The travel demand is expected to hike during the coming National Holiday April 30 and May 1 due to 4 consecutive days off...
The travel demand is expected to hike during the coming National Holiday April 30 and May 1 due to 4 consecutive days off. The holiday train tickets have been sold out but many coach tickets are still available. Transportation businesses have pledged to abide by Covid-19 control measures.
23 pairs of trains added
According to Le Hong Son, Deputy Director of Saigon Railway Transport Company (SRT) Nha Trang, approximately 60 trains will be added to meet the travel demand expected to increase this holiday. Of those, 23 trains serve passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to the cities and provinces of Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Quang Ngai and Da Nang.
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Specifically, on Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang route, the train SNT2 departing from Ho Chi Minh City on April 27, 28, 29, 30 and May 1 and 2; SNT4 on April 29, 30; SNT6 on April 28, 29, and 30; SNT8, SNT10, SNT12, and SNT14 on April 29. In the opposite direction, the train SNT1 departs from Nha Trang on April 28, 29, 30 and May 1, 2, and 3; SNT3, SNT5 on May 2 and 3; SNT7 on May 3; SNT9 and SNT11 on May 2. On Ho Chi Minh City - Quy Nhon route, SQN2 departs from Ho Chi Minh City on April 29, 30; and SQN4 on April 29; in the opposite direction, SQN1 runs on May 2 and 3, and SQN3 on May 2. On Ho Chi Minh City - Quang Ngai route, SE26 leaves Ho Chi Minh City for Quang Ngai on April 29 and the train back SE25 on May 2.
On Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang route, besides the daily SE21/SE22, the train SE28 departs from Ho Chi Minh City for Da Nang on April 29, the SE30 on April 30; and the trains back SE27 and SE29 run on May 2 and May 3 respectively.
In addition to trains named above, the railway sector will continue adding trains based on actual travel needs. Particularly, during the peak period on April 30 and May 1, five to ten percent discount is still applied for return tickets together with discount for social policy beneficiaries, including Vietnamese heroic mothers, war invalids, the elderly, students and so on.
Covid-19 prevention and control will be strictly implemented to asure safety for passengers. The holiday trains tickets have been sold out. The branch is working to get permission from the company to operate more trains to serve passengers.
Many coach tickets still available
According to the leader of the Department of Traffic & Transportation, up to now, all preparations for passenger transportation have been ensured. Transport businesses have had plans to increase vehicles for transportation. Coach stations have also had solutions for passenger overcrowding.
The Department of Traffic & Transportation has approved extra charges on the route Khanh Hoa – Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa during the holiday. Specifically, on the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Khanh Hoa, the extra charge must be no more than 40% of the fare on April 29-30 and no extra charge is applied before April 29 and after May 1. In the opposite direction, the extra charge must be no more than 40% of the fare on May 2-3 and no extra charge is applied after May 4.
According to Nguyen Cong Hai, Director of Nha Trang City Southern Coach Station, there are more than 40 trips from Nha Trang to other provinces and cities, especially Ho Chi Minh City. The travel demand is expected to increase by 30% compared with normal days. The coach station has made good preparation for the Covid-19 control and prevention. Many tickets are still available for the holiday journey.
To meet the travel needs, sufficient vehicles are ensured to deal with any emergency, the Department of Traffic & Transportation prohibits the use of contract cars and tour buses for passenger transportation on fixed routes. In addition, fixed route vehicles are not allowed to provide pick-up or drop-off service at offices, transaction locations and booking offices (except coach stations); skip coach stations of the starting and finishing points, transport passengers under contracts.
Fare increase without permission is not allowed. In particular, in the current period, The department required coach stations and transportation enterprises not to transport people who immigrate illegally or fail to comply with regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control, according to Cao Tan Loi, Deputy Director of the Department of Traffic & Transportation.
Manh Hung
Translated by N.T
