Manufacturers and private sector bus companies upbeat about change from minivans to microbuses

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- Parts' manufacturers and private sector bus companies have welcomed the government policy to phase out minivans for 20 seat microbuses.

 

Suchinda Chertchai, a garage owner and boss of Cherchai Co Ltd as well as the head of a private bus operators' association said that the move will be good for the industry and mean more safety for the public, Daily News reported.

 

He claimed that no country in the world ran public transport services with minivans because they were not safe enough. How many are replaced and how quickly will depend on a number of factors and public demand, he said.

 

Thamrongkun Phuakaranan who runs a business supplying seats for passenger vehicles also welcomed the move that should see the first 55 vehicles on 13 routes of less than 300 kilometers out of Bangkok completed by July 1st.

 

He said that his company, Damrongsin Supplies Co Ltd were ready for the extra demand and their business would expand as a result.

 

An engine parts manufacturer, Phairot Suphatheepmongkhon, also said that the move was great for business and would help land transport peg back some trade lost to low cost budget airlines.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-03-02

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

and mean more safety for the public,

As stated on numerous occasions, by many posters here, unless the main problem is looked into, i.e. the drivers of the vehicles, it will NOT mean more safety for the public.

 

Those guys are worried about safety as much as I worry about yesterday's

the price of fish, all they care about is receiving orders for the new micro buses,

just look at those topsy-turvy gigantic tours buses they make that keeps

toppling over or catching on fire and killing dozens of people.....

 

They figured out how to get 20 seats in a minvan so now they can call it a microbus.

>He claimed that no country in the world ran public transport services with minivans because they were not safe enough.

Genius! Most countries run public transport on a railroad network - best means of transport ever! But only if the train system ist not rotten like in Thailand!

 

>How many are replaced and how quickly will depend on a number of factors and public demand, he said.

Do you really think they wil now discard tens of housands of TOYOTA 14-seat commuter vans? Many of them are only 3 to 5 years old. NO WAY  they will waste that money. They will run on their white CNG-Vans for at least another decade. Remember that the BMTA-Busses in Bangkok are 40 to 50 years old and still running up and down Sukhumvit, BangNa-Trat and Ratchadaphisek-Road

 

>Thamrongkun Phuakaranan who runs a business supplying seats for passenger vehicles also welcomed the move that should see the first 55 vehicles on 13 routes of less than 300 kilometers out of Bangkok completed by July 1st.

He said that his company, Damrongsin Supplies Co Ltd were ready for the extra demand and their business would expand as a result.

Of course suppliers are happy with change and "welcome the move". No wonder . Easy money for them.

 

>An engine parts manufacturer, Phairot Suphatheepmongkhon, also said that the move was great for business and would help land transport peg back some trade lost to low cost budget airlines.

Dear Mr. Seat-supplier Thamrongkun Phuakaranan, dear Mr. engine part manufacturer Phairot Suphatheepmongkhon. I hope you are aware that the ubiquitous  Toyotas are manufactured in thailand and that alone the commercial vehicles are a billion-dollar market with roundabout 50 000 commuters per year sold. A switch to Minibusses will have an enormous impact on the thai car industry in Rayong or in Samut Pragan. Unemployment-rate will go up on eastern seaboard.

Maybe that is more important than what a seat-supplier and an engine part manufacturer say. Lets see what will have changed a year from now.

 

7 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

As stated on numerous occasions, by many posters here, unless the main problem is looked into, i.e. the drivers of the vehicles, it will NOT mean more safety for the public.

 

 

If microbus are technically limited to 90 km/h it will be safer.

 

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

move will be good for the industry and mean more safety for the public,

Only if you can come up with one of those AI drivers like the new cops that are designed to catch traffic offenders. One that does not get drunk or fall asleep behind the wheel. This part of tourism is really ripe for self driving buses. 

There will be no safety until Google finishes developing self driving cars/busses for use in Thailand

and the Thai government mandated there use for commercial driving. Another 10-15 years is my

guess. Companies will adopt the technology as long as it is cheaper than a driver. 

Countdown until the first microbus crash.

Countdown until the first microbus crash.

There will probably be a "pitch in" en route from the depot to the bus station early on day 1!

Driver "unfamiliar with the new vehicle".

let me guess, they will just chop the vans in half and extend it, throw in another two rows of seat

On Thursday, March 02, 2017 at 11:58 AM, abab said:

 

 

If microbus are technically limited to 90 km/h it will be safer.

 

 

So if a mad Thai driver, who has never had lessons, or passed a driving test, drives a vehicle limited to 90km/h, he is now deemed safe ?

The mind boggles.

"He claimed that no country in the world ran public transport services with minivans "

he must not have travelled outside Thailand much.

regards worgeordie

On 3/2/2017 at 5:58 AM, abab said:

 

 

If microbus are technically limited to 90 km/h it will be safer.

 

 

Off course! A crasch in 90 instead of 110 is much safer. Are you aware of that 7-10 km/h crasch with a safety belt already crack ribs?
Maybe time to go back and study the facts.

Edited March 3, 20179 yr by Get Real

The problem here is not the mini buses or the mini vans. The problem here is not the speed.
The real problem here is that you sometimes get such a crazy driver, so I wouldn´t even let him transport a bag of potato on a bicycle over an empty football field.

He stated " that no country in the world ran public transport services with minivans because they were not safe enough."

 

And he really thinks that Thai buses are any different ? Between drivers sleeping, on ya-ba and atrocious driving habits so many crashes with fatalities occur almost daily involving a Thai bus.  That's not to mention the favourite excuse "brake failure".  Of course the bus owners should maintain their vehicles and also check daily before service commencement. Also a driver should likewise ensure his vehicle is roadworthy prior to starting.  Does it happen ?

 

 

But hey ho this person with a vested interest in expanding bus services thinks they are safer.  TIT

31 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

So if a mad Thai driver, who has never had lessons, or passed a driving test, drives a vehicle limited to 90km/h, he is now deemed safe ?

The mind boggles.

 

 

And they might need a special license ?

 

Actually we don't know anything but that Thai are so ridiculous to explain anything correctly and journashit here are just too stupid to ask any proper question.