Songthaew
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A songthaew (Thai: สองแถว, lit. 'two rows', RTGS: songthaeo, pronounced [sɔ̌ːŋ.tʰɛ̌w];[1] Lao: ສອງແຖວ, pronounced [sɔ̌ːŋ.tʰɛ́w]; Malay: dua baris) is a passenger vehicle in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi or bus.
Overview
The songthaew takes its name from the two bench seats fixed along either side of the back of the truck; in some vehicles, a third bench is put down the middle of the seating area. Additionally a roof is fitted over the rear of the vehicle, to which curtains and plastic sheeting to keep out rain may be attached. Some vehicles have roofs high enough to accommodate standing passengers within the vehicle. More typically, standing passengers occupy a platform attached to the rear.
In Chiang Mai and its surroundings, locals may call them rot si daeng[2] (Thai: รถสีแดง, literally "red car" – a reference to their most common colour in the area), rot daeng,[3] or sometimes si rot.
The Isuzu Faster and Toyota Hilux are example models of songthaews found in Thailand.
In addition, some models of songthaews, such as
History
Songthaews were introduced in Thailand in the 1950s. Early songthaews were based on
Use
Songthaews are used both within towns and cities and for longer routes between towns and villages. Those within towns are converted from pick-up trucks and usually travel fixed routes for a set fare, but in some cases (as in
Vehicles on longer routes may use truck bodies and seat around 40 passengers.
In Phuket province, there are several Songthaew (blue wooden buses) services which connect the beach resorts with Phuket Town. The routes operate around every 30 minutes from Ranong Road in Phuket starting at around 06:00 and finishing at around 17:00 (from each end of the route). The price is typically around 50 baht single fare. The bus will stop anywhere along the route and is hailed down by waving. These include the following routes:
Future replacements
In 1990s, Thai government attempted to replace songthaews with modern minibuses. Thai Motor Corporation (THAMCO),
Gallery
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A medium-sized inter-village songthaew
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A songthaew loaded with students heading home inAmphoe Kantharalak
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The interior of a pick-up truck songthaew in Sakon Nakhon
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Datsun 620 In Pattaya
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Isuzu NPR in Kalasin
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Nissan Big M in Samut Songkhram
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Mitsubishi Strada in Pathumthani
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Toyota Hilux Mighty-X in Samut Prakan
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Toyota Hilux Revo in Chonburi
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Mitsubishi L200 in Lampang
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Riding in a songthaew in Chiang Mai
See also
References
- ^ Slayden, Glenn. "thai-language.com – รถสองแถว". thai-language.com.
- ^ "Chiang Mai Transport". 15 March 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ "RED-BUS – รถแดง" (in Thai). NAKORNLANNA CO., LTD. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ "ประวัติศาสตร์ รถกระป๊อมาจากไหน". Channel 9 MCO HD (in Thai). 2 February 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Wagner, Stephan (6 December 2018). "Vergessene Studien: Italdesign Columbus (1992)" (in German). Motor1.com Deutschland. Retrieved 7 November 2021.