Bangkok Subway Service To Re-open Feb. 1

[george]

Subway service to re-open Feb. 1

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra descended into Bangkok's subway system for a final safety inspection today, before the system reopens tomorrow for the first time after a collision earlier this month injured over 100 passengers.

Leading a motley delegation, including Ministry of Transport officials and performers from the Grammy entertainment camp, the prime minister visited the subway control room and maintenance depot before taking a train from the depot to Bang Sue, Silom and Hua Lamphong Stations.

Among the delegation were Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkij, and executives from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and Bangkok Metro Co, Ltd. (BMCL).

The Bangkok subway system was shut down on 17 January following a collision between a passenger train and an empty train in which over 100 passengers were injured.

Although extensive repair work has been carried out since the crash and over Bt6 million has been poured into improving safety systems, the collision has been blamed on human error.

--TNA 2005-01-31

[guran]

Is it being reopened with German train drivers as stated previously ?

[Erwin1011]

they forgot to apply for a work permit

[hkt83100]

they forgot to apply for a work permit

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"Driver" is an occupation reserved for Thais

[astral]

Leading a motley delegation, including Ministry of Transport officials and performers from the Grammy entertainment camp, the prime minister....

--TNA 2005-01-31

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What wonderful turn of phrase!!

[Oleg_Rus]

they forgot to apply for a work permit

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"Driver" is an occupation reserved for Thais

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No, they [Germans] got WP as temp consultants, some as teachers (German lang), foreign investor reps and passengers as well.

Some positions are still opened for mining safety/emergency consultants, teachers and so..

[Oleg_Rus]

Sorry, I forgot :

German consultants/teachers - "Nein, nein, niht pushen das braker pedallen!!!" &" Oh, scheizen!" & "Was is das, boomzen **** ?"

Just out of the blue...

[BlackJack]

this train system is a very complex thing and so training is essential

HOWEVER

training is no good unless it is done on a regular basis

[Oleg_Rus]

this train system is a very complex thing and so training is essential

HOWEVER

training is no good unless it is done on a regular basis

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah, very complex since 1930-s with multiple lanes and roots. but in year 2005 made by Siemens (couldn't be better) and only 1 (one) lane....

Siemens sold their systems to nuclear power plants around EU (first hands) and nothing happened, but a bunch of computerised trains on 20km tunnel...

[chinajohn]

this train system is a very complex thing and so training is essential

HOWEVER

training is no good unless it is done on a regular basis

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And where did our leader get his training?

[Foggy Bottom]

they forgot to apply for a work permit

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"Driver" is an occupation reserved for Thais

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wondering if the Press Division are showing their true colours before the election?

That could be interpreted as criticism of Glorious Bleeder

[RDN]

Sorry, I forgot :

German consultants/teachers - "Nein, nein, niht pushen das braker pedallen!!!" &" Oh, scheizen!" & "Was is das, boomzen **** ?"

Just out of the blue...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Achtung: Das machine ist nicht fer gerfingerpoken und mittengraben. Ist easy snappen der springenwerk blowenfusen, und corkenpoppin mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht fer gewerken by das dumpkofen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren keepen das hands in das pockets. Relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.

[george]

LOL

[george]

Subway reopens, safety assured

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok subway reopens today with transport officials hoping the number of travellers will be back to pre-collision levels within a week.

The underground was shutdown for safety checks immediately after an empty train ran into a loaded passenger train on Jan 17 at Thailand Cultural Centre station.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said passenger volume was expected to be down about 30% in days ahead, but he was condifident it numbers would rise agaion within a week because the system was safe and a most convenient form of travel.

Before the crash, which injured about 200 passengers, the subway had a daily ridership of about 140,000 thanks to promotional fare cuts.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, cabinet ministers and a group of celebrities visited the subway depot in Huay Khwang for test run and affirmation of the system's safety yesterday.

After being briefed by the governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA), Prapat Chongsanguan, Mr Thaksin said he was satisfied the subway was 100% safe and ready for services to resume today.

``The subway is still a highly safe system and the problem resulted from a human error, not the system itself,'' he said.

``the proper agencies have solved the problem and made the system perfect.

``In the future more facilities will be installed and measures introduced to better cope in the event of fire.''

The subway will operate between 6am and midnight, as before. Promotional fares remain the same, 10 baht for the first three stations and 15 baht for a longer trip.

BMCL managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana said that since the smash staff had been given fresh training and there had been safety drills. Signs had also been improved.

He also said the BMCL board agreed in principle last Friday to amend the company's concession contract to allow the MRTA to supervise the safety aspects of the subway. Details of the amendment should be finalised by March 1, he said.

--Bangkok Post 2005-02-01

[RDN]

..., Mr Thaksin said he was satisfied the subway was 100% safe and ready for services to resume today.

``The subway is still a highly safe system and the problem resulted from a human error, not the system itself,'' he said....

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Surely, if the system allows humans to make an error and crash trains, then the system is not safe.

[Oleg_Rus]

RDN - perfect, laughed my *** off!

ok, for the sake of truth I will go under at 9:20AM today exactly at the same station "Cultural Center" and at the same time. will try to take some pics, if worth it.

good bye, cruel world...

[sriracha john]

Wow... who says things go slowly in Thailand? They accomplished all the below measures in just three days since this report was released??

yeahhhhhhh riiigggghhhhhtttt....

Anyway, good luck to you Oleg....hope your life insurance is all paid up.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) yesterday demanded a substantial amendment to the subway concession contract signed with private operator Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL) in return for the latter to reopen the service.

The state agency, which awarded the contract to BMCL to operate the subway service, would not allow the private firm to resume its operation unless it agreed to the contract amendment.

The contract amendment would require BMCL to overhaul its system-operating plan and appoint MRTA representatives on its operation and maintenance committees as well as its safety committee.

Second, both parties are required to hold joint meetings on public safety at least once a month.

Third, MRTA officials must be appointed as co-chief controllers on train services, and Siemens, which supplied the train system, must provide additional training to MRTA and BMCL personnel at the latter firm’s expense.

Fourth, BMCL must hire foreign experts on subway operations as consultants for an entire year one month after service is resumed.

Fifth, BMCL must reorganise the management of its subway service to ensure maximum safety for the public.

Sixth, all personnel operating the trains, the signalling system and train maintenance services will be required to pass technical tests to qualify for licences to be issued by the MRTA.

[happyguy]

it is only as safe as the person who programed it

[Oleg_Rus]

Here we go -> field report.

first i would like to thanks Mr. Sriracha John for condolences.

now. 9:20 "thailand cult. center" station - lots of ppl are waiting for the train to bangkok's center ( Sukhumwit, Silom and so)-15mins- but wierdly enough - almost empty trains are coming back to Bang Sue.

At the station itself there were lots of stray dogs with strange smiles on the scouts/stouts/smouths (sorry for my english) - they looked like vultures ...

Security staff increased two folds, no guys in brown though, everybody looking at each other with understanding face :" Are you the next ?"

At each stop felt kinda nervous, but still peaceful.

16:20 same direction.

Less dogs, less security - more ppl to center of the city and again less (!) back. Looks like they couldn't get it back

19:50 same station. lots of ppl from buses and just a bit from subway.

didn't worth photo shoot, everything as it was.

[guran]

..., Mr Thaksin said he was satisfied the subway was 100% safe and ready for services to resume today.

``The subway is still a highly safe system and the problem resulted from a human error, not the system itself,'' he said....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Surely, if the system allows humans to make an error and crash trains, then the system is not safe.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They got rid of the human so now it is safe !

[sriracha john]

Here we go -> field report.

first i would like to thanks Mr. Sriracha John for condolences.

now. 9:20 "thailand cult. center" station - lots of ppl are waiting for the train to bangkok's center ( Sukhumwit, Silom and so)-15mins-  but wierdly enough - almost empty trains are coming back to Bang Sue.

At the station itself there were lots of stray dogs with strange smiles on the scouts/stouts/smouths (sorry for my english) - they looked like vultures ...

Security staff increased two folds, no guys in brown though, everybody looking at each other with understanding face :" Are you the next ?"

At each stop felt kinda nervous, but still peaceful.

16:20 same direction.

Less dogs, less security - more ppl to center of the city and again less (!) back. Looks like they couldn't get it back

19:50 same station. lots of ppl from buses and just a bit from subway.

didn't worth photo shoot, everything as it was.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

YEAH!!!.... you made it!

don't worry Oleg.... you're English is just fine, but just so you know it's snout

perplexing about those empty trains????... people not wanting to push their luck returning??

[Oleg_Rus]

YEAH!!!.... you made it!

don't worry Oleg.... you're English is just fine, but just so you know it's snout

perplexing about those empty trains????... people not wanting to push their luck returning??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thank you for correcting - indeed "snouts"... it just sounds funnier.

Empty train back from the city - lets see again to get bigger picture. btw as Mr Happyguy said previously, one of corner stone rules of mechanics says "the system as reliable as reliable its weakest link" Now, with all involved parties in the subway project ( Japanese, Germans, etc) you can have a picture about reliability of the subway in Bangkok.

[sriracha john]

yes indeed... ALL are involved now. I was especially happy to see Thaksin's son has the company awarded the advertising contract in the subways. It must be a very lucrative contract at that. I'm so glad he got it because I was beginning to worry that their family's net worth was dropping below their previous 1 trillion baht mark.

[RDN]

.... I was especially happy to see Thaksin's son has the company awarded the advertising contract in the subways.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me too

[george]

Update:

BMCL satisfied with number of subway's passengers after reopening

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metro Co., Ltd. (BMCL), the operator of the city's first subway system, has expressed satisfaction with the number of passengers using the underground train service yesterday, the first day of its operation after a two-week closure following an accident in which more than 100 passengers were injured.

Maj. Gen. Chartchai Praditpong, who heads the company's promotion and publication department, told TNA today that the company served the subway passengers with over 142,600 trips yesterday, only 13% down from 11 January when the company began to slash its service fees.

As usual, passengers using the service were crowded during the rush hours--06:00-09:00 a.m. in the morning and 04:00-08:00 p.m. in the evening, he disclosed.

"Based on our random interviews, most passengers using the service yesterday said they were now confident with the subway's safety system and were satisfied with the service", he said.

The subway system re-opened yesterday after the two-week temporary closure due to an accident, in which an empty train crashed into another passenger train at the Thai Cultural Centre Station, causing over 100 people injured.

The collision has been blamed on human error.

Extensive repair work had been carried out since the crash and over Bt6 million had been poured into improving its safety systems.

Foreign experts are now stationed at every trip to create confidence among the passengers.

The service's fee has been slashed to Bt10 for each passenger for the first three stations, and Bt15 each for the rest since 11 January, from Bt12 up to about Bt40.

--TNA 2005-02-02

[Oleg_Rus]

"Based on our random interviews, most passengers using the service yesterday said they were now confident with the subway's safety system and were satisfied with the service", he said.

Foreign experts are now stationed at every trip to create confidence among the passengers.

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didn't see any interviews though, but every station has 2-3 guys with guns at the exit. I wonder, what are they going to do with that firearm ? shoot passenger for drinking/eating at the stations ?

btw, if that ugly looking backpacker was foreign expert - I'll use life jacket and crash helmet fo next trip :-)