A government-sponsored free public bus and economy train program has been extended until March 31, 2013, government spokeswoman Sansanee Narkpong said yesterday.
The program provides free rides on 800 public buses on 73 routes and 172 free economy-class trains a day in the Bangkok area, the Nation reported.
The government has given the Bangkok Mass Transportation Company (BMTA) THB1.5 billion and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) THB555 million to extend the program.
BMTA Director Opart Petchmunee said that 900,000 passengers use the free buses every day in Bangkok at a cost of roughly THB30 million per month. The bus company is receiving roughly THB190 million a month from the government. So wait… the BMTA is making THB160 million per month on this program? Not a bad deal for them.
SRT Governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said that 28 to 30 million passengers use the free train service each year, and that the SRT is compensated THB62-82 million per month.
