The main purpose of opening the route is to offer more transport options for locals and tourist and also develop the islandʼs public transport system.
“Right now we have six vans in service. The new route will cover about 18kms starting from Phuket Bus Terminal 1 (Phang Nga Rd) and ending at Patong beach opposite the Merlin Hotel (Thaweewong Rd),” said Theerayut Prasertphol, Head of the Phuket Transportation Office.
“It will pass many of the main roads in Phuket Town including Surin Rd and Yaowarat Rd, and also Governor House, Vachira and Bangkok hospitals and the islandʼs main shopping malls. This service will bring more comfort with less cost to passengers,” he added.
The service from the Phuket Bus Terminal 1 will run from 7am to 6pm every day, while the service from Patong to Phuket Town will run between 6am – 5pm.
The charge for using the bus will be B30 for up to half the route (from the bus terminal to Tesco Lotus - Samkong) and any further than Tesco Lotus will be B50.
“Right now busses will run one per hour but this may chnage depending on how popular the service becomes. If we get more passengers, especially during rush hours, we can increase the service to one bus every half hour,” Mr Theerayut said.
Once the bus leaves the bus terminal it will stop at Governor House, Phuket Prison, Phuket Wittayalai School, Vachira Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, Baan Samkong Municipal School and Tesco Lotus Samkong only.
The bus will not stop at any point after Tesco Lotus Samnkong and will only stop at the same locations on the route from Patong to Phuket Town.