Thailand’s state-run Transport Company has suspended operations on all southern bus routes, from 11pm tonight (Saturday) until July 25th, in line with the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA) decision yesterday to restrict interprovincial travel, in a new bid to stem the rapid spread of COVID-19.

Managing director of the company, Mr. Sanyalak Panwattanalikhit, said today that operations of the northern, eastern and northeastern bus routes will, however, continue, but the operations will be scaled down to just 13 routes a day.

The routes that are still serviced are:

-Bangkok-Klong Larn, Bangkok-Lom Sak and Bangkok-Uttradit for the northern bus service.  Only one return trip a day on each route.

-Ten routes with just one return trip on each route for the northeastern and eastern bus services and

-Five daily return trips between Bangkok and Saraburi.

He said that passengers who have booked tickets in advance, for travel between July 10th and 25th, can return their tickets for a full refund at the company’s ticket booths at least three hours before the scheduled departure time.

Passengers who made advance bookings using their state welfare cards, however, cannot ask for a refund, but can postpone their journey by informing officials at least three hours ahead of the scheduled departure time.

Mr. Sanyalak said that he does not expect many people to usethe company’s bus services these days, as most prefer to hire passenger vans and travel in groups.

Long-haul bus services normally leave bus terminals in Bangkok late at night, so they arrive at their destinations the next morning.