20 baht fare will never work

[bamnutsak]

Perfect Storm.

 

Ultra Peak Season

CNY

Free Fare

Large luggage

Strollers

 

Managing the free fares means handing out cards, which adds a bit to the confusion. I would just open the gates.

 

Takes longer at each stop for folks to get off/on.

 

Should just be this week through Friday.

 

 

[GypsyT]

13 minutes ago, Celsius said:

like srinakarin or Samut prakan

When in bumfuk I take always empty yellow line 🙂

- it's so empty they is no driver, it's self driving like Tesla

 

[Ralf001]

On 1/27/2025 at 6:18 AM, eastlight said:

The baht bus fare in Hua Hin recently rose from 10 to 15 baht.

 

Thats criminal... I would walk instead.

 

[kingstonkid]

27 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

Because you don't work and don't struggle. BTS is packed. 

 

Or maybe you live in bumfuk nowhere like srinakarin or Samut prakan

It has verylittle to do with where a person lives

 

30 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

Reading all above I don't understand why my many trips are always pleasant 🙂

Maybe pure luck?

I even take this to DMK;

Jomtien bus to BKK, then Air Link to Makkasan, then short walk to Phetchaburi Metro and continue to Main Train Station and finally 1 short train hop to DMK.

Works great! All for about 300 THB. And as fast or faster than taxi in rush hour.

 

 

 

GypsyT i hear you but what I am talking but is the desire to put all fairs at 20 baht not where they are now.

 

The present rate reduces the number of people. However, this free BTS this week is giving people a chance to see what it will be like if the fee is lowered to 20 baht.  It is not pretty LOL.  

 

For a lot of people it depends on where you get on the train.  Presently If I am at Siam and going to Khu Kot, I take the train to NANA get on there, and by the time it gets back to Siam, I might have a seat.   Last night, I was at Terminal 21 and people were lined up almost to Terminal 21 waiting to get a ticket and board.  The platform was jammed.

 

If this is the way of the future I think that they are going to find that people will go back to the minivans.  

 

 

[GypsyT]

Thanks for that! I didn't know about it.

However, I didn't notice any changes for me and when/if they come I got time.

I like and use public transportation in all countries I visit. Great place to see how regular folk live.

 

[Celsius]

Actually I'm in BTS right now. Got in at bang Chak and it's ridiculous full.

[Celsius]

Definitely stupid overcrowded. A bunch couldn't get in at phrom Phong. can't wait next one and nana 

[georgegeorgia]

2 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Reading all above I don't understand why my many trips are always pleasant 🙂

Maybe pure luck?

I even take this to DMK;

Jomtien bus to BKK, then Air Link to Makkasan, then short walk to Phetchaburi Metro and continue to Main Train Station and finally 1 short train hop to DMK.

Works great! All for about 300 THB. And as fast or faster than taxi in rush hour.

 

 

 

I would rather just pay the 1500 baht in a Air conditioning car to the airport than go through all that !!

[kingstonkid]

7pm no extra trains

[it is what it is]

On 1/27/2025 at 4:41 AM, kingstonkid said:

no, I've actually been here long enough that my Thai brain kicks in.  Also found it interesting the GF stated that she was going to go back to the minivans this week as they are cheaper and less crowded.

 

Thais will accept the long wait only because, just as in NYC or any large city, they have no alternative unless they drive or take a minivan

 

yea bangkok is finally growing up, public transport congestion is nothing new as can be seen in capital cities the world over. indeed, the govt need to introduce a ULEZ zone, they really need to do something constructive to counter the increasing pollution problem.

[richard_smith237]

I used the BTS last Sunday to avoid the traffic from Emporium up to MBK...  big mistake, it was heaving.... 

 

We'd have been better off taking the car and sitting in comfortable AC and taking a little longer.

 

 

The issue with Bangkoks public transport - they need more carraiages, and more frequent trains - its a success, but its still just too busy... 

 

The issue with Bangkok's roads - the 'road surface' is not enough.... at only 

 

In London, roads make up approximately 13-15% of the total surface area.

In New York City, roads account for approximately 28-30% of the total surface area.

In Paris, roads account for approximately 20-25% of the total surface area.

In Tokyo, roads make up approximately 15-20% of the total surface area.

In Bangkok, roads make up approximately 7-10% of the total surface area.

 

 

Combined with the population and lack of 'traffic limitation' (i.e. such as congestion charges etc)...  and yes, grid lock... 

But the other facet - walk 200m in Bangkok is a sweaty experience....  thats one of the reasons those who can' prefer their cars - its just too hot to walk to a crowded sky train on many occasions and then have to wait a couple of trains.

 

[GypsyT]

28 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

carraiages,

What's the reason they don't add more? They don't have or?

ARL seem to add extra if needed. I see short, medium and extra long trains.

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

What's the reason they don't add more? They don't have or?

ARL seem to add extra if needed. I see short, medium and extra long trains.

 

I'm not sure...   the trains are never as long as the stations... so I don't think thats the reason.

 

Maybe economics...  does each carriage have its on drive wheels ? or is there the single lead and end carriage that provide the drive, in which case there could be limited 'weight permitted'... 

Or, perhaps its engineering weight design max weight for two trains at the same station etc... 

 

If more carriages cannot help - at peak times more frequent carriages could, but we'd have to know the potential max frequency capacity to be able to accurately criticise that. 

 

What I do know - is that on weekends and after 5pm on evenings the BTS is rammed to capacity.

[DonniePeverley]

Ironically i have thought about buying a car as getting on the BTS has been unbearable. 

[newnative]

2 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

7pm no extra trains

Madness.  No extra trains, no extra cars on the trains.   Just idiots in charge, starting at the top.