The pink 'Pho Thong' are gone

The iconic pink 'Pho Thong' buses that for decades trundled along the streets of Phuket Town have now all gone - replaced with 24 new 'EV' electric buses bought from China costing more than B5 million each.

- Natnaree Likidwatanasakun [e-mail]

Over the decades, the iconic buses became symbols of Phuket Town, especially for their image harking back to yesteryear.

The 'buses' were simple: modified six-wheeled flatbed trucks fitted with wooden bench seats along the sides and wooden railings to keep passengers safe during the ride. Commuters would board and disembark using a set of steps attached to the rear.

The pink Pho Thong were launched in April 2008 under a new initiative by Paiboon Upatising, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) at that time.

The moniker 'Pho Thong' was given for a variety of reasons. 'Pho Thong' comes from the Hokkien pronunciation of the Mandarin word 普通 (pǔtōng), literally meaning “ordinary two”.

The choice to call the buses 'Pho Thong' served as a dual reflection of the ethnic Chinese who live in Phuket Town and a reference to the already well-known blue 'songthaew', which continue to provide 'bus services' from Ranong Rd in Phuket Town to the far reaches of the island.

The 'songthaew' are named after the 'two planks' in the back that serve as the seats that passengers sit on.

The Pho Thong were painted pink, as pink is the provincial colour of Phuket.