Prices for certain Kuo Kuang bus routes are to rise by as much as 10 percent from June 5, and discounts for round-trip tickets would no longer be offered, the company said on Monday.
After raising prices for its routes on the Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway linking Taipei and Yilan on Monday, Kuo Kuang Motor Transportation Co on its Web site announced further hikes to 31 other routes, effective on June 5.
The company would also no longer offer discounts for purchasing round-trip or prepaid multi-ride tickets on middle and long-distance routes, it said.
Photo: Taipei Times files
Kuo Kuang is the latest intercity bus operator to raise prices, following similar hikes by United Highway Bus Co, Taipei Bus Co, Taoyuan Bus Co, Sanchung Bus Co, Ho-Hsin Bus Traffic Co and others.
The price increases have not exceed the amount permitted by the government, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said on Wednesday, adding that Kuo Kuang is mostly cutting costs by eliminating discounts and special deals.
Wang was responding to concerns from legislators that the sudden price increase would affect lower-income passengers and might spur further inflation.
The minister vowed to study the situation further and communicate concerns with Kuo Kuang.
The main affected routes are as follows:
(1805) Keelung-Taipei NT$345 to NT$346
(1822) Taipei-Hsinchu NT$145 to NT$148
(1826) Taipei-Taichung NT$300 to NT$320
(1828) Taipei-Changhua NT$320 to NT$331
(1831) Taipei-Nantou NT$380 to NT$388
(1837) Taipei-Tainan NT$480 to NT$500
(1838) Taipei-Kaohsiung NT$590 NT$600
(1839) Taipei-Pingtung NT$620 NT$630
More details are available on the Kuo Kuang Web site.
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