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Phuket's Meter Taxis Multiplying, New Fares Set: Photo Special
By Prasit Tarnsirisin Wednesday, September 3, 2014
PHUKET: The new taxi meter fares were endorsed yesterday at a meeting between Phuket Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin and Phuket Land Transport officials at Phuket Provincial Hall.
With 139 meter taxis already on Phuket's roads and 306 more due to roll before September 15, the holiday island's transport transformation is well and truly ticking over.
Whether it's ticking over at the right rate will become apparent when expats, tourists and perhaps even soon Thai residents begin to use the revitalised service in numbers.
Speaking of numbers, The Phuket Land Transport Department specialist, Jaturong Keawkasi, said it should be possible to travel from the Phuket International Airport to the Royal Phuket City hotel for 400 baht.
That includes the 100 baht airport surcharge, so the actual meter fare should be about 300 baht.
The approval rate is 30 baht for the first two kilometres, 12 baht a kilometre between three and 15 kilometres, and 10 baht a kilometre after that.
Drivers who wish to register their vehicles as meter taxis can register on the second floor, Building One, at the Land transport Office in Phuket City.
The next step, Phuket Land Transport Department chief Teerayuth Prasertpon said yesterday, will be to establish a call centre that can operate to cope with a fleet of meter cabs for the entire island. There are technical problems that have yet to be surmounted.
At present, the old transport department offices near the Royal Phuket City hotel are being considered. Installing a radio, though, will add substantially to the cost for taxi drivers.
Passengers who catch a taxi and find the driver hasn't turned on the meter can complain to 1584. Most complaints up to now have concerned drivers speeding or weaving too fast through traffic, Khun Jaturong said.
Extending the Airport-Patong bus service to Karon is now being looked at, Khun Jaturong said, with the service now functioning regularly in daylight. One problem has emerged with the hills on the coast road between Patong and Karon more suitable to minivans than buses.
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Comments
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Now the Metered Taxis can pick up any where in Phuket so make more money than before, all should be good for both passengers and drivers, right, no. Now they increase their fares so are we not almost back to the same situation, taxis are far more expensive than Bangkok. Glad I do not have to get regular taxis to the airport anymore. Seems to be ultimately same same, except you can see as the meter goes up in price. I think bad timing for the increase.
Posted by
Fiesty Farang
on
September 3, 2014 11:17
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/exclusive-phukets-taxi-revolution-meter-cab-fares-slashed-half-tuk-tuks-20644/
"The new rate for meter-taxi fares will include a 50 baht flagfall, and a decision on the per kilometre rate - cut at least by half - is expected from Bangkok any day now. The Phuket taxi revolution is underway."
So... what the said before isn't what happened or am I misreading this?
Posted by
Tbs
on
September 3, 2014 12:41
Editor Comment:
Clearly, the people at that meeting were misled or failed to achieve their aim.
The only change I see here is that I still have to overpay, but can now do so in a different vehicle. The whole point of the exercise was supposed to be to bring lower fares to the public. These prices do not reflect that.
Posted by
Herbert
on
September 3, 2014 13:28
By my calculations a trip from the airport to Kata will cost around 600Baht based on a distance of 45kms. 504Baht on the figures given plus a 100Baht airport surcharge. Previously to be fair I paid 750 each way with a very pleasant reliable (given that some flights are late at night) driver whose car was always clean and the aircon worked but is anyone really going to think this is a major change if the fare is around $3 less to go from one side of the island to the other. Phuket let's me down again, all talk but in reality little change in price. Another PR stunt that will upset many other drivers some of whom will have no money in low season, more anger brewing in a country that the army has already taken over.
Posted by
Fiesty Farang
on
September 3, 2014 13:31
Editor Comment:
Certainly not a reduction by half, but a cut of more than one third. And without the airport surcharge, much improved in terms of travel around the island. Rises are unlikely to come rapidly in future. Inflation should make you happier.
Who stipulates the fee per km, is it Dagobert ?
Meters were supposed to make the fare transparent and equal for everybody AND to bring the price down. Maybe one thing can be achieved, not the other one. Sadly no positive change ( yet ).
Posted by
Resident
on
September 3, 2014 14:31
Editor Comment:
Reductions in fares by more than one-third seems reasonably positive.
Just arrived back in Thailand yesterday and used a meter taxi, 70 baht for the first 2 kilometers, 800 baht to Rolly Tasker on Chao Fha West.... Usually 700 baht with the limo service.... won't be using the taxi meter firm again
Posted by
Gary offshore
on
September 3, 2014 14:39
Ed, how to you arrive at 1/3 cheaper? Look at the comments, as the Americans say do the Maths.....Inflation, national or Phuket inflation two very different figures.
Posted by
Fiesty Farang
on
September 3, 2014 15:14
Editor Comment:
Perhaps I misread your comment.Trips without the airport surcharge point to point across the island seem to be reduced.
Little thought given to the consumer again. Decision-making appears to centre around the taxi drivers and their perceived needs. I have little faith in any call system to book taxis based on the general failure if this in Bangkok where metered taxis have been long established. Happy to be proved wrong though :-)
Posted by
Duncan
on
September 3, 2014 15:33
Just today (3 Sept. 13:00hrs) used a metered taximeter taxi. The driver was a ...Acting Sub Lt of police!!, Driving taxi in his free time. He used the meter. From Phuket Airport to Chalong, meter: 660 thb + 100 thb surcharge! I paid him exactly 760 thb! He dared to asked tip. I told him that in my opinion the surcharge was the tip.Why is surcharge in BKK 50 thb and 100 thb in Phuket? I feel it is normal just to pay what is on the meter, and tip is up to the customer. That whole surcharge thing is a scam.
Posted by
Kurt
on
September 3, 2014 15:40
Ed, you are correct they will reduce the fares point to point and indeed inspire some confidence in tourists being metered and hopefully insured, with hopefully a picture and name in English where the passengers can see. On balance then I concede this is an improvement for Phuket.
Posted by
Fiesty Farang
on
September 3, 2014 15:49
I took the meter taxi yesterday from the airport to patong. 780. That is much more than ever before.
The high price was meant to cover the return that the driver takes empty back to the stand. Now that they can pick up on the way back, was is the fare higher than before? We are still getting ripped off but now it's official.
Posted by
danny
on
September 3, 2014 16:41
re' Kurt...what is the point of a surcharge?..i this money supposed to go somewhere special or divided up amongst staff and drivers?
Posted by
sky
on
September 3, 2014 16:57
Mr. Editor, forgive me the question/critics. In your comments you soften the high phuket taxi fares by saying ...without the airport surcharge.. However, that is exactly the point. Nothing justify the surcharge went up from 50 to 100 thb, as taxis now can work freely all over the island, and no forced empty trips back to airport, Right? I am regular in BKK, I do some extra-polation, and taxis on Phuket are more that 2x more expansive than in BKK! I travel quite a bit outside Thailand in taxies. Cheaper than on Phuket.,and servicecharge up 100%? How you can justify that as taxis now can work freel to pick up anywere? So far I still not see thai citizens driving from A to B on Phuket in metered taxis, like in BKK. Let me know when you see thai on phuket start to take a metered taxi.
Posted by
Kurt
on
September 3, 2014 17:19
Editor Comment:
Please address your questions to the people running the taxis, not me. I believe you have the number: 1584, 24 hours a day, and we are told English is fine.
Thank you, mr. Editor. let me try again.
N 2 of your comments you publish 1 time about a cut of more than one third ( is not true!)and 2 your comments express: it SEEMS. Absolutely just ....seems... No fact. Facts, mr Editor.I not need you to refer me to well known nr 1584. You are told their english is fine, did you check that?, Considering they answer your call? Many of us feel different, by experience. Today no english speaking person on that number, recalls were not accepted! Publish the right and correct things. I react on you writing! mr Editor. Thank you .
Posted by
Kurt
on
September 3, 2014 17:45
Editor Comment:
Stop blaming the messenger. My days of responding to readers who are full of complaints and have nothing to add are over. If you don't like the free service you are getting, go elsewhere. Simple enough, Kurt? Add something constructive, or don't bother. We don 't need your opinion - all of us already have one.
ED,look here,"That includes the 100 baht airport surcharge." Why is it the double airport surcharge then in Bangkok?
Posted by
retired roadworker
on
September 3, 2014 17:54
Editor Comment:
Ask the people who charge it.
I think it is safe to say then that the comments on here are all from foreigners and they all agree it is a rip-off. Goodnight from Feisty glad I don't use the taxis but the tourists that do will think badly abut Phuket, I thought this was one of the main complaints. Seems by some comments prices are even higher. Hhhmmmmmm.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
September 3, 2014 19:43
The other problem I don't think anyone has said about yet, is that the whole point of a taxi system is for everyone to use. These prices are still expensive for Westerners and must be exorbitant for Local people.
Please remember - Daily wage = 300 baht, Can't even get a taxi more than 10km for working a whole day.
Someone is making a HUGE profit and I wonder who that is.
There is still not 1 reason that is feasible for why Phuket is more expensive than any other place in Thailand.
I am sure I speak for many when we all had high hopes and dreams for real taxis services, only to find them dashed.
Posted by
Tbs
on
September 3, 2014 20:18
It is now cheaper to fly Phuket to Don Muang, than it is to get a meter taxi from the airport to Patong. Rotten service indeed. I will pull my head back in my shell in shame. I had high hopes for an end to the taxi price wars, now I am convinced it will always be a rip-off system. Shame on all of you. The money trough is just way toooo big.
Posted by
Duncan B
on
September 4, 2014 03:17
Looks like the doomsayers were right once again. Shame on Phuket
Posted by
JK
on
September 4, 2014 09:48
Editor Comment:
The Doomsayers have never been right yet. Change is inevitable. In five years, when inflation has driven up the price of everything except taxi fares, the outcome may look better.
Just last week did need ride and one of these yellow red metered taxis refuse to put meter on and left me standing next to road near naka weekend market. (moderated)
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 4, 2014 10:07
Editor Comment:
You may stay a bigot if you wish, anonymous, but don't expect us to promote your views.
Took a "new" metered taxi yesterday from Airport to my house - 620 Baht inc 100 baht airport cost.
I live only 25km from the Airport.
Still cheaper to rent a car for the entire day.
Posted by
Tbs
on
September 5, 2014 12:41
Your comment:" In five years, when inflation has driven up the price of everything except taxi fares, the outcome may look better." is ridiculous. Thank god you're not involved in financial decision in this country, if those in charge of Thailand economy would have the same thoughts as you ED we'd be in trouble
Posted by
JK
on
September 5, 2014 13:30
Editor Comment:
The difference is that I can tell right from wrong, JK. There would be no hope of getting taxi drivers behind the wheels of meter cabs if their wages were slashed, especially while there are not many customers. But over time, there will be no case for an increase. So give it five years. My economics have avoided cruelty and hardship. All I have to put up with is your thoughtlessness.
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Now the Metered Taxis can pick up any where in Phuket so make more money than before, all should be good for both passengers and drivers, right, no. Now they increase their fares so are we not almost back to the same situation, taxis are far more expensive than Bangkok. Glad I do not have to get regular taxis to the airport anymore. Seems to be ultimately same same, except you can see as the meter goes up in price. I think bad timing for the increase.
Posted by Fiesty Farang on September 3, 2014 11:17