Transport Co drops idea of moving out of Mor Chit 2 bus terminal

[webfact]

Transport Co drops idea of moving out of Mor Chit 2 bus terminal

By The Nation

 

 

Interprovincial bus operator Transport Company’s board of directors has dropped the plan of moving out of the Mor Chit 2 bus depot, because the terminal will be connected to the BTS Red Line by 2022, making it easier for commuters.

 

Sorapong Paitoonphong, director general of the Department of Rail Transport and member of Transport Co’s board, said he had spoken to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob about the option of shifting back to the old Mor Chit Bus Terminal, which is currently being used as a BTS train maintenance centre.

 

However, he said, the discussion resulted in a decision the bus operator continue working out of Mor Chit 2 because it is convenient for travellers, who can also connect with the Bang Sue train station.

 

Transport Co is also planning to talk to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) about cutting down its rented area from 73 rai to 58 rai in a move to reduce costs once its contract comes up for renewal.

 

The bus operator is also planning to make a deal with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to set up a shuttle bus that ferries passengers on the Bang Sue train station – Mo Chit 2 – Jatujak weekend market – Mo Chit BTS station route.

 

The Transport Co’s board will discuss this matter further before proposing it to MRTA and Transport Ministry.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392002

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-28

 

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[hotchilli]

Sense prevails at last.

[jollyhangmon]

 

... 555, geniuses ... ain't that the mediocre outfit that flat out refused to 'transport' foreigners the one or other month ago ... well, go where the pepper grows for all I care ... 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

I thought it was brilliantly Thai to build a BTS line to link right next to the old Mor Chit bus station, but to then move the bus station to a new and distant location. Genius.

[tomazbodner]

Bus company asking train company to set up shuttle bus service?

[khunjeff]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I thought it was brilliantly Thai to build a BTS line to link right next to the old Mor Chit bus station, but to then move the bus station to a new and distant location. Genius.

If you recall the whole absurd story 25 years ago, BTS wanted to build the maintenance center in Lumpini Park in order to avoid having to expropriate property from influential wealthy people.

 

After uproar from the Bangkok middle class, the plan was changed so that the center would be built on the site of what was then the Mor Chit bus station, with the station temporarily relocating and then moving back to the original site within a few years to become what they proudly said would be an "intra-modal" transit facility. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance would construct an office building above the train facility.

 

Since then, exactly nothing has happened. The bus station didn't move back, the office building was never built, and the land in front of the facility has been a free parking lot for over two decades. And while this article makes it sound as though the company has been seriously considering moving back to the original site for a while now, articles just a year or two ago made it clear that what they actually wanted to do was move even further out of the city - I think Rangsit was mentioned.

 

This has been the pattern with every bus station - as soon as there are convenient transportation links to a given station, that's the cue to start looking for a new site as far away from public transport as possible. There was talk of moving Ekamai station out past Bang Na, and If the Southern bus station moves any farther, it will almost be in the south itself!