politepoet

'A philosphical thought'

I am still wondering of the nitpickers do have a clue where the new railway system was mend for others than fierce complaint like a spoiled kid that just have been given a new toy and after ample playing, or in some cases not playing at all, starts criticizing the quality. There's nothing wrong with the quality and you cannot deploy Pullman cars on a line like this. The plush seats ands teak wood design belongs definitely the past. By that time we were there in a complete other number and although this seems to be without any connection in fact it's well related. The new railway for all is a Mass Rapid Transport system in emphasizing the first word. That means for the time being you'll have to minimize your self. Especially during rush hours. It's no wonder why the locals along the line take this train instead the old one running below. The matter of turning yourself off is the same only the duration makes the difference.

Furthermore it's only the beginning, it's screaming for extension and so do the BTS and MRTA. Not before the network is complete and that means a well connected series of lines and not three separate ones running from somewhere to nowhere but for some a desired destination. Things are on their way but it would be a perfect waist leaving the already build and finished infrastructure idle till the moment of completeness is there.

And talking about Mass transportation, someone ever experienced a rush hour trip on the underground system of Beijing or trains in Japan with staff outside to push as many as possible people in an already brimful train. Herrings in a barrel and no room for individuality. Squeezed in the way we want to live together. I could sketch a science fiction situation in a more or less philosophical thought. We outnumber ourselves by which we also desire to live as close as close with another as possible. I only say one thing; a mega-metropolis based on yesteryears values is doomed to drawn in the success apparently it is.

Where can I find the airlink terminal from inside the airport ?

I will try it on Tuesday , and is it running 24 hours ? I think my plane will land at 4 a.m in the morning....

Go to the lowest floor the one were the Airport Buses are leaving, there you'll see the signs to another floor below on the right side of the terminal building. The buses are in the far left. The trains are kept in the cellar. No, it's not running 24 hours, as far as I understand it starts 06.00 in the morning. With a bit bad luck at the customs and lugguage collection you're just in time for the first ride.

'In perspective of Thai Railway History'

I am baffled how many railway experts suddenly came to daylight after submerging in the city. After many years of almost standstill the Thai Railways succeed in making a leap forwards. The real problem, or course of complaining if one want, is running a deck below on level ground; the ordinary old fashion line to Chachoengsao and beyond and with it the rest of the slightly more than 4000 km network the SRT - State Railways of Thailand on the moment explore in a more or less deplorable manner due to the lack of investment or real interest from the political side. It's still a company 100 % own by the state and not a private one, so all funds will be taxpayer's money. In my opinion a well spend choice.

The railway workers are not the blame, they try with all means and improvisation to keep the trains rolling. But a rolling train for a non trained eye per se is a perfect train. The network as it is operation today resembles a museum railway. On itself nothing wrong with but if desired a historian should be the general manager. First a little inside of the past, because without looking at the past one will never understand what happen today.

It was the great king Chulalongkorn, Rama the fifth, who hired the Germans to lay the first tracks. Standard gauge or more precise 1435 mm (measured from the inside between two railheads). Unfortunately in 1917 Thailand declare war with Germany and all workers could no longer proceed. The British took over and while there meanwhile build system in Malaysia measured 1000 mm (meter gauge) so the line from Thonburi till the boarder was done. It was not before building the Rama VI Bridge any problem occur but once in place and both networks connected there was. A difference of 435 mm, how big a problem can be?

However, by that time one decided that meter would be the standard and the originally existing standard tracks would be regauged. It took more than ten years to complete the task first by adding a third rail in between. No talks about waist of energy, time, money or what so ever, after the operation the Thai Railways fall in a deep but beautiful sleep. Things were kept in place by ordinary maintenance but the infrastructure hardly changed. To cut it short, that's the situation we're are in today. The airport express link is the awakening, again a standard gauge line but this time electrified, after the Pak Nam Railway, Thailand's second.

The political focus indeed is focused extremely on Bangkok hopefully this will not kill the rest of the network in the end. Next time when you ride the line till Phaya Thai, go down the stairs till street level, cross and on the other side you'll find the platform for the trains to and from the East. Wait and take one to the Hua Lamphong station but not before you've turned your head and seen the already existing infrastructure for any extension. That's the point where all the complaints should be about. A swift deciding and no longer linger in the pain of unforfilled self interest by some (but who knows how many) civil servants.

Seriously, why is Thailand so terrible at getting things done on time and getting them done right? Is it the corruption?

Do not even mention the name the sensorship is merciless in concern of defamation. Yesterday I posted a philosifical thought about another thing that happen and not for 100% the name you gave it but still. The whole thread was removed immediately. Maybe we have to look for it in another direction: willing, prepareness, being convinced of a certain change without thinking on your own interest only. Let say a desired social balance between what's good for you and the society. On the other hand lets be honest about what happen in Europe concerning the railways, the things assumpted in this country are more or less open contrary the West and yes: the twain will never meet.

Okay, this is for long being my subject though on another Forum; 2bangkok.com. And yes I made some nasty remarks through the years but always in a polite manner about the Thai Railways enterprise in common and specific matters i.e. the political background and lack of real interest to run a smooth system. The airport express however, is a smooth system; it's well constructed according the latest railway infrastructure techniques. No, the stock is far from high-speed; these are ordinary commuter trains but also developed with the newest techniques and absolutely nothing wrong with that, this kind of rolling stock you need for the line as planned and accordingly was build. The only thing I agree with is the choice of Makkasan for the fast train as terminal, it's to far from anything people want to be and thus need a taxi ride because other modes of public transportion at the area are not there. If for example one had considered a smooth way of transferring from the Makassan terminal till the Petchaburi station one of the MRTA it had been fine but this was note done. The transfer between Phaya Thai and BTS is without any hindering only you have to walk for a while. But that is inherent on to day's situation wherein every thing is on the brink to be changed. Most of the traffic experts in the Bangkok administration are absolutely convinced of mass transportation rail systems despite the car lobby that turns a blind eye for a clogged city. Give them time... Paris and London were not building in one day, the only advantage these cities have, they start constructing their rail systems more than 100 year ago. By that time the Thai was bound to oxcarts and elephants.

So looking at what we see now, they came a long way. It deserves a congratulation but on the other hand also a mirror and hopefully anyone in command will not turn his head.

The new dutch consulate is situated opposite Tesco Lotus Hang Dong in the office. Waiting for the official opening. Last time Peter told me that it would open officially august 15.

Thats great , very good news .

I wonder what kind of services they are able to give.

My guess is income clarification, proof of life and hope that simple notary

statements are given.

Do they issue new passports ...?

In the latter; nope, this requires special equipment for specific idintifying marks and only available at the ambassy in Bangkok. So you have go there but only once they will send it back after issuing to the consulate.

Proof of live only for the ABP and maybe other pension funds but not the state fund (AOW) this you'll have to do at the town hall. The rest they can do I suppose and hope why otherwise a consulate?

Please let us know how your 2pm experience went. Also, have you already missed the ticket she booked and didn't pay for? If you don't mind me asking, when did you pay her the money, and when are/were you supposed to fly (roughly)?

Well blakegeee, the two o'clock deadline went by but not before the lady in distress gave a call and later an E-mail wherein she explained to be unable to forfil our wishes i.e. issue the ordered and already paid ticket without any further delays. This almost stated in a humble but also unfortunate tone. " I am very sorry but I cannot help you on the moment " I still talk about the four of us who she victimized sofar. In my case I should have flown with China Airlines on September the 12th (Bangkok - Amsterdam but that's further of no importance) The ticket was paid on August 8th. According China Airlines she had time until

the 16th of August to forfil her duty she advertised with but as we all are aware now; she failed for what ever reason.

Blame it on the boogie of any circumstance she was not able to handle any longer. No, she sounds more like a little lame bird knowing there's a mean cat arround and asking what are you going to do, or this is all theatre. In the latter she's a dam_n good player. Nobody knows who many friends she hired let say among the police force. TIT you know. There's only one but, why now, why so sudden. I am not a very old costumer but my last two tickets didn't raise any problem. Other people in my surrounding used her service for a longer periode and also no obstacles. However, this is not our concern if she deliberatly sell tickets in the knowledge what will happen, the gallow in former reply is a very mild instrument.

Sorry guys, but the dream will not come through. Yes, in the first place there were initatives to locate the consulate at a coffee shop of a Dutch entrepeneur, a real one, and certainly not the ones 'we' are famous for. Chiang Mai has absolutely nothing Amsterdam alike. Okay, one moat (canal) but no excursion vessels.

It will be accomodated in a proper office building but appearently without a time frame, that's to say, things are on the way but they are already a year or so. Maybe the delay is to blame to an old German writer /philospher who ones have said: in the low lands everything happens 50 years later!

Well, reading all above and obedient to the rules there's hardly any mistake about the name of the travel agency or more precise the lady who runs it. Past time I'll say because there're more victims, in my direct surrounding three persons.

And yes this has nothing to do with MAU tours only the same practice or better stated: malpractice. In our case (four of us) she promised to get things straight today (Monday) 14.00 hours sharp. This she also told to the airline company in my case China Airlines and Thai Airways for the domestic part, who phoned here after my complaint. Even the Tourist Police gave here a call and by all here reputation seemed to be well known. A typical Thai smile is the best answer you get. Till tomorrow I'll gave here the benifit of doubt, if nothing happen than at least lodge a complaint by the regular police and ask for a report. The minimum thing one have is a proof that you were cheated, maybe useful for any assurance. Appearantly she has seen the police station from the inside already. TIT do not translate and do not speak loud, standards of justice are definitely not the same.

She created the gallow and I think it's justified to hang her by name and certainly not annonymous. However, it's still AM, the benifit of doubt still remain in force for a few hours, enough to save her neck.