Extra buses laid on to carry fans home after SEA Games

Posted by samakomlao Tuesday, December 15, 2009



Spectators returning home after the SEA Games are assured there will be plenty of buses running to the north and south, when the games end on December 18.

Bus operators told Vientiane Times yesterday they had enough buses to provide everyone with a journey home, whether going north or south, and there was no need to worry about getting a seat.

An official in charge of bus provision at the Chitprasong Transportation Company (northern route), Mr Khamdy Phimmasone, said there would be about 100 buses available, including privately owned buses registered with the company.

“I believe this number will be sufficient to transport everyone in the rush to return home after the games,” Mr Khamdy told Vientiane Times.

The company has been able to provide extra buses at peak times in the past, especially at the busiest time of the year during Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) in the middle of April when many people travel, he said.

At that time there are more than 50 buses in service - double the number that normally run on regular routes.

Mr Khamdy was unable to say how many extra buses would be added to cope with SEA Games passengers, saying it depended on demand.

“We will organise extra buses depending on the number of passengers. We can have buses available if need be and can organise additional buses immediately if they are required,” he said.

The situation is similar going south, with the Chitprasong Transportation Company ready to get travellers home, according to Southern Terminal Transport Association President, Mr Khamsaen Thammavong.

Bus companies are expecting a surge in customers after the games. As well as a boost in Lao passengers they anticipate a rise in foreign visitors travelling onwards to other parts of the country.

Transport providers had their busiest time at the start of the games when supporters from the provinces flocked to Vientiane .

Extra buses were laid on between the provinces and the capital and they were always full, bus operators said.

Normal services are running at present with one bus departing for the southern provinces every 30 minutes from 4:30am to 8:30pm every day and one bus every one to two hours going north from 6:30am to 8pm.

The situation is fairly quiet at the moment.

“Fewer people are travelling these days because so many people are in Vientiane for the games. However, we expect a rush when the games are over,” Mr Khamsaen said.

He said more people were booking bus tickets these days, perhaps because they were afraid there would be a shortage of buses.

“No problem, we have enough buses available,” he said.



By Times Reporters

Vientianetimes

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