HM The King To Open Bangkok Subway On July 3

[george]

HM the King ready to open city's new subway on July 3

Expected to serve at least 250,000 a day

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King will open Bangkok's new 20km-long subway on July 3 at the Hua Lampong station when the system begins operating with fares of 12 to 34 baht and service hours of 5am to midnight.

Subway trains will reach stations every 2-4 minutes during peak hours and every 4-6 minutes at other times.

Each train will have three cars and a capacity of 320 passengers. The system can carry 40,000 passengers an hour.

Sompho Sriphum, operations director of Bangkok Metro Co Ltd (BMCL), the subway concessionaire, said a team of independent engineers had approved the safety of the system after test runs in March and this month.

The subway is now 100% ready for service, he said.

The company is awaiting official approval from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA).

He expected the Hua Lampong-Bang Sue subway to serve at least 250,000 passengers a day.

BMCL has 19 three-carriage trains. If daily traffic reaches 300,000 passengers, it will order at least five more trains.

MRTA governor Prapat Chongsanguan said that there would also be bus services between seven subway stations and suburban areas.

The 12-34 baht fares depend on the distance travelled and increase incrementally from 12 baht by two baht per station travelled to.

The fares are at a 15% discount to the subway's actual fare rates of 14-36 baht.

These rates will come into effect in the second year of the service.

--Bangkok Post 2004-06-23

[george]

Here is an excellent site about the Bangkok Subway:

http://bangkoksubway.com/

[george]

The Nation reports:

Subway to open July 3

His Majesty the King will officially open Bangkok’s subway system on July 3.

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit yesterday revealed that HM the King would also take a ride on the mass transit system that day.

After the official opening is graced by His Majesty, Suriya said the subway system would be opened to the public.

“Passengers will pay just Bt10 per ride until August 12 [Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday],” the transport minister said.

He added that the system’s income from July 3 to August 12 would be presented to Their Majesties for use that they deem appropriate.

Starting August 13, the subway system’s fares will range between Bt12 and Bt31 depending on the distance travelled. The route is about 20 kilometres in length, with 18 underground stations in the city centre – including three Skytrain connections.

Fares are scheduled to rise to between Bt14 and Bt36 per trip, depending on distance, in the system’s second year of service.

--The Nation 2004-06-24

[Foggy Bottom]

Can we have one of these in Chiangmai please?

Especially during rush hours

[john b good]

He added that the system’s income from July 3 to August 12 would be presented to Their Majesties for use that they deem appropriate.

That's a nice gesture.

And yes it would be nice to have a subway in Chiangmai.

[solero]

Yeah a subway in chiang mai would be nice,but there wouldn't need to be too many stops.

Getting to Doi Suthep might be a problem by this mode of transport though.

I can't wait to get to Bangkok and use the metro,personally.

Another great place for eye-candy.

[ratcatcher]

Wonderful news.

His Majesty the king is to open the Subway on July 3rd. (Will that be foot long or 6 inch Sire?) Another rolling candy store?

Now, how about finishing the skytrain to beyond Ratchadapisek road in Thonburi which is at least 3 km. Surely the traffic jams on Saphan Taksin and Sathorn Road would diminish if some of those thousands of car owners could jump onto the skytrain. Makes one wonder why the holdup. (Oh yes, T.I.T.) Perhaps the bus and ferry operators have something to do with it or maybe it's just a case of the Skytrain operating company has no extra money to lay the tracks.(Must be the only thing in Bangkok that's not getting laid.) It would make a great track for motorcycle races too.

[bigchang]

Wonderful news.

His Majesty the king  is to open the Subway on July 3rd. (Will that be foot long or 6 inch Sire?) Another rolling candy store?

Now, how about finishing the skytrain to beyond Ratchadapisek road in Thonburi which is at least 3 km. Surely the traffic jams on Saphan Taksin and Sathorn Road would diminish if some of those thousands of car owners could jump onto the skytrain. Makes one wonder why the holdup. (Oh yes, T.I.T.) Perhaps the bus and ferry operators have something to do with it or maybe it's just a case of the Skytrain operating company has no extra money to lay the tracks.(Must be the only thing in Bangkok that's not getting laid.) It would make a great track for motorcycle races too.

what does T.I.T mean? thanks

[salty]

This is Thailand.

[tess79]

This is Thailand

Is this T.I.T means? .... explain please???... Nee kue Muang thai ja !!!

[dotcom]

does anyone know how many people use Skytrain per day right now? Thanks

[huski]

does anyone know how many people use Skytrain per day right now?  Thanks

It currently carries over 300,000 passengers per day, with an average passenger trip equaling 6.25 km.

http://www.bts.co.th/en/corporate.asp

[chingy_]

Chiangmai can wait another 30yrs to get the system

[udon]

Great news but how do I get across the rd at Fortune Tower?

Walk back 2 km to the ped bridge?

Another well thought out service in BKK

Did they include public toilets at the stations this time 'round?

[Hit]

Great news but how do I get across the rd at Fortune Tower?

Walk back 2 km to the ped bridge?

Another well thought out service in BKK

Did they include public toilets at the stations this time 'round?

You can cross the road at fortune town via the subway station (just like you do at Skytrain stations with the obvious difference being you cross underneath the road instead of above it).

Public toilets are built in the stations but the Americans have advised the MRTA not to open them and not to install any rubbish bins because 'terrorists might want to blow things up'.

[udon]

Thanks Hit,

I must be going blind as I didn't see an exit on the Fortune side of Ratchada.

Good news about the dunnies, hope they are Western style. LOL

[george]

SUBWAY OPENS TOMORROW: ANSWER TO CITY'S PRAYERS

BANGKOK: -- Life is about to change significantly for millions of Bangkokians this weekend, when the long-awaited state-of-the-art US$2.8-billion (Bt114 billion) subway becomes a new major means for mass transport - a welcome alternative to crammed, sometimes filthy buses with moody drivers and conductors.

After more than seven years in the making, and far longer on the drawing board, understandable excitement is building in the final countdown to tomorrow's opening of the 20-kilometre line by His Majesty the King.

Gleaming stations, banks of escalators, sliding doors, smooth-running trains and a ticket-sensor system will make underground trains in some major Western cities look obsolete.

The line is expected to carry more than 250,000 passengers a day, completing the 18-station, north-south journey across the sprawling metropolis in a shade over half an hour.

Now traffic-weary city residents will be able to, say, quickly come all the way from Chatuchak Park to have a lunch break downtown, something they could never dream of doing in a car or by bus.

The subway and the Skytrain will supplement each other and provide what hopefully will be the most effective solution to traffic problems in key parts of Bangkok.

"I'm looking forward to the days when I can get half an hour more sleep every day and less stress during my journey to work," said office worker Pensuda Taptim.

A grand opening has been arranged, with His Majesty the King - accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen - graciously presiding.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit along with representatives from the Bureau of the Royal Household, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, and system operator Bangkok Metro Company Limited (BMCL) yesterday went on an inspection tour of Hua Lamphong subway station in preparation for the inauguration.

Their Majesties will also inspect the station before boarding the inaugural train there at 5.30pm tomorrow. They will travel to Bang Sue and back, before going to the maintenance centre located near Phra Ram 9 station for the opening ceremony.

About 900 guests - including senior diplomats, privy councillors, the Cabinet and civil servants - will be at the opening ceremony.

At 6.30pm, the subway will commence public service.

The first 99,999 passengers will each get a souvenir, said BMCL managing director Sombat Kijjalak.

Until August 12 - the Queen's birthday - there will be a flat fare of Bt10 per person, the total income from which will be presented to His Majesty for charitable purposes. During this period, all station parking fees - set at Bt2.50 per hour or Bt50 per day - will be waived.

The fares will range from Bt14 to Bt31 from August 13 until July 3 next year. They will then rise to Bt14 to Bt36.

The system, open from 5am to midnight, has 18 stations: Hua Lamphong, Sam Yan, Silom, Lumpini, Klong Toei, Queen Sirikit Convention Centre, Sukhumvit, Phetchaburi, Phra Ram IX, Cultural Centre, Huai Khwang, Suthisarn, Ratchadaphisek, Lat Phrao, Phaholyothin, Chatuchak, Kampeang Phet and Bang Sue.

Trains will run every six minutes, increasing to once every three minutes during rush hours.

About 250,000 people a day are expected to use the subway, said Sombat, a passenger level that this year should generate about Bt670 million.

Sombat said an initial stock of 200,000 stored-value plastic tickets had been imported from Japan. The tickets, with a minimum initial stored value of Bt300, will be scanned automatically when customers pass the gate, he added.

--The Nation 2004-07-02

[udon]

At 6.30pm, the subway will commence public service.

I'll bring a torch in case of lightning strikes.

[george]

Congested Bangkok opens metro

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok is attempting to challenge its reputation as one of the world's most congested cities with the opening of a new subway system.

On Saturday, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulydej opened the first part of the network which officials hope will cut traffic by 50%.

It is also hoped the Metro will cut pollution in the city.

The trains are expected to carry up to 100,000 people an hour through Bangkok's most densely populated areas.

Integrated transport

Building the line has been an engineering feat, with tunnels cut deep into hard clay to avoid the waterlogged soil.

Station entrances jut 90cm (three feet) above the pavement to prevent the annual flood waters streaming in.

The line, built by a public-private partnership, will run 20 kilometres (12 miles) through the city.

The $2.5bn route is the first of four planned routes, which officials hope will form part of an integrated transport network in the city.

Taxi drivers have complained that the new network will harm their business.

--BBC 2004-07-03