HIGHWAY BUS COMPANIES TO INCREASE PRICE SINCE MARCH|交通部協調國道客運業者 3/1後再漲價

Yesterday we reported that several highway bus companies are considering raising fares to reflect increased labor costs after the new work-week policy took effect. In response, the Transportation ministry swiftly engaged the 8 bus companies that are planning to hike fares, and asked them to postpone price adjustment until March, which is after the lantern festival and the 228-holiday long weekend. After Lunar New Year holidays were over, Ubus Company was the first company announcing bus fares adjustment to start on February 13. The bus fare from Taipei to Kaohsiung for one adult passenger will be raised from NT$530 to NT$580. Other seven-passenger bus operators had submitted their adjustment proposals to the Directorate General of Highways. However, the authority said the Lantern Festival and Feb. 28 long weekend holidays are coming, the government hopes bus operators to postpone adjustment till March. ==LIANG KUO-KUO Deputy Exe. Secretary, Directorate General of Highways Transportation Mgmt. Sect. == Feb.28 is a long-weekend holiday for Spring break, and we hope to meet expectation from the public. Therefore the Directorate General of Highways renegotiated with Ubus and other passenger transportation operators. They agree to make fare adjustment till March 1. All passenger bus operators agreed to make fare adjustment till March 1. The increase will be from 3.3% to 68% which are lower than the upper limits set by the authority. A bus operator said, the new amendment of Labor Standards Act does indeed increase labor costs, the company may offer more discounts for off-peak transportation. ==JUAN FU-SHENG Aloha Bus Co. Manager == The transportation volume has not changed much during off-peak days. If the amendment of one fixed day off and one flexible rest day has caused workers getting more day offs, we will try to make a balance. Then there will be no need to adjust bus fare. The Directorate General of Highways stated, eight passenger bus operators all agree to postpone fare adjustment till March. TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN 度過春節凍漲期，國道客運業者統聯，率先在官網公佈，13日起將漲價的訊息，以台北到高雄為例，全票530元漲為580元，而另外七家國道業者的漲價計畫書也都已經送到公路總局，但公路總局認為，接下來的元宵假期，傳統上也還算是過年期間，緊接著又有228連假，因此協調業者，延到三月再漲價。 ==公路總局運輸管理中心副執秘 梁郭國== 這個228剛好也是春節這一個 連續的一個假期之內 我們希望能夠符合社會的期待 所以我們公路總局 再跟統聯客運 還有其他相關的 客運業者再協調 他們也同意三月一號的時候 再來去做一個調整 率先喊漲的統聯，經過協調，表示將配合政策，改從3月1日起調整票價，漲幅依照路線長短從3.3%到68%不等，都低於公路總局核定票價的上限。業者則表示，一例一休人力成本確實大幅增加，現階段不漲，就得以優惠來拼離峰時段的搭乘率。 ==阿羅哈客運經理 阮福生== 比較離峰日期它的運量 有沒有什麼變化 如果因為一例一休 勞工增加休假 我們在這裡(離峰日期) 有稍微增加 那可能可以去 做一個平衡 就不需要去調價 公路總局表示，經過協調業者都能配合，八家業者的漲價方案，將會延到在三月起陸續上路。 記者 薛宜家 林志堅 台北報導