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Published on November 15, 2007

The Cabinet has instructed the State Railway of Thailand and the Transport Co to cut fares by 50 per cent on December 23-24, Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority would provide free rides on December 23, he said, and December 24 had been declared an official holiday.

Theera said the Cabinet also expected cooperation from private transport operators. Although they faced problems with oil prices, that was a short-term concern and everybody wanted a new government as soon as possible, he said.

Transport Co president Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said the company and concession?aire bus operators were getting ready for 6,000 additional daily trips to and from Bangkok in the run-up to the New Year holidays.

Buses from Bangkok would increase from December 21, while buses to the capital would also rise on December 23-24 for both short and long journeys.

The extra buses were pre?pared to help the Election Commission's bid to get 70 per cent of voters cast a ballot in the poll.

The Nation