Songthaew

Un songthaew ( tailandés : สองแถว, iluminado. ' dos ​​filas ' , RTGS :  songthaeo , pronunciado [ sɔ̌ːŋ.tʰɛ̌w ] ; ^{[ 1 ]} laosiano : ສອງແຖວ , pronunciado [ sɔ̌ːŋ.tʰɛ́w ] ; malayo : dua baris ) es un vehículo de pasajeros en Tailandia , Laos , Camboya y Myanmar adaptado de una pick-up o de un camión más grande y utilizado como taxi compartido o autobús .

El songthaew debe su nombre a los dos bancos que se encuentran a ambos lados de la parte trasera del camión. En algunos vehículos, se coloca un tercer banco en el centro. Además, se instala un techo en la parte trasera, al que se pueden añadir cortinas y láminas de plástico para protegerse de la lluvia. Algunos vehículos tienen techos lo suficientemente altos como para que los pasajeros viajen de pie . Lo más habitual es que los pasajeros de pie ocupen una plataforma adosada a la parte trasera.

En Chiang Mai y sus alrededores, los lugareños pueden llamarlos rot si daeng ^{[ 2 ]} ( tailandés : รถสีแดง , literalmente "coche rojo" — una referencia a su color más común en la zona), rot daeng , ^{[ 3 ]} o a veces si rot .

El Isuzu Faster y el Toyota Hilux son ejemplos de modelos de songthaews que se pueden encontrar en Tailandia.

In addition, some models of songthaews — such as Daihatsu Hijet, Subaru Sambar and Suzuki Carry— familiarly known as rot ka-poh (Thai: รถกะป๊อ), literally translates to "toad cars." The word ka-poh comes from Teochew (pronounced kub-poh), which means "toad" — reference to their shape. Some are also called rot kra-pong (รถกระป๋อง, literally "tincan cars") or rot-Subaru (รถซูบารุ, literally "Subaru cars") — a reference to their brand.^[4]

Songthaews were introduced in Thailand in the 1950s. Early songthaews were based on Austin A30 sedans. In 1960s, songthaews used British models like Leyland 15/20, Morris 250 JU, Morris J4, and Morris Minor. In 1970s, songthaews started using various models like Mercedes-Benz T2.

Songthaews are used both within towns and cities and for longer routes between towns and villages. Those within towns are converted from pick-up trucks and usually travel fixed routes for a set fare, but in some cases (as in Chiang Mai), they are used as shared taxis for passengers traveling in roughly the same direction. Vehicles on longer routes may use truck bodies and seat around 40 passengers.

In 1990s, Thai government attempted to replace songthaews with modern minibuses. Thai Motor Corporation (THAMCO), BMW, and Italdesign cooperated for designing Italdesign Columbus as songthaew replacement. Italdesign Columbus had bodywork variations, including minibus, pick-up truck, and delivery van.^[5]

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  A medium-sized inter-village songthaew
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  A songthaew loaded with students heading home in Sisaket province
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  The interior of a pick-up truck songthaew in Sakon Nakhon
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  Toyota Dyna in Sukhothai province
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  Toyota Hilux in Lopburi province
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  Isuzu Elf at Sukhothai province
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  Daihatsu Hijet near Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital
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  Mitsubishi L200 in Trat province
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  Isuzu Elf in Sukhothai province
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  Isuzu Elf in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province
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  Isuzu Elf in Rayong province
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  Mitsubishi Cyclone en Pattaya
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  Isuzu Giga en la provincia de Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
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  Mitsubishi L200 en Pattaya
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  Isuzu Elf en Bangkok
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  Mitsubishi Fuso Canter en Ubon Ratchathani
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  Datsun 620 en Pattaya
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  Isuzu D-Max en Pathumthani
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  Isuzu Giga en Samut Sakhon
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  Isuzu NPR en Kalasin
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  Nissan Big M en Samut Songkhram
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  Mitsubishi Strada en Pathumthani
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  Toyota Hilux Mighty-X en Samut Prakan
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  Toyota Hilux Revo en Chonburi
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  Mazda Familia en Nonthaburi
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  Mitsubishi L200 en Lampang
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  Montar en un songthaew en Chiang Mai

• Transporte público en Pattaya, Tailandia