Wasn'T The Bts Silom Line Extension Supposed To Be Opened Aug 16?

[Will2011]

I did read that the BTS Silom line extension, from Wong Wian Yiai to Ratchadapruek, was to open on Aug 16 several months ago. Today, there was nothing that indicated it to my knowledge.

What did I miss??

[kerm99]

Hahahahahaha!!!!!! Good one ;-)

How long have you been in Thailand?

You just made my day! Thanks

[Nisa]

Posted 2012-02-10 06:42:48

BMA progress on BTS Silom line extension, set for services next year

BANGKOK, Feb 10 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will go ahead with its BTS Skytrain Silom Line extension for a distance of 5.3km (Taksin-Petchakasem), expected to be ready for services by Aug 12, or Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday, next year, 2013.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Teerachon Manomaipiboon spoke after going for an inspection at the construction area.

The BTS Silom line extension to the Thonburi side of Bangkok, west of the Chao Phraya River, comprises the four stations of Potinimitr, Talad Plu, Wuttakad, and Bang Wa.

For additional operations, the existing Wongwian Yai (S8) and the Talad Plu (S10) Stations provide commuters with Park & Ride services, while a Skywalk will be at S10 to link with the BMA's express bus service -- Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) -- at its Ratchaphruek Station.

The route between S8 and S10 is expected to be open on Dec 5, which falls on His Majesty King Bhumibol's birthday, this year. Around 126,000 passengers/day are expected once the full line is open for services in August next year.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Teerachon also inspected the BRT route and cited it is to be expanded to meet the size of Greater Bangkok’s mass transit network and to support the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup, to be hosted in November at a new stadium in the capital's Nong Chok district.

Other types of buses of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) may additionally be used for commuters at the Futsal Worldcup, as previously discussed with Transport Ministry, according to Mr

Teerachon.

Three routes are planned to reach the Nong Chok stadium from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Hua Mak Sports Complex and Min Buri. This matter, however, will be on the discussion table again with the

ministry, the deputy governor said while being certain it will be supported by the government.

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was launched in 2010 to assist commuters travelling to offices and homes from Sathorn Road to Ratchapruek Road in the Tha Phra area in the Thonburi side of Bangkok. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-02-10

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/532446-bma-progress-on-bts-silom-line-extension-set-for-services-next-year/

[Will2011]

oops... gotta be next year... Thanks for the heads up

[dantilley]

The first 2 are opening in December this year, and the second 2 next year. All 4 were originally scheduled to open in August this year, but the floods last year put the schedule back. As the BTS seems to only ever open any extension or new station in either August or December in any given year, with the (new) December 2012 deadline likely to be missed for stations S11 and S12, they got pushed back to the following August.

[theoldgit]

Hahahahahaha!!!!!! Good one ;-)

How long have you been in Thailand?

You just made my day! Thanks

Well you're easily pleased.

[KED]

I wish there were some pro-active, investigative news reporting on the reason for the long delay in this opening. I moved here in 2006 and the tracks were all complete - how can it possibly take 6-7 years to open this? My bet is that influential sources wanted to develop KrungThonburi and Wong WIan Yai land and condo projects before opening.

Once these stops are opened, land prices in the shadow of the original BTS will lower as more condo opportunities with lower sqm prices exist along the new stops. It is just sad that not one politician cares enough for the public good to get the Bangkok infrastructure in place.

[AliasJohn]

Typical bunch of winging westerners....Never have something positive to say. Why stay here?

[zappalot]

Never have something positive to say.

Because TiT...

[dddave]

Because this NEVER happens in the wonderful western nations that all these malcontents departed from. Every thing runs on time, is finished on time, under budget. There is no graft, no corruption, no crime, no bad drivers, no.....................malcontents', they all came here.

[Searat7]

Two stations were supposed to be opened on Queen's Birthday this month with the final 2 stations in December. A few months ago it was announced that they will close Saphan Taksin BTS station because it has a single track so that station becomes a bottleneck....especially when you add 4 more stations onto the route. They plan to build a walkway from Surasak BTS in Sathorn to Saphan Taksin. This could be the reason for the delay.

In my opinion they should either find a way to add additional track (maybe above other one) at Saphan Taksin or they should not have added more stations than the existing line can handle. Closing Saphan Taksin station is a very bad solution...many go there to get boats and many people live in that area.

[Nisa]

Two stations were supposed to be opened on Queen's Birthday this month with the final 2 stations in December. A few months ago it was announced that they will close Saphan Taksin BTS station because it has a single track so that station becomes a bottleneck....especially when you add 4 more stations onto the route. They plan to build a walkway from Surasak BTS in Sathorn to Saphan Taksin. This could be the reason for the delay.

In my opinion they should either find a way to add additional track (maybe above other one) at Saphan Taksin or they should not have added more stations than the existing line can handle. Closing Saphan Taksin station is a very bad solution...many go there to get boats and many people live in that area.

I think this is a different issue ...

While there are two train tracks for most stretches of the Skytrain system, the portion across the Chao Phraya has just one track due to limited space, thus causing a bottleneck.

Sukhumbhand said that the BMA had initially sought permission from the Department of Rural Roads to expand the Taksin Bridge in order to make way for an additional track, but the department had said it was not possible.

"To find space for the additional track on our own, we will have to use the area currently occupied by the Saphan Taksin Station," the Bangkok governor said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-to-close-Saphan-Taksin-station-to-ease-bottlen-30183268.html