PHUKET: No formal talks have been held but more is known now about the plan to add three public bus routes from Phuket International Airport to Phuket's popular west coast and south as soon as feasible.
Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation chief executive, Paiboon Upatising, said today that more analysis was needed before the organisation or any other body could consider the undertaking.
However, he said, Phuket's Transport Department had estimated that 30 mid-sized buses capable of carrying 30 people would be ideal for the routes.
The buses would run from Phuket airport to Surin and Kamala, to Patong and Kata-Karon and to Chalong Circle, adding a low-cost and safe means of transport for tourists and residents.
But Khun Paiboon said today that although fares had been estimated at 70-90 baht, a proper estimation would need to be made of whether tourists or locals or a combination of both would actually use the buses.
He said the cost of setting up the services would run between 70 and 100 million baht.
The organisation's pink bus services around Phuket City are seen as a great benefit, with tourists joining locals in using the 10 baht seung taews (twin bench buses.) Elderly people and students especially benefitted from being ferried around safely.
The services were now bringing in 30,000 baht a day and carrying as many as 4000 fare-paying passengers - students travel free.
The Phuket International Airport is being enlarged to carry 12.5 million passengers before November 2014, which presents itself as a natural deadline for a new airport public bus service
Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation chief executive, Paiboon Upatising, said today that more analysis was needed before the organisation or any other body could consider the undertaking.
However, he said, Phuket's Transport Department had estimated that 30 mid-sized buses capable of carrying 30 people would be ideal for the routes.
The buses would run from Phuket airport to Surin and Kamala, to Patong and Kata-Karon and to Chalong Circle, adding a low-cost and safe means of transport for tourists and residents.
But Khun Paiboon said today that although fares had been estimated at 70-90 baht, a proper estimation would need to be made of whether tourists or locals or a combination of both would actually use the buses.
He said the cost of setting up the services would run between 70 and 100 million baht.
The organisation's pink bus services around Phuket City are seen as a great benefit, with tourists joining locals in using the 10 baht seung taews (twin bench buses.) Elderly people and students especially benefitted from being ferried around safely.
The services were now bringing in 30,000 baht a day and carrying as many as 4000 fare-paying passengers - students travel free.
The Phuket International Airport is being enlarged to carry 12.5 million passengers before November 2014, which presents itself as a natural deadline for a new airport public bus service
its good to hear this. the sooner the better. a start on getting good public transportation is over needed.
one big issue is public transport with in the western island towns. example patong. when will this happen?
@editor. will locals/tourist be able to get on and off in between destinations? or is this a transport to and from the airport only?
Posted by john s on November 4, 2011 15:07
Editor Comment:
No idea. We don't have any say on the buses.