Bts Ticket Buying

[KKvampire]

When will the Bts management realize that their system of issuing tickets is inefficent and not customer orientated.Long queues to get change then join a queue to get a ticket,even queue if you want to top up a prepay card.Of course thats only the begining of your troubles,standing on the platform queuing for the pathetic number of skytrains.,and this is a privately run business?

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[beano2274]

Why not get a Smart Pass then?

Put loads of journeys on it, and do the Thai thing on the platform and just barge in, or play the dumb farang and stand in the middle of the door.

Edited February 6, 2012 by beano2274

[beano2274]

think about how it will be when they link the MRT and BTS cards together, the big brown stuff will be hitting the fan often.

[phuturatica]

I personall think the BTS is a much better system than those in European countries. Take the London Underground for example... If you think the BTS is bad for queuing? Try travelling across London during rush hour on the tube. It's enough to make you lose your temper!

Just get a smartcard, works for me.

[stoneyboy]

I personall think the BTS is a much better system than those in European countries. Take the London Underground for example... If you think the BTS is bad for queuing? Try travelling across London during rush hour on the tube. It's enough to make you lose your temper!

Just get a smartcard, works for me.

That's hardly a fair comparison, daily ridership for the underground comes in at 3,000,000, while the bts is a mere 600,000.

I'm no specialist but it's fairly obvious which one is going to be more congested,I don't live in Bangkok but have used the bts numerous times,always found the service very good,but also can not get my head round the change machine and counter business very slow at times.

[beano2274]

Note changing machines would be great, but then you are reducing the staff required, which is something they do not like to do, although it would reduce expenditure

[KKvampire]

Interesting no one has yet given an explaination why the counter staff are only changing notes or topping up prepaid cards.Most major cities have staff who can issue you the ticket card as well as having ticket machines, Why not in Thailand? or is it because it is Thailand?

[beano2274]

Interesting no one has yet given an explaination why the counter staff are only changing notes or topping up prepaid cards.Most major cities have staff who can issue you the ticket card as well as having ticket machines, Why not in Thailand? or is it because it is Thailand?

Sometimes at the weekend they actually give tickets out, I think MRT at better they set up chairs and tables at places when there are fairs and so what, and passengers can buy from the staff there instead of queuing for hours

[KKvampire]

think about how it will be when they link the MRT and BTS cards together, the big brown stuff will be hitting the fan often.

Are they planning to do that? surely not. Of course most major developed cities have prepaid cards which that allow underground travel and buses, but in Bangkok it's virtually all private apart from the SRT state railway and thats pretty poor

Edited February 6, 2012 by KKvampire

[beano2274]

think about how it will be when they link the MRT and BTS cards together, the big brown stuff will be hitting the fan often.

Are they planning to do that? surely not. Of course most major developed cities have prepaid cards which that allow underground travel and buses, but in Bangkok it's virtually all private apart from the SRT state railway and thats pretty poor

It has been mentioned on here before, but everyone knows it will take years and a few payouts to achieve it.

[impulse]

Interesting no one has yet given an explaination why the counter staff are only changing notes or topping up prepaid cards.Most major cities have staff who can issue you the ticket card as well as having ticket machines, Why not in Thailand? or is it because it is Thailand?

You'd know the answer if you've ever queued in China and someone in front of you spends a half hour talking to the ticket guy and analyzing their bazillion options and how to save a few pennies on their journey. Personally, I prefer the Thai method where you have only one choice- how much you want changed into coins.

Other than Asoke at rush hours and Friday and Saturday nights, I love the BTS and MRT. I have prepaid cards for both and I top them up when they're not busy instead of waiting until I'm empty. Of course, that requires a little forethought, which seems to be in limited supply among some folks....

Edited February 6, 2012 by impulse

[beano2274]

Remember if you have AIS you can get a discount when topping up.

[KKvampire]

Having lived in Beijing and Shanghai I am aware of how their subway works , You can get a ticket at a machine or at the counter, and some stations top up prepaid card by a machine. There are queues at counters of course but IMO not because of someone arranging travel plans, that happens at train stations . China deals with its many millions on its cities mass transit system efficiently

Edited February 6, 2012 by KKvampire

[dantilley]

That's hardly a fair comparison, daily ridership for the underground comes in at 3,000,000, while the bts is a mere 600,000.

I'm no specialist but it's fairly obvious which one is going to be more congested,I don't live in Bangkok but have used the bts numerous times,always found the service very good,but also can not get my head round the change machine and counter business very slow at times.

Yes but the London Underground network is much bigger than the BTS's. LU's 270 stations vs. BTS's 32, and 11 LU lines vs. just 2 BTS lines.

[tolsti]

Note changing machines would be great, but then you are reducing the staff required, which is something they do not like to do, although it would reduce expenditure

I may be wrong but I seem to remember a note machine at Nana BTS station last month when I was up in BKK. I remember saying to myself.... "about time too".

I live in Phuket but pop up to BKK fairly regularly so have a stored value type card for the BTS and just make sure that I top it up before I go home.

I dont use the MRT often enough (only once last trip) to warrant a MRT card but I do agree a joint card would be useful.

[planr]

That's hardly a fair comparison, daily ridership for the underground comes in at 3,000,000, while the bts is a mere 600,000.

I'm no specialist but it's fairly obvious which one is going to be more congested,I don't live in Bangkok but have used the bts numerous times,always found the service very good,but also can not get my head round the change machine and counter business very slow at times.

A more useful metric might be the number of passengers per kilometer of system length. The Tube serves about 8,500 per km of track (3,400,000 / 400) while the BTS serves 22,600 (700,000 / 31) per km per day. I'm no mathematician, but...

think about how it will be when they link the MRT and BTS cards together, the big brown stuff will be hitting the fan often.

Are they planning to do that? surely not. Of course most major developed cities have prepaid cards which that allow underground travel and buses, but in Bangkok it's virtually all private apart from the SRT state railway and thats pretty poor

A common ticketing system like the Octopus Card in HK or the Oystercard in London has been in the works since at least 2005 if not longer. The major hurdle is revenue sharing between multiple jurisdictions. These jurisdictions are FAR from all being private and include public organizations like the BMA, MRTA, BMTA, and SRT as well as the BTS and BMCL (subway operator, not owner) on the private side.

If it is successfully implemented, I suspect ridership on all lines would increase as the overall fare structure would have to become less expensive. IF a common ticketing system is implemented, it means ALL stations across the three operators will have the ability to service ticketing needs for the smart card, and thus likely reduce some queues. But face it, there will never be a Monday morning or Friday night where Asoke isn't a madhouse.

Having lived in Beijing and Shanghai I am aware of how their subway works , You can get a ticket at a machine or at the counter, and some stations top up prepaid card by a machine. There are queues at counters of course but IMO not because of someone arranging travel plans, that happens at train stations . China deals with its many millions on its cities mass transit system efficiently

Maybe in Beijing and Shanghai... ever been to any of the 2nd tier cities? If so, where and what has your experience been? My own personal experience in Chongqing, (albeit with a system that is very new) is less than stellar.

[KKvampire]

I've been to Guangzhou and Shenzhen they have great relatively new underground transit transport,of course the Chinese just go ahead and build what is required and integrate it.In Thailand as a previous poster indicated there too many looking after their own interests rather than the city's and nothing happens with any haste.

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[djayz]

Interesting no one has yet given an explaination why the counter staff are only changing notes or topping up prepaid cards.Most major cities have staff who can issue you the ticket card as well as having ticket machines, Why not in Thailand? or is it because it is Thailand?

I assume the ticket vending machines belong to another family - eh, I mean company...

[asanee]

Most major cities have staff who can issue you the ticket card as well as having ticket machines, Why not in Thailand?

Thing of the pasty my dear-about any new system-and also now many of the old established ones like Paris-have only machines-or not even that-smartcards as anyone has them anyway. AND those machines take coins only-or only local bankcards-the list of possible obstructions to visitors is endless and always has new surprises. Try Japan as en example, or those Korean systems where only Korean is used. And if you have really lived here in LOS for more as few monthes, you should have learnt that the ''WHY'' Question makes no sense at all. Thats only duuuhhh farang thinking. Plus you yourself also seem to be a hard learner-why not stock up on 10bt coins anyway if you know you pay all the time and ride often?

BTW; The BTS is owned by the BMA=BKK big city and not private. Was taken over after a few first faletring years of private runing-when believe it or not, BKKians would not really take to the thing-was too expensive (buses cost 3,5 bt at that time)

[theoldgit]

I love the MRT Smart Card, because I'm of a certain age I get to travel for half price.

[planr]

I've been to Guangzhou and Shenzhen they have great relatively new underground transit transport,of course the Chinese just go ahead and build what is required and integrate it.In Thailand as a previous poster indicated there too many looking after their own interests rather than the city's and nothing happens with any haste.

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Yes, that is true, there is very little dialogue, let alone cooperation between the entities I listed except for the obvious (BMCL works with MRTA, BMA works with BTS). Things DO happen here, they just seem to move at a glacial pace relative to other growing cities / countries in Asia.

Most major cities have staff who can issue you the ticket card as well as having ticket machines, Why not in Thailand?

BTW; The BTS is owned by the BMA=BKK big city and not private. Was taken over after a few first faletring years of private runing-when believe it or not, BKKians would not really take to the thing-was too expensive (buses cost 3,5 bt at that time)

The BTS is NOT owned by the BMA, at least not entirely. Until 2029 or so, the BTSC owns all of the rolling stock, E&M (ticketing, signaling, etc), and infrastructure on the original route. On the extensions that have opened in recent years, the BMA owns the infrastructure while the BTSC owns / operates the rolling stock and E&M stuff.

[arminbkk]

Interesting no one has yet given an explaination why the counter staff are only changing notes or topping up prepaid cards.Most major cities have staff who can issue you the ticket card as well as having ticket machines, Why not in Thailand? or is it because it is Thailand?

You'd know the answer if you've ever queued in China and someone in front of you spends a half hour talking to the ticket guy and analyzing their bazillion options and how to save a few pennies on their journey. Personally, I prefer the Thai method where you have only one choice- how much you want changed into coins.

Other than Asoke at rush hours and Friday and Saturday nights, I love the BTS and MRT. I have prepaid cards for both and I top them up when they're not busy instead of waiting until I'm empty. Of course, that requires a little forethought, which seems to be in limited supply among some folks....

+1

[tw25rw]

Passes/stored value cards are the way to go. It's also the kind of thing that 7/11 could sell.

[MJo]

Ticket machines that take both, coins and notes.

Top up of cards by machine.

Just ask where they buy their machines in Singapore and order the same.

[MrMarquis]

What are those things that people swipe over the top of the turnstile to let them in, rather than inserting a ticket into the gate? Is that a prepay card? How do you get one?

[Crossy]

What are those things that people swipe over the top of the turnstile to let them in, rather than inserting a ticket into the gate? Is that a prepay card? How do you get one?

Go to the ticket office and ask for one If you go when it's not busy the staff will be happy to help and many if not most speak English.

The stored-value option is best for those who are irregular users.

You will need separate cards for the BTS and MRT (at least until they get their act together).

[Dancealot]

I've been to Guangzhou and Shenzhen they have great relatively new underground transit transport,of course the Chinese just go ahead and build what is required and integrate it.In Thailand as a previous poster indicated there too many looking after their own interests rather than the city's and nothing happens with any haste.

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We have a saying in the Netherlands: "and from your point of view things are like that". Long queues at the ticket machines are only for the people without a smart card or a car, indeed. The queues at the platform sometimes are a little bit long but only at peak hour. I try to avoid peak hour whenever i can. Every 8 minutes or so a sky train comes but if you are hasty it will be disappointing when you just missed the train. Personally i am not going to speak out my farang opinions upfront, i would rather adapt to the culture that is so beautiful Thai.

[calijaye]

What are those things that people swipe over the top of the turnstile to let them in, rather than inserting a ticket into the gate? Is that a prepay card? How do you get one?

It's a daily pass card. You pay 120 baht at the counter and can use it all day as many times as you need. I buy them all the time and have found them extremely useful when spending the day bouncing from one end of BKK to the other.

[tw25rw]

I always buy a 25 ride ticket that I can use to anywhere on the network for a flat fare.