The first batch of swanky new minibuses running from Bangkok to nearby provinces were put on display on Sunday and will go into rotation tomorrow. By November, as many as 55 of these flashy new buses will likely replace the old, worn out, and unsafe vans we all know and hate.
The 21-seat minivans are 7 meters long and, in these early days, the nice new vans will only run on routes within 300 kilometers of Bangkok. The first route they will run will Bangkok to Ratchaburi province.
These new vans, featuring larger windows and seats, will replace vans that have been on the road for over a decade, according to Thai PBS.
Though the new minivans cost THB8 million more than the old style of commuter van, they will likely encourage more people to travel more often by interprovincial public land transport.
