SRT Looks For Ways To Increase Revenues

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Pongsak discusses with SRT executives on finding ways to increase SRT revenues

Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal (พงศักดิ์ รักตพงศ์ไพศาล) discussed ways to increase the State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) revenues with the SRT executives.

Currently, the SRT has lost about 40 billion baht of profit due to the investment in its facilities over the past.

Mr. Pongsak informed that other units under the Transport Ministry can request for a financial support from the government in order to construct its utilities, but the SRT has to take loans from banks.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

SRT has more profit from land rental 1 billion baht

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) executive Yuthana Thupchareon (ยุทธนา ทัพเจริญ) is confident that the SRT will have more profit from land rental by about one billion baht this year.

As for the government’s announcement to take care of the SRT debts, Mr. Yuthana said that it is the good thing and if the government can help bear the SRT’s financial burden, he is confident that the organization can make more profit in the future.

As for the Cabinet’s budget approval to compensate the SRT by approximately five million baht, Mr. Yuthana said the amount of this budget is set in advance in order to prepare for possible loss of income.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2006

[cclub75]

Mr. Pongsak discusses with SRT executives on finding ways to increase SRT revenues

Easy : allow them to increase their fares.

But of course, it won't happen. Better to let the debt growing.

[ratcatcher]

Mr. Pongsak discusses with SRT executives on finding ways to increase SRT revenues

Easy : allow them to increase their fares.

But of course, it won't happen. Better to let the debt growing.

The subject of The State Railway of Thailand's debts is nothing but laughable.

They have thousands of rai of land that they don't use that they could sell including the Lad Prao property upon which Central Lad Prao mall and the hotel are sitting.

Anyone who has travelled on any SRT train must have noticed the tens of thousands of tons of rusty unused steel rails in 30 or 40 lengths lying in the weeds by the track s all over Thailand.

The administration is corrupt and inefficient otherwise they would have modernized far more. The construction of many stations on the lines north was suspicious as many are unused with thousands of sqaure feet of concrete. Raising the fares too would help.Even by 50 per cent` but as cc says, it's not likely.

A government run railway Corrupt and Inefficient. Would privatisation help? Not likely as the railway serves the tourist industryand the poor who cannot afford planes and buses and is actually a comfortable way to travel

Edited August 12, 2006 by ratcatcher

[baboon]

Ratcatcher, there is no need to raise fares.

Just lose the hundreds and hundreds of surplus staff. How many people do you need to staff lots of the stations? A Signalman, 4 or 5 Porters, the guy who writes things down, the guy who rings the bell 3 times, the Duty Manager, the Announcer, the fellah that walks around with a uniform not actually doing anything, the one who waves the green flag.....?

On the train: 2 Drivers, several Ticket Inspectors, several cleaners, an attendant for every sleeping car, the guy in the staff car who writes things down, the Guard, the other guy with a uniform and walkie talkie not actually doing anything.....?

I remember asking the Missus; "So what does HE do?"

"Wears a uniform and walks around."

"Seriously, though?"

"Wears a uniform, walks around a bit, has a kip, goes home telling his wife he is knackerd and what about a bit of dinner and help taking his shoes off."