center on Rat-U-Thit road just a little ways from the top of Soi Bangla? How much more centrally located could it be? No one stop can be close to everything, particularly in a decentralized place like Phuket, and If you've got a lot of baggage or heavy bags, yeah, you're probably going to need a lift to your hotel from there, but it's a lot better than having to deal with the mafia all the way from the airport!

OTH, OK, it's been running since last Friday. It's been almost a week now. Has it been running on schedule? People using it? Any reaction from the mafia so far? Why no reports, good news or bad?

[lee b]

I still dont think i would get the bus to be honest. Not after all the travel i would do before i reached Phuket

[wotaplonker]

why isn't it going to Karon/Kata resort area or have they forgotten they get

one or two tourists wanting to get to their hotels there?

[andreandre]

Phuket Gazette...what a joke of a news outlet...Nearly one week late with the breathtaking news of a new airport bus service..

Its already basically doomed,after only 1week, and without any input from ''mafia's'' , ...self inflicted by operators..living in dream land....

[deecee10]

why isn't it going to Karon/Kata resort area or have they forgotten they get

one or two tourists wanting to get to their hotels there?

Have you never heard of 'no go zones'?

[Cuban]

Whats wrong... it shows the departing time at each end of the spectrum... This isnt the first world... You cant have exact time for every stop, but whats your issue with the Time Table.

So this is a bus service is essentially covering the hours 08:00 - 20:45.

I guess that the released information went through a sanity check first before publication?

Then why in the Patong column at stop number 4 the time states 1AM? Seems a basic error to make in such a high profile marketing launch, if there is this error what others are there?

It is not about a "to the minute" time-table, not at all. But the need to communicate in simple graphics and consistent use of times when the first and last buses leave a particular stop.

I don't see any indication of the frequency of service.

Will they have 6 buses running all day? I doubt it so why not communicate this fact.

One bus an hour from 08:00 - 10:00 then three times an hour till 18:00 etc etc.

Why not have an island map graphic that indicates a rough journey duration between stops?

For a service designed to be tourist friendly there is a lot missing.

The offered graphic at the top of this thread suggests the highest fare from Airport -> Patong is 120 Baht, yet the supporting text says: "The prices of tickets will range from 50 to 150 baht."

Is that a 30 Baht Farang surcharge?

Is there joined up thinking to connect to the flight timetables - do they have the brains and mental flexibility to wait for delayed flights or leave the airport empty?

Will the taxis etc just demand a higher fee for people that do use taxis to make-up for the lost revenue to buses?

The beginnings of the service will be modest, with just six buses operating, but Mr Prakob is full of hope for the future.

The limiting factors are passenger numbers and bus sizes, provide a good reliable service without rip-offs and it will thrive, local taxi-mafia allowing. Try to milk the golden goose like the songthaew situation in Pattaya with so many buses that none can operate without a rip-off fare structure it will fail. Ever see the bus stops in Pattaya and Jomtiem, I think the maker of those open topped steel structures was the only winner out of that abortive scheme.

I've not been to Phuket in a few years, when next we visit I wonder if I'll catch a bus or just be looking at faded error riddled posters of another bright idea poorly implemented.

[andreandre]

Whats wrong... it shows the departing time at each end of the spectrum... This isnt the first world... You cant have exact time for every stop, but whats your issue with the Time Table.

So this is a bus service is essentially covering the hours 08:00 - 20:45.

I guess that the released information went through a sanity check first before publication?

Then why in the Patong column at stop number 4 the time states 1AM? Seems a basic error to make in such a high profile marketing launch, if there is this error what others are there?

It is not about a "to the minute" time-table, not at all. But the need to communicate in simple graphics and consistent use of times when the first and last buses leave a particular stop.

I don't see any indication of the frequency of service.

Will they have 6 buses running all day? I doubt it so why not communicate this fact.

One bus an hour from 08:00 - 10:00 then three times an hour till 18:00 etc etc.

Why not have an island map graphic that indicates a rough journey duration between stops?

For a service designed to be tourist friendly there is a lot missing.

The offered graphic at the top of this thread suggests the highest fare from Airport -> Patong is 120 Baht, yet the supporting text says: "The prices of tickets will range from 50 to 150 baht."

Is that a 30 Baht Farang surcharge?

Is there joined up thinking to connect to the flight timetables - do they have the brains and mental flexibility to wait for delayed flights or leave the airport empty?

Will the taxis etc just demand a higher fee for people that do use taxis to make-up for the lost revenue to buses?

The beginnings of the service will be modest, with just six buses operating, but Mr Prakob is full of hope for the future.

The limiting factors are passenger numbers and bus sizes, provide a good reliable service without rip-offs and it will thrive, local taxi-mafia allowing. Try to milk the golden goose like the songthaew situation in Pattaya with so many buses that none can operate without a rip-off fare structure it will fail. Ever see the bus stops in Pattaya and Jomtiem, I think the maker of those open topped steel structures was the only winner out of that abortive scheme.

I've not been to Phuket in a few years, when next we visit I wonder if I'll catch a bus or just be looking at faded error riddled posters of another bright idea poorly implemented.

I think you need to look at this other current thread....answers all..

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654863-airport-bus/

[andreandre]

Whats wrong... it shows the departing time at each end of the spectrum... This isnt the first world... You cant have exact time for every stop, but whats your issue with the Time Table.

So this is a bus service is essentially covering the hours 08:00 - 20:45.

I guess that the released information went through a sanity check first before publication?

Then why in the Patong column at stop number 4 the time states 1AM? Seems a basic error to make in such a high profile marketing launch, if there is this error what others are there?

It is not about a "to the minute" time-table, not at all. But the need to communicate in simple graphics and consistent use of times when the first and last buses leave a particular stop.

I don't see any indication of the frequency of service.

Will they have 6 buses running all day? I doubt it so why not communicate this fact.

One bus an hour from 08:00 - 10:00 then three times an hour till 18:00 etc etc.

Why not have an island map graphic that indicates a rough journey duration between stops?

For a service designed to be tourist friendly there is a lot missing.

The offered graphic at the top of this thread suggests the highest fare from Airport -> Patong is 120 Baht, yet the supporting text says: "The prices of tickets will range from 50 to 150 baht."

Is that a 30 Baht Farang surcharge?

Is there joined up thinking to connect to the flight timetables - do they have the brains and mental flexibility to wait for delayed flights or leave the airport empty?

Will the taxis etc just demand a higher fee for people that do use taxis to make-up for the lost revenue to buses?

The beginnings of the service will be modest, with just six buses operating, but Mr Prakob is full of hope for the future.

The limiting factors are passenger numbers and bus sizes, provide a good reliable service without rip-offs and it will thrive, local taxi-mafia allowing. Try to milk the golden goose like the songthaew situation in Pattaya with so many buses that none can operate without a rip-off fare structure it will fail. Ever see the bus stops in Pattaya and Jomtiem, I think the maker of those open topped steel structures was the only winner out of that abortive scheme.

I've not been to Phuket in a few years, when next we visit I wonder if I'll catch a bus or just be looking at faded error riddled posters of another bright idea poorly implemented.

I think you need to look at this other current thread....answers all..

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/654863-airport-bus/

And this one;

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/653351-phuket-airport-express-bus-ready-to-roll-on-july-19/