October 29, 200718 yr Elevated, subway riders to use integrated tickets BANGKOK: -- Operators of metropolitan Bangkok's elevated trains and subways will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an integrated ticketing system to allow commuters to use both forms of electric mass transit with a single card. After signing of the MoU, an integrated ticketing system is expected to be up and running in the next six months. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning will arrange a signing ceremony between the elevated Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) and the underground Bangkok Metro (BMCL) in coming weeks. According to the initial plan the two companies will adapt their ticketing systems to be able to read information from both Skytrain and subway fare cards. The integrated ticketing system will serve as a pilot project for future transport system links, including the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link elevated trains and other new routes. The transport office and the Bank of Thailand are studying establishing an agency to coordinate income sharing and their decision will be reached soon. --TNA 2007-10-29
October 29, 200718 yr I commend the management of the two transport organisations on this highly-practical and forward-looking step they are taking. -- Maestro The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place
October 30, 200718 yr I commend the management of the two transport organisations on this highly-practical and forward-looking step they are taking.-- Maestro Indeed, a move to be applauded. All we need next is for the expressway phases to be integrated and if possible to include the Don Muaeng Tollway and we really will be getting organised. AjarnP
October 30, 200718 yr Hmmmm. I will beleive it when I see it! I take both skytrain and mrt fairly frequently and use two different cards so it would be great...but six months? Maybe 2 years. I'm still waiting for the BTS stations to open on the the other side of Taksin bridge. This should have been done 3 years ago...then 2 years ago it restarted...stopped...started...and now....I'm told nobody knows when they will open. I can see the tracks have been laid and the stations near completed for nearly a year now.
October 30, 200718 yr It's a great idea, but they should build their stations so that you can transfer between them seamlessly.
October 30, 200718 yr It's a great idea, but they should build their stations so that you can transfer between them seamlessly. Beat me to it... LOL... I was going to say "now if they would learn how to integrate their stations as well..."
October 30, 200718 yr My favourite is the couple of inches ramp at Asoke/Sukhumvit stations, where they couldn't even get the stairs right. One does therefore wonder how long it will take to create the single tickets, let alone the accounting infrastructure. By the by originally they said it would be a six month trail and existing cards would all have to be replaced {again}. Regards
October 30, 200718 yr My favourite is the couple of inches ramp at Asoke/Sukhumvit stations, where they couldn't even get the stairs right. One does therefore wonder how long it will take to create the single tickets, let alone the accounting infrastructure. By the by originally they said it would be a six month trail and existing cards would all have to be replaced {again}.Regards If they ever manage to integrate a single card which can be used for transport as well as payment for goods and services, like Octopus in HK, I will be very happy. But I ain't holding my breath.
October 30, 200718 yr If BTS could also take the hint from MRT about a one-fee, infinite-useage monthly pass instead of their 30-trip "monthly" pass that lasts works two weeks at most (if you don't take any extra trips), that would also be a good thing.
October 31, 200718 yr It would be great if it happens. I can't really see it happening in 6 months. I feel on previous experience 6 years is more realistic. No doubt there'll be an administration fee to change my 2 cards into 1 integrated card. It would be really amazing and most commendable if they could integrate the payment of not only the MTR and BTS fares into 1 card but also the buses, ferries, canal boats and minibuses. Even better would be a smooth integration at the points these services intersect. And then for the final push, regulate the mad bus stops so they function rather than act as huge queues of taxis, people carriers and stationary minibuses refusing to move until they get their quota of passengers whilst blocking the traffic. Hold on, I'm getting carried away here. One thing at a time.
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