Transport Co adds 5,000 bus trips per day during Songkran
State-run interprovincial bus operator Transport Company will add 5,000 bus trips per day over the six-day Songkran holiday (April 10 to 15), its president Sanyalak Panyawatthanalikhit said on Monday.
“We estimate that around 110,000 people per day will use the Bangkok Bus Terminal [Mo Chit 2] in Chatuchak to travel to their hometowns during the Songkran festival, so we will increase bus trips by 5,000 per day starting from April 10 to ensure that no passengers are left behind,” he said.
About 70 per cent of bus tickets to the North and Northeast during Songkran have already been reserved, said Sanyalak, advising travellers to book online to avoid crowding at the bus terminal.
Cooperation has been sought from police to manage traffic flow in and out of the terminal and ensure safety of passengers waiting for buses. “We have also employed Covid-19 preventive measures, including mandatory face masks, thermal scanner checkpoints and social distancing on services,” Sanyalak added.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has banned all water-splashing activities, making Songkran a dry event for the second year running in a bid to curb the outbreak. However, massive numbers of Thais are still expected to travel back to their hometowns to be with their families for Songkran as well as National Elderly Day on April 13 and National Family Day on April 14.