Cadbury

23 hours ago, webfact said:

....on the assumption that the baht value will be around 33 per US dollar

They shouldn't call it an assumption; they should call it a prayer.

It is currently at 30.34 and other more competent forecasters than the Thai National Shipper's Council are predicting it will move into the 29/28 area after the new year.

They are going to need more than infantile free money stimulus campaigns such as "eat, shop, spend, go on holidays". 

On 11/1/2019 at 1:05 PM, Lakegeneve said:

Perhaps to add the list of future BTS extensions which may be of some interest to some;

 

1) Suk line eastern ext, Kheha to Bang Poo - 4 stations, 7.2 kms. Potential tender in next 18 months.

2) Suk line northern ext, Khu Khot to Lam Lukka (eastern ring rd) - 4-5 stations, 9 kms. Potential tender in 2-3 years

3) Silom line southern ext, Bang Wah to Taling Chan - 5-6 station, 7kms. EIA done but BMA project so timing is uncertain.

4) Silom line west ext, Nat stadium to Yot Se - 1-2 stations, 2kms. Will depend on when the SRT Dark red line is extended to Hua Lumphong so potentially 5-10 years away.

 

There is also still the potential of the long planned Bang Na spur line from Udom Suk along Bang Na-Trat rd to the future southern terminal at BKK airport but this is currently more likely to end up being a separate light rail line.

A good news up date. Travelled that northern extension in a taxi as I have been doing for all those construction years I was pleased to observe hundreds of workers at ground level doing the finishing touches, both heavy and light duty landscape work. Work at ground level had been lifeless by comparison for many months before hand. Looks like the predicted opening for December is on target.

Another pleasant surprise waiting for me when I arrived at the BTS station at Bang Wa. The new MRT line from Bang Wa to Lak Song had started operation. That is a route I travel from time to time and it will now give me the option of a through route from Sukhumvit (Asoke) to Lak Song rather than the BTS route from Siam to Bang Wa and then baht bus to Lak Song.

What a pity MRT will not accept my Rabbit card which I normally use on the BTS routes, even in this day and age of Thailand 4.0 which I hear Prayut speak of on many occasions. 

The way things are headed with Green energy Thailand power sales are likely to be restricted to times when the sun is shining and/or the wind is blowing. 

The same will apply to all those industries which are coming the to Prayut's EEC dream. Manufacturing/production hours of operation will be restricted to times of sunshine and wind. That should be appealing to potential investors.

42 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

I wonder who will bear the losses once this train is in operation. 

The same people who always bear the losses for Thai Airways and the SRT. One thing for sure it won't be the CP Group.

6 hours ago, Lakegeneve said:

There is no copying and pasting from anywhere. However, I do always doubled check my dates from what I have previously written. ???? Like many others, I have closely followed the slow progression of mass transit in BKK for over 25 years. 

 

There is plenty to be critical of in relation to this BTS extension time frame (originally was slated 08 as I stated), the slow expansion of the BTS network (all extensions have opened at least 1-2 years late) and the overall development of BKKs mass transit network. You'll find plenty of objective, factual posts by me being critical of many, many issues. By all means, be critical where it is warranted and based on facts. We all understand the frustration with new metro lines taking years longer than they should. Indeed, this extension has always been my go to example of what is wrong with the policy making framework of implementing new metro lines in Bangkok. 

(Noting that this line was approved by different Cabinets in 06, 08, 09 & 2011 before the tender was finally awarded in Dec 2014! That right there should be your major criticism regarding the delay of this extension - there is no accountability for the policy delays by successive govts.)

 

However, your main point referred to incorrect dates and that needed correction as no where official was there any statement when the contract was signed in April 2015 that the ext would open in 2018. The actual construction time frame in the contract was 1350 days and you have to take that from the start date once they have access to the site/route You can find dozens of thai press articles and even the press release on the MRTA site which state a 2019 opening after the contract was signed - an easy google search. )Site access is a major reason why the start of construction for the ARL, the Light red line and the Dark red line, and MRT Blue lines were all respectively delayed).  Again, construction started in late August/ early Sept 2015 after the delays to resolve the overpass demolition schedule. Add 1350 days from then.

 

The RT article that you subsequently posted is actually meaningless regarding dates as it was written before the tender was awarded, let alone the contract signed. Note that it refers to contracts awarded in 2013 for the Southern ext, but nothing specific thereafter in relation to contracts for both projects. It doesn't mention the northern exts contract being signed in April 2015 so that is a big hint. (Btw it states "It is expected to be completed in 2018 or 2019", not just "northern extension by 2018" as you have quoted.) RT does these generic overviews for various cities metro plans but they rarely update them so they do become outdated quickly

I can't agree with your flippant, "there is plenty of time left for bits and pieces to fall off and for delays to occur." This extension has actually been built fairy well compared to previous extensions and the stations are well designed compared to previous designs (Crossy can add more piucs and comments if he wishes!) And in the main, the first 1/3 of the ext opening on time is very good in the historical context.

 

Your other main point is sort of moot. You can't really compare building a HSR line with a metro line. They are completely difference projects with different design requirements, right of way limitations and construction issues. The fact that the Chinese can build a 500km HSR line in 5 years really has little relation to them taking 5 years to build a 35km metro line in Shanghai in a highly urban environment. I don't think that it is worth make such a comparison, It really is an apples and oranges with respect. If you wish to make a relevant comparisons compare the rapid construction and expansion of the Delhi metro system to Bangkoks slowly expansion with consistent delays. That would be more useful and much of that relates to the policy framework and decision making processes prior to tender rather than construction delays - which still do frequently occur.

 

Lastly, I sysmpatghise that you have been waiting for this ext to open - as has everyone along the Phahon yothin corridor. However, at least you haven't been waiting for the SRT Dark Red line to open. After a 2 year contract dispute delayed the tender, construction finally started in May 2013 for a late 2016 opening. Currently, it will open in Jan 2021!!! Now that's something to be flipping mad about if you travel to/from Rangsit every day.

Thank you for your detailed response. I appreciate it. I guess I get a bit excited about it because I have been going past it since the day it was started. First to get to my unit and later now to get to my doctor. I suppose rather than be grumpy I should be happy and thankful on my next visit I can catch the train to the hospital door, or nearby.

I know what you mean about comparing the BTS and HS rail lines. I was just tongue in cheek and stirring the pot given the nonsense that has prevailed over the signing of the contract with the CP Group and the historical incompetence and corruption of the SRT.

The evolvement of this rail link, if it ever does evolve and not get deferred by another coup, will be interesting to watch. 

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand taking on far more of world’s garbage

Chinese business men are to blame. Since China closed to door to e-waste they have moved their operations to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Since January they have opened up 100 waste plants. 

Governing politicians are obviously approving these plants presumably with some envelope persuasion. Greed again is the driver and no one cares about the consequences; money is more important than the environment and people's health. 

The agricultural district of Chachoengsao, east of Bangkok, is one of the provinces which became a dumping ground for e-waste. While politicians pockets are affected nothing will change.

Members should read these links.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/28/deluge-of-electronic-waste-turning-thailand-into-worlds-rubbish-dump

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-16/recycled-tech-from-western-nations-destroying-thai-villages/11274578

5 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

A right bundle of joy aren't you.  Someone shares pictures of the work in progress - and on track - and rather than thank them or say anything positive the best you can do is say that you hope someone doesn't mess up the wheelchair ramp because a contractor did it once, and there are hundreds of ramps that have no issues.

A walking talking bundle of pessimism.

A walking bundle of factuality I would say. You are in denial of the incompetence and oversight of the BTS. Please explain how this stuff up could ever happen. Your excuses don't cut it.

The usual masterly collection of government buzzwords. They just love talking about their futuristic 15 to 20 year plans.

These plans will almost certainly will go straight out the window with the next coup and then they have to go back to square one with a new military leader bully who knows nought about anything except how to push people around.

Sorry if I am being cynical, I hope I am wrong. 

18 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Hopefully not although that was the fault of the architects and civil contractors (MRTA) and NOT BTS themselves.

Hope so. But it seems BTS don't do any oversight themselves and just learn about these mistakes from members of the public. That is a serious worry in itself.

To quote:

"Less than two weeks after a slew of new BTS stations opened in southeast metro Bangkok, netizens pointed a glaring oversight at one of them – an inaccessible wheelchair access ramp."

Round three. The hackers will have by now honed their skill levels to perfection. 

51 minutes ago, Crossy said:

AFC equipment testing at N11 yesterday.

 

 

I hope we don't get a repeat of the wheelchair ramp to nowhere.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2018/12/19/transit-authority-to-look-into-new-bts-wheelchair-ramp-to-nowhere/

8 minutes ago, Lakegeneve said:

Au contraire, your dates and timeline are incorrect. Not sure where 2017 came from?

 

The tender for the ext closed on 30 Sept 2014, successful bids were announced in December 2014 and the contract wasn't signed until early 3 April 2015! Even then there was further delays for a few months due to prolonged meetings with between the MRTA, BMA, contractors and police regarding demolition timing of the Phahon yothin intersection overpass and Kasert overpass.

 

Actual construction started in August 2015 (officially on 8 Sept 2015) for an opening date of Dec 2019 for the full extension. Given that all BTS exts have opened at least 1-2 years late, this extension is actually doing okay in the circumstances insofar that some of it is actually opening on time.

 

What you should be justly criticizing is the fact that this extension was first slated to open in 2008 and since the 2005 election and subsequent elections, successive govts promised to start construction the following year after they were elected (or undertook a coup). 

Do you have to keep repeating yourself with your au contraires? Your copying and pasting from Wiki is remarkably good.

I must confess the original opening time set for this Northern section was 2018 and NOT 2017 (the link below confirms that). Please forgive me. We may be splitting straws but it is almost 2 years behind schedule after all.

I remind you it has still not yet opened; there is plenty of time left for bits and pieces to fall off and for delays to occur.

All I know is that I have been watching and waiting almost 5 years for this line to open so that I could catch the it to get to my doctor at the Central General Hospital in Anusawari. Actual observations rather than Wiki.

The main point of my earlier comment which you choose to ignore was that if it takes 5 years (or thereabouts) to build a slow speed rail track at an average construction rate of 2.5 km per year then how long will it take for the HS Track from Don Mueang to U Tapao to be built which is 220 km. I realise they are completely different types of tracks but allowing for the expertise of Chinese factor rather than the Thai factor would you care to give an estimate? Perhaps Wiki might again help you with that one.

Over and out!

https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/bangkok-mass-rapid-transit-green-line-extension/

COMPLETION

Southern Extension by 2017 and Northern Extension by 2018