Nghe An: 'Unofficial' passenger vans increase ticket prices on New Year's Day

(Baonghean.vn) - As of this morning, January 1, at the station, train and bus ticket prices for the New Year holiday remain stable, however, passengers who go out to catch a bus have to buy tickets at quite high prices.

Mr. Tran Minh Thanh, Director of Nghe An Bus Station Joint Stock Company, said: During the New Year holiday, the number of inter-provincial passengers only increased slightly by 10% compared to normal days. However, to be proactive, Nghe An Bus Station Joint Stock Company has requested transport companies to mobilize the maximum number of vehicles to ensure quality of passenger service.

Customers buy bus tickets after Tet at Vinh bus station. Photo: Hai An.

Currently, the total number of vehicles signed on fixed routes at Nghe An Bus Station is over 300 vehicles, serving 6,000 - 7,000 passengers per day, the most crowded is still the number of passengers traveling on the Vinh - Hanoi route. Currently, transportation businesses at Nghe An Bus Station have committed not to increase ticket prices during the 2018 New Year. For example, the ticket price from Vinh to Hanoi is from 200,000 - 220,000 VND/ticket.

However, the bus routes are randomly raising ticket prices. We contacted Cuc Mung bus company located in Khai Son commune, Anh Son district. Cuc Mung bus company said: The average price of a bus to Hanoi on a normal day is 170,000 VND/ticket, now after the Lunar New Year it is 200,000 VND/ticket. Dinh Dung bus company in Yen Thanh is 150,000 VND/ticket on a normal day, now it has increased to 180,000 VND/ticket.

Through research, the fares of the off-line bus routes have increased by 20,000 - 50,000 VND/ticket. Ms. Tran Thi Ly in Yen Thanh town - a passenger traveling by bus during the New Year holiday shared: We have to pay 30,000 VND/ticket more expensive than usual, and also have to endure being crowded.

The number of visitors after the Lunar New Year increased slightly by 5-10%. Photo: Hai An.

The railway industry has also implemented solutions to meet the increased travel demand of people during Tet. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thanh - Head of Vinh Railway Transport Station added: On the occasion of New Year, for the Vinh - Hanoi route, in addition to the fixed trips, we will increase the operation of 2 more pairs of trains NA4/8 and NA12/QB2.

Up to this point, the number of passengers buying train tickets has decreased compared to previous years. As of 2 pm on January 1, Vinh Station had only sold over 5,000 tickets, reaching 80% of the total number of tickets. According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thanh, the reason for the decrease in passengers compared to previous years is because this year's New Year is close to Lunar New Year, so they are saving for Lunar New Year. Thus, it is predicted that the number of people returning for Lunar New Year will be higher.

One of the "unofficial" Vinh - Hanoi buses is picking up passengers along the Vinh - Cua Hoi route. Photo: Hai An.

During the post-New Year holiday, the authorities at bus and train stations will strengthen security and order. Nghe An Transport Department recommends that in addition to buying tickets at the bus station, if you discover that bus companies are overcrowding or increasing ticket prices, you should immediately notify the authorities via hotlines for timely correction.

Hai An