Thai Smile Bus

Thai Smile Bus (TSB)
Overview
Native nameไทยสมายล์บัส
OwnerMinistry of Transport
Transit typePublic transit buses within the Greater Bangkok area
Number of lines125 routes
Daily ridership380,000 [1]
Key peopleKulpornphat Wongmajarapinya
Websitethaismilegroup.com

Thai Smile Bus (Thai: บริษัทไทยสมายล์บัสจำกัด) is a major private bus operator in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces that provides bus service under a concession issued by the Thai Ministry of Transport.

Since it launched service in 2022, Thai Smile Bus has progressively taken over bus routes in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region from other providers, including the public operator, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.[2] Fares start from 10 baht, with the entire fleet consisting of EV buses, aimed at reducing carbon emissions.[3] As of 2025, TSB runs 123 bus routes in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces as part of a plan to reform bus operations in and around Bangkok.[4][5]

The company also operates electric ferries along the Chao Phraya River and Khlong Saen Saeb in Bangkok branded as Thai Smile Boat.[6]

History

The company was registered on 9 June 2020 with Kulpornphat Wongmajarapinya as CEO and Chairwoman, who retains a 51% majority ownership stake. The remaining 49% of shares are held by Beyond Securities (BYD).[7]

Thai Smile Bus received a concession from the Department of Transport to operate 71 bus routes,[8] with an additional 52 routes announced in 2023. Thai Smile Bus also announced it would expand its fleet of electric vehicles by 1,850 from 1,250 buses to a total of 3,100 buses.[9]

As part of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's bus reform plan to allow private operators to take over existing BMTA routes, TSB came to inherit a fleet of a fleet of approximately 350 diesel buses. By January 2024, however, the company decommissioned all of its NGV buses, running a fleet of 100% electric vehicles.[10] Later that year, TSB began operating 24-hour services on 13 routes to meet growing demand for all-day service with 1 hour frequencies between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 am.[11] This move was met with some public pushback due to the fact that the decommissioning of diesel buses included pulling non-air conditioned buses out of service. Non-air conditioned buses charged lower fares (starting from 8 THB) while TSB fares begin at 15 THB and were therefore more affordable to the public.[2] In response, TSB began operating electric non-air-conditioned buses or "hot buses" for a flat fare of 10 THB on some routes.

Routes

As of 2025, TSB operates a total of 123 bus routes throughout the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Most route numbers are identified using a Z-NN format, with the first number representing the zone to which the bus route belongs. The second number designates the actual route.[12]

In the case where TSB inherited routes from BMTA, buses also display the old BMTA number in parentheses.[13] Notably, TSB has come to operate Route 8, a bus line notorious for a high incidence of reckless driving.[14] Upon its transfer to TSB, it has been renumbered 2-38.

Now service is available on 125 routes

Overnight service is available on 13 routes

Fleet

TSB operates a fleet of over 3,100 electric buses.[15] The company uses a dark blue livery for its buses.[12] The fleet comprises mainly 12-metre long buses, however TSB also operates 8-metre long buses.[10] The buses can be distinguished by its unique blue colour on the roads.

Fares

TSB fares vary between air-conditioned buses and non air-conditioned or "hot buses".[16] "Hot buses" charge a flat fare of 10 THB while air-conditioned buses are charged according to the distance travelled. Fares for both buses are payable by smart card.

Adult fares for air-conditioned buses[12]
Short journeys (up to 4 km) Intermediate journeys (4 km to 16 km) Longer journeys (over 16 km) Expressway surcharge HOP Card Daily cap (bus only) HOP Card Daily cap (with ferries)
15 THB 20 THB 25 THB 2 THB 40 THB 50 THB

In conjunction with the Ministry of Transport, the company introduced the HOP Card in December 2022.[17] The card can also be used to pay fares for the company's electric ferries.[18] The card provides a daily fare cap on fares, meaning passengers need not pay more than 40-50 THB when using Thai Smile Bus buses or ferries. Discount fares are available to children, who enjoy a daily fare cap of 25 THB.[19] Passengers must tap in and out of buses using the card to ensure the correct fare is registered.

Cards can be purchased online, in the Market Village and Tops Supermarket, onboard buses and certain major ferry terminals.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://thailand.locality.guide/2024/12/31/tsb-reaches-profitability-after-three-years-of-operations/
  2. ^ a b "Bangkok bus reform plan a big letdown". Bangkok Post. 15 December 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Bus firm to ditch NGV vehicles". BANGKOK POST.
  4. ^ "BMA, OTP, AND THAI SMILE BUS SHARE DATA IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT BOOST". Khaosod English. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ^ Westwood, Nattapong (21 September 2023). "Thai Smile Bus electrifies its fleet with a shocking 1,083 EVs". Thaiger. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Thai smile Group". Thai smile Group (in Thai). Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  7. ^ "BTS ปฏิเสธข่าวเข้าลงทุนธุรกิจรถเมล์ "ไทย สมายล์ บัส"" [BTS denies news of investing in bus business "Thai Smile Bus"] (in Thai). Money and Banking. 26 July 2024.
  8. ^ "รู้จักกับ ไทย สมายล์ กรุ๊ป (Get to know Thai Smile Group)". Thai smile Group (in Thai). Thailand. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Operator to double electric bus fleet in Bangkok". Southeast Asia Infrastructure. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Thai Smile to decommission all NGV buses this month". 2 January 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  11. ^ Tantivangphaisal, Puntid (20 August 2024). "Thai Smile Bus launches electric bus services across Bangkok". Thaiger. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d "Bangkok Bus Routes, Map, Ticket, Fare & How to Take Bus". Thaiest. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  13. ^ Lhawpongsawad, Saran. "How to Take a Bus in Bangkok: Routes, Fares, and What to Do". Expat Den. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  14. ^ "Bangkok's notorious No 8 bus service not quite tamed yet". The Nation. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  15. ^ "Thai Smile Bus to deploy 1,000 electric buses in Thailand". 23 September 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  16. ^ "การให้บริการ - รถโดยสารสาธารณะ (Service provision - Public transport)". Thai smile Group (in Thai). Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Transport Ministry launches joint electric bus-boat card for Bangkok commuters". The Nation. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  18. ^ "Exploring Bangkok's Waterways with Thai Smile Boat and Mine Smart Ferry services". Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Smile! Bangkok electric buses free for children until yearend". The Nation. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
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