Minister in motion

Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post

The new government of Thailand is reviewing previous government policies of offering free bus and train services in Bangkok, as well as pricing systems of the BTS skytrain and MRT subway systems.

Read the following story from the Bangkok Post about plans recently announced by the new Transport Minister.

Transport Minister Sukampol Suwannathat said on August 15 that the limited free bus and train service scheme provided by previous governments will be reviewed. The programmes were originally introduced to help reduce the everyday cost of living.

FREE RIDES

The scheme has provided free travel on some routes of non-air conditioned buses in Bangkok, as well as on some third-class rail carriages on certain routes. It was introduced by the Samak Sundaravej government in 2008 and continued by subsequent governments.

Sukampol said that the programme will be reviewed, partly to determine the number of people using the services, before making a final decision as to whether or not to continue the scheme.

FLAT RATE

Sukampol went on to say that, according to the policy on public transport recently announced by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her election campaign, a 20-baht flat charge for travel on the entire length of all subway and skytrain routes would be implemented as soon as possible.

CLEAN MACHINES

Sukampol added that the project to acquire 4,000 natural gas-powered buses for the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority would be carried out as previously planned. He said that the ministry would keep adding more new buses to replace old ones during his tenure as Transport Minister.

EXCERISES

Read the story. Then, determine whether the following statements are true of false.

1. Sukampol Suwannathat is the current Education Minister.

2. According to the new government's policy, the skytrain and subway services will soon charge a flat rate of 200 baht per ride.

3. The free bus and train services were introduced during the governance of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

4. The Transport Minister wants to introduce more natural gas-powered buses.