Chamroon Wannapas, the vibrant 53-year-old owner of Ae Transport Co., gazes solemnly at his fleet parked in the bustling city of Khon Kaen. These buses, once teeming with the vibrant anticipation of field trips, now stand silent. The recent directive from the Education Ministry has left operators in Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima grappling with a sudden cessation of school field trips, a precautionary response to the devastating bus fire in Pathum Thani province. (Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri)
The tour bus industry has taken a heavy hit, reeling from the Ministry of Education’s decision to halt field trips in the wake of a harrowing tragedy. On that fateful Tuesday, 20 young students and three cherished teachers lost their lives in a bus fire as they ventured in Pathum Thani. Thawatchai Wongwanitkanwarn, a prudent operator from Nakhon Ratchasima, highlights his firm commitment to safety. “We put safety first,” he asserts, emphasizing regular inspections of buses, drivers, and emergency equipment, all aligning with the rigorous standards set by the Department of Land Transport.
“Passengers are briefed on emergency protocols, learning the whereabouts of exits, fire extinguishers, and those critical glass-breaking hammers,” Mr. Thawatchai explains. Yet, despite their valiant efforts, the suspension of school field trips looms large over these operators. His fleet, a proud collection of 10 tour buses, predominantly double-decker, runs clean on diesel, steering clear of the gas that’s under scrutiny. Adhering faithfully to guidelines, Thawatchai’s company provides general tours, while state school trips remain exclusively on safer single-decker buses.
The ill-fated bus, modified repeatedly over its staggering 50-year service, succumbed due to substandard gas installations. The Sing Buri-based operator’s license stands suspended as investigations unfold. In swift response, authorities have pledged stricter bus inspections nationwide, especially for those powered by gas. The call for elevated safety standards in school field trips and enhanced training for educators and students underscores a collective commitment to prevent future tragedies.
Education Minister, Permpoon Chidchob, taking decisive action, announced a temporary ban on all school study trips, a measure to allow for a careful reassessment of prevailing safety protocols. The disastrous journey had carried 39 hopeful students, spanning Kindergarten 2 to Mathayom 3, and six devoted teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam school in Uthai Thani’s Lan Sak district. Uthai Thani now mourns deeply, following five days of funeral rites beginning solemnly on Wednesday evening.
Reflecting on a turbulent past, Mr. Tawatchai recalls the stark plunge in passengers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The slow recovery has been painfully evident, with current numbers reaching just half of the pre-pandemic vibrancy. “This new ban compounds our struggles,” he laments.
Chamroon Wannapas confronts a similar plight. His firm, Ae Transport Co. of Khon Kaen, finds itself amidst mounting cancellations. “Tuesday’s tragedy led to about 80% of our customers retracting their contracts,” he shares, his voice a mix of understanding and heartfelt condolences for those affected. His robust lineup of eight tour buses, versatile between double and single-decker models, now lies idle, their journeys truncated.
“Our fees, calculated per trip, typically range from 5,000 to 15,000 baht a day, swayed by factors like distance and planned itineraries,” Chamroon explains. His clientele, once a mix of 50% schools, 40% state agencies, and 10% engaged in cultural or merit-making excursions, have understandably dwindled. With a heavy heart, Chamroon expresses solidarity with the victims’ families and hopes for a future fortified with safety and trust.
This ban on school field trips seems too extreme. They’re punishing responsible operators for one company’s mistakes!
But isn’t caution warranted after such a tragedy? We can’t risk kids’ lives for economy’s sake.
Agreed, but why not just enforce stricter regulations instead of an outright ban?
Imagine if it was your kid on that bus, you’d want maximum safety, wouldn’t you?
This hurts businesses! Operators are already struggling post-COVID. A total ban will cripple them.
But isn’t safety more important than business profits?
Safety is crucial, but harming a whole industry isn’t the answer. Balance is necessary.
This tragedy highlights deeper issues of outdated regulations and poor enforcement. Why wasn’t the operator inspected earlier?
This is a wake-up call for reform. Safety standards can’t be ignored any longer.
Wow, 50-year-old buses? That’s ridiculous! How were these even allowed on the road in the first place?
Cut corners, save money. It’s the sad truth of some operators.
Neglect from regulators, that’s for sure. We need better oversight.
I just hope the Education Ministry has a plan to resume trips with more safety measures soon.
They should, but bureaucratic processes can be slow.
They need to involve the operators in the decision-making too, they know the ground realities better.
Sad to see how a single event can cause such widespread panic and policy changes!
It’s tragic, but maybe this will push schools to explore alternative learning experiences near home.
The impact on children is the heartbreaking part. No more field trips means less fun learning.
Right? It’s like a punishment for the students too.
What about the environmental impact of using older diesel buses? Better to upgrade fleets altogether.
Exactly! This could be a push towards greener transportation solutions.
Why isn’t there more talk about mental health support? Families and survivors need it.
True. There needs to be a focus on recovery for the community, both emotional and economic.
Chamroon Wannapas is just trying to make a living but is caught in a policy whirlwind. It’s unfair.
Chamroon and others are unfortunate victims of this sudden change.
Hope this leads to a major overhaul in our transportation policies. Safer, cleaner, and reliable buses only!
We need to push for that! It’s about time our regulations catch up with reality.
I really feel for Wannapas and the operators like him. The government should offer them support during this ban.