Bangkok is gearing up for one of the busiest travel periods of the year as the Songkran festival approaches.
State-run Transport Co Ltd, also known as Bor Kor Sor, has pledged to keep bus fares unchanged until April 19 and will deploy more than 7,700 buses to handle the surge of passengers returning to their home provinces, Bangkok Post.
Bor Kor Sor president Attawit Rakjamroon said the company had coordinated with private operators to prevent ticket shortages and ensure safety during the peak travel days.
“Despite rising fuel costs, fares will remain unchanged until April 19, and operators will receive temporary compensation to maintain these rates,” he said.
The fleet includes 500 new company-owned and leased buses, around 6,000 joint-service buses, and 1,200 supplementary vehicles. Daily passenger numbers are expected to reach 160,000-180,000 during the outbound peak from April 9 to 12, and about 120,000 for the return journey between April 16 and 19.
Safety and passenger protection are also being tightened. All buses and drivers will be fully inspected before departure, and operators have been warned against overcharging, selling fake tickets, or exceeding seat capacity. Any violations will be dealt with immediately according to transport regulations.
From April 20 onwards, ticket prices will be adjusted to reflect higher oil prices, with a subsidy from the Road Safety Fund helping operators during the Songkran peak.
