BTS Proudly Achieves Tokyo-Grade Passenger Discomfort

Bangkok’s 13-year old train system celebrates milestone of Japanese level of overcrowding

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC), operator of the Bangkok Skytrain, proudly announced yesterday that the elevated train system has finally achieved a level of passenger density and discomfort that meets or exceeds Japanese standards.

“As of now, our valued customers can ride the BTS knowing that they are packed in as tightly and miserably as commuters in some of the world’s most advanced cities like Tokyo and Osaka,” said Keeree Kanjanapas, CEO of the BTSC, citing just-released numbers that estimate the average cubic-meter/passenger average of BTS trains to be .19 during peak usage, on par with the .157 average of Tokyo’s most crowded subway lines during weekday rush hours.

“This is a great achievement for Thailand and the Thai people,” he added.

Bangkok’s BTS trains are now ranked #11 in the world in total average passenger density, and a stunning #4 for peak use density, trailing behind only Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing, and ahead of developed places like Singapore and New York.

“Thais have always admired the capabilities of Japan and Korea,” said Kanjanapas. “Now they can experience the same kind of awkward, forced day-to-day violation of their personal space.”

Since its opening in 1999, the elevated train network has conveniently served the downtown Bangkok area known for severe traffic congestion, yet low passenger numbers prevented the company from achieving a quarterly profit until its 10th anniversary in 2009.

However, worsening traffic conditions plus the link to the MRTA subway in 2004 saw passenger numbers rise, and the recent addition of extensions to the eastern and southern ends of the BTS line has finally filled the trains to beyond capacity, to the BTSC’s delight.

“Our trains are so packed between four to eight p.m. on weekdays that many passengers have to wait for three or four trains to pass before being able to board,” said Surapong Laoha-Unya, BTSC’s COO.

Surapong also noted that the trains were often impossibly full on weekends as well. He credited the impressive progress of the BTS to the crucial co-operation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority and the national government, whose “reliable incompetence and political infighting have assured that Bangkok has yet to develop any kind of traffic-management plan.”

“From the powerful elite landowners who won’t allow boulevards to be built through their neighborhoods, to the TRT and offspring parties that withheld funding from the Democrat-led BMA, to the corrupt city police who stifle traffic reform, and of course, to the people of Bangkok for double-parking their cars everywhere, the creation of a street-level nightmare that’s worse than the BTS has been a real team effort,” he added.

The BTSC is optimistically projecting 20% growth in passenger volume this year with no increase in rolling stock or train frequencies. Both have been maxed out under the chaotic conditions created when the company awarded a maintenance contract for the new lines to a Chinese company instead of Siemens, which still maintains the original lines.

To celebrate the important milestone, the BTS will launch a PR campaign this month under the slogan “BTS: Your Ticket To First-World Urban Hell.” The campaign, co-sponsored by Xylitol breath mints and Rexona deodorant, will feature celebrities telling their favorite stories about being crammed uncomfortably against sweaty strangers while being assaulted by loud advertising on cabin TV screens.

-- notthenation 2012-06-19

Young george … you’re being a wee bit mischievous this evening!

But the sadness is the element of truth in what you relayed to us …

<deleted> is this

When will they be recruiting "Push Men"?

Looks like the quiet period on the London Underground to me.

Wonder when the groping will start...

Totster

It really wouldn't be all that bad, but I have found there is some weird cultural thing with this. You can be on a train with 80% women, and somehow 2 men will be lodged up in your <deleted>. It aint no coincidence either, and no i dont smell . Anyway, bummer. Funny read by the way. Maybe if bkk lessens the number of trains they can be the proud #1 spot holder.

Love it

It really wouldn't be all that bad, but I have found there is some weird cultural thing with this. You can be on a train with 80% women, and somehow 2 men will be lodged up in your <deleted>. It aint no coincidence either, and no i dont smell . Anyway, bummer. Funny read by the way. Maybe if bkk lessens the number of trains they can be the proud #1 spot holder.

"Maybe if bkk lessens the number of trains". You mean they have more than ONE ?

i remember riding the BTS on opening day long ago...it was free and of course the thais had never ridden a system like it before and couldn't figure out the turnstyles etc.....and it was too expensive without very many special passes etc and i remember lot of thai gals telling me "cheaper to ride bus or share taxi"... ...for the first year or so it was wonderfully empty most of the time so was sorta like having your own personal train to haul you around...then it changed, more passes and discounts and the thai people discovered it ....i also rode MRT the day it opened...seems it hasn't reached the levels of crowds of the BTS yet....

It would seem to be relatively simple to add more trains but i don't claim to understand what might be involved in that...so i just now try to avoid it during rush hours as best as possible..

Wonder when the groping will start...

Totster

It has. Only no ones groping you.

Why have they put an extra carriage on the Silom line which only has eight stations? Would it not be better to put extra carriages on the Sukhumvit line which has twenty one stations? I suppose that's Thai mentality again.

I find that the buses get much more crowded than the BTS.

" to the TRT and offspring parties that withheld funding from the Democrat-led BMA,"

BITEC has had its connecting corridor to Bang Na Station completed for around a year now. However it only goes to the BITEC boundary. Maybe 150 M of 'air' in between there and the station. No sign of action from BTS /BMA.

Is it the above politics that are causing the problem? Fuc_k the plebs, as usual?

I never had to wait three or four trains to get in. So it's not that bad, but Bangkok can be proud. :-)

There should be a crackdown on BTS passengers, who still try to enter trains, even if they are full already.

<deleted> is this

Well, it's not April 1st, but it is "-- notthenation 2012-06-19. " Too difficult to figure out??

Why have they put an extra carriage on the Silom line which only has eight stations? Would it not be better to put extra carriages on the Sukhumvit line which has twenty one stations? I suppose that's Thai mentality again.

Actually the number of carriages probably has more to do with the number of people boarding rather than the number of stations.

I was wondering how many posts it would take before someone managed to get in a racist slur. I suppose that's the farang mentality again.

Can't stand the BTS and try to avoid it where ever possible. The MRT is significantly better. However, the BTS is not as bad as the version in KL which puts seating islands in the middle of the carriage thus ensuring there is no standing space at all and a nightmare to get out of.

well done.

If they all just stood round the doors they could make it ten trains pass before you can get on like other countries.

There should be a crackdown on BTS passengers, who still try to enter trains, even if they are full already.

The penalty being 5-10 minutes standing in an enclosed confinement?

Looks like the quiet period on the London Underground to me.

I was in London earlier this year. The tube was packed, was dirty and stank awful. At least here there is eye candy to look at.

When will they be recruiting "Push Men"?

It's only a matter of time.

Maybe the BTS could invest in these double decker trains from India to ease the congestion.

Excellent bit of news coverage, havent read such fine article in ages.

two guys beat me to the draw - but never mind. I believe the article is making false claims about matching performance of Japan. Thai commuters have never been treated so gently as those in Japan. So what's the next milestone? Indian statistics on passenger volume?

<deleted> is this

Serious investigative journalism at its best? A well written promotional press release?

Or maybe it's a joke Bill. Joke. Get it?

Hahah, very good article :-D

BTW I go to work by MRT and BTS. For me MRT is far worst, maybe because I take MRT before and it's already 8:30 when I use BTS. The days I need to take MRT earlier around 7:30 I have to wait 4 or 5 trains until I can get in even with the great frequency. Maybe I am lucky but I never had to wait for the next BTS (fingers crossed)

i remember riding the BTS on opening day long ago...it was free and of course the thais had never ridden a system like it before and couldn't figure out the turnstyles etc.....and it was too expensive without very many special passes etc and i remember lot of thai gals telling me "cheaper to ride bus or share taxi"... ...for the first year or so it was wonderfully empty most of the time so was sorta like having your own personal train to haul you around...then it changed, more passes and discounts and the thai people discovered it ....i also rode MRT the day it opened...seems it hasn't reached the levels of crowds of the BTS yet....

The BTS was so empty in the first year that some were saying that it was a white elephant and a complete waste of money - sort of what some said about the Airport Link when it opened the year before last - now the Cityline is also very crowded at peak.

You'll find that the MRT does get just as crowded as the BTS in peak, at some stations people have to wait a train or two before alighting.

Rarely has satire been so near the truth as is this.