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SRT Free Travel from 1st August 2008Free rides in 3rd class, but not all trainsAMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK The government's free train travel programme launches tomorrow _ but only on third-class services over a limited distance. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will offer the free rides as part of the government's six-month economic assistance package for the poor. But the service will be available only on non-air-conditioned, third-class, non-express trains. SRT spokesman Pairat Rojcharoen-ngarm said free rides would be available on 380 carriages of 164 third-class trains and on ''combi'' trains, which have both freight and third-class passenger compartments. The third-class compartments of combi trains which also have second-class or first-class carriages would not be part of the scheme, nor would the third-class carriages of express services. Fare-free trains will run on most of the four SRT lines, Mr Pairat said. However, free northbound services would end their runs at the Den Chai station in Phrae province, despite the northernmost destination being Chiang Mai. Heading south, the free rides would go only as far as Chumphon. Normal fares will apply if passengers from Bangkok wish to go beyond these destinations. However, there will be 10 free services from Hat Yai to the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. North-eastern journeys will end in Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen provinces, and the eastern trains will travel to Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo province. Trains and platforms offering free rides will be marked with green signs. Passengers will not need to obtain any tickets or passes before boarding the free trains, said Mr Pairat. The SRT has already cut the fares of express trains on the three suburban routes, from 110 baht to between 20 and 50 baht depending on the distance. |
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Train, bus services set for six months added free fares
[Photo: MCOT] BANGKOK, Jan 10 (TNA) -- Trains and buses are ready to offer free services to the Thai public for another six months, beginning in February, in line with the government's decision to ease the hardships of the poor. State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said his agency will comply with the government's order by extending free service on third class trains, mainly the northeastern provinces. Currently, 172 train services on third class are offered free to passengers traveling to the North and South on a daily basis, Mr. Yutthana said, adding that the SRT plans initially to offer free service to passengers traveling to the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani. Between two to four carriages will be offered free to passengers traveling to the two provinces and the SRT may increase the routes in future if they are proven popular, he said. Since the free train service, part of the six relief measures implemented by the previous government of Samak Sundaravej has been launched nearly six months ago, the SRT has received a government subsidy of Bt60-90 million monthly. It plans to seek an added subsidy of Bt650 million for the next six months to help offset its operational costs. Meanwhile Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) director Pinet Puapatanakul said his agency had reported its earnings to the Budget Bureau and the Finance Ministry in the past six months when it launches free bus service on some routes in Bangkok and plans to extend the service for another six months as agreed by the government on January 7. About 800 buses now provide free service, a number which could double during the extension, he said. The BMTA receives a average subsidy of Bt8,500 per bus per day under the free service plan. (TNA) Business News : Last Update : 15:52:33 10 January 2009 (GMT+7:00) http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=8095 |