Trains to begin, terminate at Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong, not Bang Sue, pending study

[webfact]

 

All train services, which begin and terminate at Bangkok’s central Hua Lamphong railway station, will continue to do so until the completion of a study into the impacts of the rail services on commuters and the operations of the suburban line (Red Line) which is expected to take at least 30 days.

 

The decision to continue train services to Hua Lamphong, instead of terminating at Bang Sue grand station, which will take over as the main railway hub, was agreed at a meeting today (Monday) of representatives from relevant agencies, chaired by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.

 

Saksayam has instructed the panel tasked with conducting the impact assessment to submit its findings within 30 days, during which train services will terminate at Hua Lamphong as usual.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/trains-to-terminate-at-bangkoks-hua-lamphong-not-bang-sue-pending-study/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-12-21

 

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[soi3eddie]

Rather defeats the previous statements regarding the cessation of services at Hua Lamphong and relocation to Bang Sue. I like Hua Lamphong and think that services should still commence and terminate there. Bang Sue is a good option with better (future) connectivity but HL is more city centre. There is a surprising amount of commuter traffic and it's not just long distance travel.

 

[Geoffggi]

Shouldn't this kind of survey have been completed before building Bang Sue ...............???

[mtls2005]

Yes because having trains crawl through Bangkok at street level is just so darn efficient.

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

until the completion of a study into the impacts of the rail services on commuters and the operations of the suburban line (Red Line) which is expected to take at least 30 days.

Awesome time for a study. This line is already constructed and operating.

 

Just take the blue line MRT subway from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue, then use the underground connector to get to the new RR "Grand" station, or connect to the red line.

 

Wasn't this "the plan"?

 

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

4 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Shouldn't this kind of survey have been completed before building Bang Sue ...............???

That would have been hard to do, since Bang Sue wasn't completed.  I believe the point of the survey is to know if service from Hua Lamphong will be utilized by enough customers to justifying it remaining open.  Or will people originate from Bang Sue, as possibly more convenient for customers going long haul.

 

Seems like a practical survey to do before shutting down the terminal.  Bang Su isn't the easiest to get to via public trans, or taxi / self drive, if you live closer to the old station or the 1 MRT line that stop there.  Especially if you need to change lines with luggage to get to Bang Su, as some of the transfer point involve quite a bit of walking & time.

 

But if you've never used the various lines, you wouldn't know that.  Not as quick and convenient as you'd expect.

Edited December 21, 2021 by KhunLA

[JayClay]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That would have been hard to do, since Bang Sue wasn't completed

Surveys can actually include hypothetical questions...

[mtls2005]

And with service continuing during the "study period", conjecture above gets blown out of the water.

 

Committee time.

 

Honestly this was done ages ago, decades perhaps.

 

chidchob is just dealing with the last few stragglers. Offering a "study" is a classic thai way to avoid conflict (a good thing BTW), acknowledge complaints and then steamroll forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stargeezr]

There should be at least one line kept open between Hua Lamphong and the new station, for 

commuting.

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Shouldn't this kind of survey have been completed before building Bang Sue ...............???

Not really, as Bang Sue was planned to be a major hub. When the survey should have been done was before the decision to close Hua Lamphong. But instead it's done after, as Thailand always does things backwards. So, now we get ready for yet another typically-Thai U-turn.

[Burma Bill]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

conducting the impact assessment

on the bank balances of the shopping mall/condo developers for the old station site if it is retained?????

[ChrisY1]

They spend 10 years and a squillion dollars on Bang Sue Grand....and it becomes just a suburban station???...Sorry people..the deal has been done and dusted....!!