Ticket prices for intercity bus services are expected to go up soon. Under the pressure of rising oil costs, several long distance bus operators have recently applied for permission to increase fares by 5 to 20%. And the new rates may be implemented starting early April.

With oil prices continuing to soar internationally, national highway bus companies are also having trouble coping with the upsurge in oil prices.

Ubus Corporation last week filed a petition to the Directorate General of Highways to allow a ticket price hike following the Ching Ming Festival, including promotions, discounts, and regular pricing.

An estimated 20 plus bus companies will be included, such as Ubus, which will raise its ticket prices by 10 to 30 NT dollars and Kuo-Kuang Motor Company, which will raise its prices up by 20 to 50 NT dollars by as soon as the month of April.

So far the public has been under

However, students who must contend with a tighter budget may have to cut down on the number to trips they make back home.

According to the Directorate General of Highways, the price hike proposed by companies remains within the approved maximum limit and are therefore reasonable.

However, the filing must still garner the approval of the Taipei Motor Vehicle Supervision Office and wait one week following the approval to initiate the price hikes.

Besides the national highway bus companies, 900 or so regular passenger bus companies around Taiwan are also prepared to raise their ticket prices, as well.