Meet your new public transport
The Transport Ministry has approved a new category of public transport entailing vehicles that can carry up to seven passengers and be booked in advance for specific purposes.
In an announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Monday (November 27), the ministry said it was prepared to issue licences for such vehicles, with the fare rate set at Bt150 for the first two kilometres.
Travellers who hail this form of transport from an airport or who give less than two hours’ advance notice would be charged more, up to Bt100. Hailing one via a radio communication centre or electronic system would cost up to Bt50 more.
The fare beyond two kilometres would be Bt12-Bt16 per kilometre when the vehicle is able to proceed at normal speed or above and Bt6 per kilometre when progress is slow, as in traffic jams.
Fares for journeys exceeding 300 kilometres would have to be negotiated between the driver and passenger.
Drivers issued licences for this form of public transit will be required to inform the Land Transport Department of their exact proposed fare rates 15 days in advance and must maintain those rates for at least 90 days.