The No.514 bus is now the G59E bus. If that's not confusing enough, the bus route also has changed. (Photos by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Eight pilot bus routes, with new numbers and colour codes, are set for one-month test runs from next Tuesday, according to the Department of Land Transport (DLT) Wednesday.

The modification of the eight new bus routes is a part of bus reform, by the DLT, which will see new 269 bus routes across the capital, divided into four zones, signified by the colours green, red, yellow and blue.

The colour of each zone will be painted on the front of the bus and also put in the new bus number, featuring the Latin alphabet: for example, G for green, Y for yellow, B for blue and R for red, in front of the actual bus number. The alphabet, E, at the end signifies the bus takes the expressway.

According to DLT chief Sanit Promwong, the total bus reform process in Bangkok will take two years to complete. Throughout the period, he said, original bus routes will still be in operation, as the new bus routes will be slowly integrated along Bangkok's roads.

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He said new buses will eventually be equipped with GPS tracking systems to track buses' locations and make use of e-tickets, to ease commuting for the public.

During this one-month experimental process, each of the eight routes will be given five buses each. Mr Sanit said this period will be a "learning process," where the DLT will receive feedback from the public.

Operating zones signified by colours will help lessen the amount of excessively overlapping bus routes in the capital, he said, adding shorter routes will make it easier for quality control.

Feeders linking skytrain and subway stations will also be provided, he added. The eight new bus routes to be tested will use the same pricing system as buses under the BMTA, he said.

The rejuvenated buses won't start until the driver swipes his card, to confirm his identity on the recorder.

Mr Sanit said the main objective of bus reform is to stop the monopolisation of buses in Bangkok by opening auctions for private companies to invest in new bus routes.

He said this shift in exclusive bus registration rights in Bangkok -- all overseen now by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) -- will improve the overall quality of public buses, because more companies will compete to win a concession.

The reforms, according to Mr Sanit, will require all public bus companies to register directly with the DLT, as opposed to the BMTA which used to act both as a bus operator and also concession giver.

An auctioning process for the ownership of two other new bus routes recently began on Aug 7, and will be open for bidding until Sept 8.

The two routes, running in the DLT's red and yellow zones, will cost 40 to 55 baht at most per ticket, says DLT deputy director-general Cherdchai Sanansrisakhon. The first route open for bidding, route "R26E," will run from Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute in Samut Prakan to Ramathibodi Hospital via the expressway. It will be located in the DLT's red zone.

The route will feature two different buses. The first variety will seat 21 to 30 people, where passengers will be able to stand in the buses. Tickets will cost an estimated 13 to 25 baht each. The more premium, 55-baht per ticket variety will allow for no more than 20 people per bus, and will not allow passengers to stand in them.

The second route up for bidding, route "Y70E," will run from Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin in Salaya to Mo Chit BTS station, also via the expressway. Tickets will cost no more than 40 baht each.