MRT tightens preventive measures as more commuters take trains

By THE NATION

 

 

Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) on Saturday (May 9) announced the enforcement of social distancing measures after the government eased lockdown measures resulting in more commuters using the MRT train services.

 

“The MRTA and BEM will keep the original schedule for MRT trains on both Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line [Blue Line] and Chalong Ratchadham Line [Purple Line],” said the announcement. “Screening checkpoints will be set up at the entrance to all stations, equipped with thermal scanners and hand gel dispensers.”

 

 

To avoid overcrowding and bottlenecks of commuters, a measure called "Group Release" will be used -- commuters will be allowed to enter the train system in batches in three stages: before entering the ticketing booths; before entering the flap barrier gates; and before boarding the train.

 

 

 

 

 

Commuters are advised to plan their travel ahead and prepare for tardiness, which might occur during rush hours, the operators said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30387577

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-05-10

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Where's photo #4 showing the sardines inside a train?

So during the height of the so called lockdown there was none of this ! Total nonsense to please the gov dictats

 

2 hours ago, pixelaoffy said:

So during the height of the so called lockdown there was none of this ! Total nonsense to please the gov dictats

 

Because at the height of the lockdown there was hardly anyone using the train so it was not necessary.  Now that the lockdown has eased the stations and trains are getting busy hence these measures have been put in to place.  

If you read the first sentence of the article this is exactly what it told you - not difficult.

but i am still going to be packed into a train full of uni girls, right?

8 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

but i am still going to be packed into a train full of uni girls, right?

I know what you mean.

Sometimes it's that packed you could almost do a tonsillectomy using your tongue.

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

To avoid overcrowding and bottlenecks of commuters, a measure called "Group Release" will be used -- commuters will be allowed to enter the train system in batches in three stages: before entering the ticketing booths; before entering the flap barrier gates; and before boarding the train

You've gotta give it to 'em .. always one step ahead .. nobody else would have thought of that .. 

without the army to enforce them, does anybody think Thais will VOLUNTARILY obey the rules?

Unfortunately, these procedures only work if the passenger numbers are small, in which case they're probably not needed. If there's a normal pre-virus rush hour crowd, this process would result in tail-backs of waiting commuters stretching for blocks from the station entrances. If the trains, platforms, and concourses were full to overflowing before, there just isn't any way to magically introduce 1.5m of space between people just because they would like it to exist. All of the train systems have avoided buying extra cars (bogies, in Thai parlance) for years in order to save money, and so there is zero ability to expand capacity to reduce crowding.

5 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

Unfortunately, these procedures only work if the passenger numbers are small, in which case they're probably not needed. If there's a normal pre-virus rush hour crowd, this process would result in tail-backs of waiting commuters stretching for blocks from the station entrances. If the trains, platforms, and concourses were full to overflowing before, there just isn't any way to magically introduce 1.5m of space between people just because they would like it to exist. All of the train systems have avoided buying extra cars (bogies, in Thai parlance) for years in order to save money, and so there is zero ability to expand capacity to reduce crowding.

  Yes.  All just going through the motions nonsense.  If they were serious about safety they would add more cars to the trains--which should have been done years ago anyway.  

10 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

Unfortunately, these procedures only work if the passenger numbers are small, in which case they're probably not needed. If there's a normal pre-virus rush hour crowd, this process would result in tail-backs of waiting commuters stretching for blocks from the station entrances. If the trains, platforms, and concourses were full to overflowing before, there just isn't any way to magically introduce 1.5m of space between people just because they would like it to exist. All of the train systems have avoided buying extra cars (bogies, in Thai parlance) for years in order to save money, and so there is zero ability to expand capacity to reduce crowding.

Riders have other travel options, albeit at a higher cost. If they can't tolerate the wait complying with distancing rules for the sake of health, take a taxi, carpool, etc.