Bangkok Repurposes Vintage Cream-Red Buses for Emergency Backup
Bangkok’s Mass Transit Authority is giving its historic cream‑red buses a new life as emergency backup vehicles. Director General Dr. Kittikan Chomdoung Charuworapolkul said the buses’ ability to traverse floodwaters and be refueled on site makes them indispensable despite the city’s push for electric buses. Selected units will be overhauled, emission‑upgraded, and reassigned to special backup duty.
The director said he would not discard the cream‑red buses, emphasizing their structural strength and flood‑capability. He explained that while Bangkok moves toward clean‑energy electric buses, the aging fleet remains vital for emergencies because they can operate in deep water and be refueled instantly. To revive their usefulness, the authority will select the soundest units, overhaul their mechanics, flush systems, and upgrade engines to meet current emission standards, then reassign them from regular service to special backup duty.
