FarangryBirds

There's some more context to this particular rivalry. Samut Prakan City only came to be because they took over the former Pattaya Utd and moved the club to Samut Prakan The current Pattaya Utd are like a Phoenix club that have clawed their way up the leagues off the back of the former club being taken away from Pattaya. Ergo, the Pattaya Utd fans hate Samut Prakan FC.

They did recently open a big Starbucks at the front entrance but now nothing shopwise on the middle level. I think the cinema pushing self service ticketing instead of manned counters.

I know the configuration of the island stations is different, but they still have TVs up and down the platform at Siam for example. They also have screens inside the barriers. My point is that the priority seems to be using these for playing advertising on a loop, as opposed to information passengers may find useful. The ones inside the barriers usually interrupt an advert to tell you the next train is approaching...usually the train is clearly visible by then anyway. The MRT and ARL get by without having massive LED displays at their platforms to put this up on.

I saw one report yesterday saying Pink Line free passenger trials are happening this month, with paid fare services starting in December. The BTS were trialling something useful last month where the big HD screens on the platform were actually showing information about the next train arrivals (as the MRT Blue has done for years!). Annoyingly it's gone again, hopefully it comes back again soon, I think only one time the information shown was totally wrong. It said next train was about 5 minutes away and then 1 turned up a minute later....always better to under promise and over deliver! The only station I didn't see it being shown at was Siam....one of the busiest stations, there are TVs around the platform, but seemingly only there to show us advertising. . I'm not sure if this was also the case at Samrong and Ha Yaek Ladprao.

Reports today the free trial for Pink Line passengers will run September-October, with it becoming a paid line from November.

I saw one Thai news article about Pink Line free trials to start running in September, following Prayut's official inspection yesterday.

I took a other ride on yellow line last night from Hua Mak to Chokchai 4 and had another underwhelming experience. Arriving in Hua Mak on the ARL, the walk from ARL station to the MRT station was a bit clunky and not very well signposted from inside and outside the ARL station, Had to walk over the train tracks as well to reach the yellow line. When I got up to the monrail platform I was greeted by a train that was stuck at the station as it had stopped short of the correct spot to be lined up with the safety barriers, until a member of staff got on the manual controls to get the train forward another meter or so. After dinner around Chockhai 4, came back to the station to find shutters coming down and that the service wasn't running after 22:00. The Skywalk was also full of workers and wiring as they were still putting finishing touches on that skywalk. So even on the 1st official paid day of running, it still seems like they're ironing out a few kinks.

I’m on my second Rabbit card as the previous one expired. Same for my MRT card. When registering the newer cards, I had to take my passport and it took longer to process. NB: This would have also been around the same period you needed further ID to even get a SIM card. One thing I do like about the Rabbit currently is that I have it linked up through LINE for top up through my banking app, also I have the Rabbit Rewards app, and unbeknown to me, I’d accrued a load of points over the last couple of years. I usually have enough to get at least 20 free trips a month. When my weekly spend on BTS commuting is nearly 500B, that’s a nice little bonus. Regarding the Yellow line, will it be 10 minutes wait between trains after the official launch? Passing the depot (Si Iam?), I noticed a lot of spare trains sat there. I know it’s a slightly misleading visual because less trains are needed if they’re only currently looping between Samrong and HuaMak.

After having a free trial run, my initial impressions: - Not a fan of the carriage configuration at all, very little seating at all in each carriage. Also the weird shaped gangways between each car. - While the acceleration is quite smooth, the ride is a bit bumpy, and sometimes a couple of small jolts as well. When you're standing (as most passengers will be) it made it more noticeable. - The trains are actually quiet. When they were passing overhead, I couldn't make out any noise above the passing road traffic sounds. Also a lot quieter on cornering, not that horrible screech the BTS makes around Victory Monument and Sala Daeng to Chong Nobsi. - Unobstructed views, you get a great view through the cab window and also the doors are mainly glass, and no barriers on the columns. I'm sure the views will become compromised in the future when the trains have to become mobile advertising boards to help pay the bills. - You can tell who the free daytrippers were, as it was carnage at the barriers where there were people who'd clearly never been through one before. - Seacon Square must have been rubbing their hands at the potential new flood of customers being dropped off to them. Because of the hot weather, they were actually supplying free umbrellas for the short walk from the station to the Mall.. - Si, Si, Si...Si....so many if the station names (8) start with Si. Although I did note they've kept Hua Mak, Samrong & Lad Prao stations the same as their ARL/BTS/MRT namesakes. A welcome change. For the next trip I'll wait until the Ladprao end opens up.

I saw it reported in BP and by “the Barrow”, that Yellow Line is starting free public trials on Saturday. Media launch tomorrow.

This is looking messy already, some of the "radical" headline policies that MFP campaigned (& won on) are not going to be accepted by their coalition partners, the only big one left on the table is cutting Army funding and conscription. Is it correct Pheu Thai + the other smaller parties now outnumber MFP in terms of voting seats?

Any truth in rumours the Yellow line opening now pushed back to December, but maybe some trials with pax. starting in April? I was in Lad Prao Road/Bang Kapi last month and large stretches along there still looked no way ready by June.

A1 stops at Mo Chit and that's also the final stop A2 also stops at Mo Chit and then on to Victory Monument A3 goes to Lumpini Park but does stop close to CentralWorld A4 goes to KaoSan Road, I don't think it has any drop-offs near a BTS or MRT hub. I know for Mo Chit it's 30 baht but maybe 45 if you're going further. The buses use the expressway from the airport to blow past traffic, on average 15 minutes to Chatuchak Park (Mo Chit). Over the past few years they have also upgraded the rolling stock from the Orange A/C busses to newer blue buses that actually have disabled access and seating too. As long as you're travelling pretty light, it's super convenient.

Will there be any free public trials on Yellow/Pink before the full opening? Some months ago it was reported that the trials would begin in December. (Which has obviously slid a bit now)

There seems to have been some changes recently with what the TCT accept and they now seem to be pushing (expensive) M.Ed courses being run at 3 different Thai Unis and not accepting other Masters and PGCEs. A colleague has just finished his Nottingham PGCEi, remains to be seen if gets over the line with the MoE. This could be carnage in a couple of years when those with expiring Licenses on previously recognized qualifications try to renew.