Picture courtesy of Khoasod

Bangkok's newly revamped BRT-EV line, running from Sathorn to Ratchaphruek, officially began operations September 1, offering free rides for the first two months. This electric bus rapid transit system is a significant upgrade, powered entirely by 100% electric energy, ensuring a quieter and more eco-friendly ride.

 

The development of this new BRT line comes after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) invited private companies to bid on the project to improve the city’s rapid transit system. The winning bidder was Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC), which has been contracted for five years to operate the BRT line.

 

 

To mark the launch, the official BTS Facebook page shared images of the first day of service, highlighting the new features of the BRT-EV buses. These buses are equipped with ramps to accommodate passengers with disabilities, making boarding and alighting easier. Passengers can pay for rides using Rabbit cards or scan QR codes via their mobile phones, as there will be no ticket sales counters at the stations.

 

From 1st September to 31st October 2024, rides will be free, with service hours running from 6:00 to 22:00.

Additionally, the BRT line has expanded to include two new stations:

- Chan Nuea Road Station (near Chan - Narathiwat intersection)
- Chan Tai Road Station (near Ratchada - Narathiwat intersection)

 

These new stations bring the total number of stations on the BRT line to 14, connecting key points across the city:

 

1. B1: Sathorn (connected to BTS Chong Nonsi)
2. B2: National Housing Authority
3. B3: Bangkok Technical College
4. B3A: Chan Nuea Road (new station)
5. B4: Chan Road
6. B4A: Chan Tai Road (new station)
7. B5: Nararam 3
8. B6: Wat Dan
9. B7: Wat Pariwat
10. B8: Wat Dok Mai
11. B9: Rama IX Bridge
12. B10: Charoen Rat
13. B11: Rama III Bridge
14. B12: Ratchaphruek (connected to BTS Talat Phlu)

 

This expansion and modernisation of the BRT system represent a significant step forward in Bangkok’s public transportation infrastructure, offering a more efficient and sustainable way for residents and visitors to travel across the city.

 

 

-- 2024-09-01
 

 

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Bangkok's BRT always lacked most of the features that make real BRT systems useful, like dedicated lanes, bus priority at intersections, and high capacity vehicles. This "modernization" now basically eliminates the few BRT characteristics that it did have, like prepayment of fares and platform-level boarding. With these changes, it's just a slightly nicer bus line, not a BRT at all.