Chao Phraya commuters to enjoy comfort of AC boats from May

[webfact]

Chao Phraya commuters to enjoy comfort of AC boats from May

By THE NATION

 

 

Chao Phraya Express Boat Co on Monday (March 16) announced the launch of four new air-conditioned Riva Express boats.

 

They will be the first air-conditioned boats plying the river.

 

The new service will help commuter to link with major trainline BTS, the company said. BTS commuters can use its Rabbit Card to pay and access Chao Phraya Riva Express at stopover piers.

 

The boat company is one of the subsidiaries of Supatra Group, operator of passenger boats on the Chao Phraya in Bangkok for a 100 years.

 

The launch is aimed at providing better transportation facilities and more convenience for people in Bangkok.

 

Atirat Ratanasate, deputy minister of transport, who presided over the opening ceremony on Monday, said the Ministry of Transport had pledged to develop water transportation infrastructure as part of ministry's five-year strategy between 2017 and 2021.

 

The plan is aimed to extend water transport facilities and make it environmentally friendly as well as link all transport modes to become a seamless loop. The launch of the new air-conditioned boats will help strengthen strategy "from boat to train", which will increase mass transport efficiency.

 

Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram, chairperson of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co, said the Supatra Group, founded by Khunying Supatra Singholaka, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

 

The four new boats called Catamaran come with a large twin body designed by the world famous designer firm Schwetz Design in Australia and assembled in Thailand.

 

Each boat is light weight thanks to its aluminium body, 23.9-metres long and seven metre wide. It can accommodate up to 200 passengers.

 

Using two diesel engines with total power of 350 horsepower, the design comes with new technology that will produce lower waves, reduce wobble and be less noisy. With these technologies, the boat can demonstrate the same speed as a BTS train with international safety standards.

 

Each boat also features GPS (Global Positioning System), LED screen, and broadcasting system.

 

The air-conditioned Riva Express boat will commence operations from May 18. A ride will cost Bt50 for the entire route. During the introduction period, the company will offer a special deal of only Bt30 per person for the entire route. Service hours will be Monday to Friday.

 

The morning service hours will be 6.20am to 8.30am for the Nonthaburi–Sathon route. The boat will be departing from piers every 20 minutes and will stop at 8 piers.

 

From 9.45am to 4.15pm, the boats will be mainly operate on the Sathon-Bang Po route that connects with trains. The seven stations on this route are: Sathon (BTS Taksin station), IconSiam, Ratchawong, Rachnee (MRT Saman Chai station), Prannok, Thewes and Bang Po (MRT Bang Po station.

 

In the evening, the boat will serve from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on the Sathon- Nonthaburi route, and stop at 8 piers.

 

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the company is experiencing some negative impact as the number of tourists has declined. Therefore, major targeted markets are local people such as school and university student and general employees, as they still need to travel to school or to work by boat.

 

To comply with the government's guidance on the Covid-19 epidemic, all four boats have been cleaned up and are well sanitised. A hand gel is also provided on the boats.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30384188

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-17

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[geriatrickid]

Hopefully, this is not allowed to launch until the epidemic slows. Having people in  a small closed environment like this will facilitate transmission of the deadly disease. 

[sungod]

30 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Hopefully, this is not allowed to launch until the epidemic slows. Having people in  a small closed environment like this will facilitate transmission of the deadly disease. 

Does every thread have to be covid 19 related?

[fruitman]

2 hours ago, sungod said:

Does every thread have to be covid 19 related?

Yes because this boat can become a superspreader for the virus.

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The four new boats called Catamaran....

Calling them what they are without explaining what they are.  Monopolies in Thailand.

[Orton Rd]

2 hours ago, sungod said:

Does every thread have to be covid 19 related?

Makes a change from Brexit and Trump

[sungod]

1 hour ago, fruitman said:

Yes because this boat can become a superspreader for the virus.

Isolation with you would be so much fun.......

 

The next topic (8) is about future forward. I see them standing in close proximity to each other without masks, any covid 19 related  comments?

Edited March 17, 2020 by sungod

[sungod]

57 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Makes a change from Brexit and Trump

I'm starting to wonder.

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Calling them what they are without explaining what they are.  Monopolies in Thailand.

Eh??

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, fruitman said:

Yes because this boat can become a superspreader for the virus.

My God, you can even make a thread about new boats into something miserable.

Let's just stick with the old boats.  No new boats - they are SUPER SPREADERS!!!!

Edited March 17, 2020 by josephbloggs

[fruitman]

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

My God, you can even make a thread about new boats into something miserable.

Let's just stick with the old boats.  No new boats - they are SUPER SPREADERS!!!!

Wow you're so funny man....you think the families of the tousands of dead people also can laugh about your idiotic statements?

[DrTuner]

Will they be allowed to dock when coming back or will you be sailing up and down the muddy river for the next few months?

[josephbloggs]

19 hours ago, fruitman said:

Wow you're so funny man....you think the families of the tousands of dead people also can laugh about your idiotic statements?

Oh my, get a grip man.

On reflection though you're right.  The thousands of people who have lost loved ones are certainly searching for stories about new air-conditioned Bangkok river boats and then will be horrified when I make a comment calling your pessimism ridiculous for inferring that new boats should be not allowed because they are SUPER SPREADERS!!

I am so ashamed.

[moontang]

Anyone know when the Baby Po Pier will start operating?  Will be a great way to get to Gateway, but currently the boats only stop on the opposite side of the river at Bang Po.