- Published: 21 Feb 2013
- Bangkok Post
The first buses directly connecting Thailand
and Cambodia left Bangkok on Thursday, headed for Phnom Penh and Siem
Reap, with the launch of a regular service to bolster tourism and
economic ties between the two countries.
The first airconditioned bus from Bangkok to Phnom Penh left Mor
Chit terminal, followed by the first bus to Siem Reap, the Transport Co
announced.
Drivers are ready to roll the bus from Bangkok to Phnom Penh officially launched on Thursday. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
The state company made a test-run on the two routes on Dec 29,
2012, but the service was not launched because "Cambodia was not ready
for it", Transport Co managing director Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said in
a statement.
The two countries are now running a daily service between the two destinations.
The bus to Phnom Penh leaves the Thai capital at 8.15am and the
return trip is at 7am. The fare is 900 baht, or US$30. The 719 kilometre
trip takes 11 hours.
The Siem Reap line departs Bangkok at 9am and the return service
leaves the Cambodian town at 8am. Siem Reap is the home of two major
tourist attractions, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. The fare is 750 baht,
or US$25, for the 424km trip, which takes seven hours.
The two routes enter Cambodia through Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo.
Transport Co also runs a service to Vientiane, the Lao capital, and Pak Se in southern Laos.
A foreign tourist buys a ticket for the first bus to Phnom Penh,
which leaves Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
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