Former Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Woos Commuters

[webfact]

Sukhumbhand woos commuters

The Nation

Former governor offers lower BTS fares, more parking

BANGKOK: -- Former Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra continued his re-election bid for a second day yesterday with promises to set a flat Bt10 fare on the extended Skytrain routes and to build more parking facilities.

Campaigning at the newly opened Pho Nimit BTS station, the Democrat Party's candidate said if he won a second term as Bangkok governor, he would reduce the fare on the extended BTS routes from Bt15 to Bt10. The extensions are from Taksin to Bang Wa on the Silom line and Onnuj to Bearing on the Sukhumvit route.

He also promised to build parking facilities at the Bang Wa, Bearing and Morchit stations to encourage commuters to park their vehicles and ride the Skytrain.

Sukhumbhand further vowed to build smaller mass-transit systems to link to the existing Skytrain and subway to woo more motorists to park and ride, especially those who purchased vehicles under the government's "first car" scheme.

"I am happy with the more than one million people who bought new cars, but the Bangkok governor has the duty to ensure that the new vehicles will not affect the traffic flow, so I have a policy to reduce the fare of the extended BTS services," Sukhumbhand said.

Sukhumbhand has been charged by the Department of Special Investigation with extending the BTS concession contract without due authority.

He warned his rivals not to attack him on the concession case, saying they would face defamation lawsuits.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held a press conference at the Pheu Thai head office yesterday to officially announce Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen as the party's candidate in the gubernatorial poll.

Notably absent from the proceedings was former Thai Rak Thai Party executive Sudarat Keyuraphan. Pheu Thai had earlier said Sudarat would join the press conference, and her absence caused speculation that her relations with party leaders had soured over the party's pick for governor.

However, Pongsapat explained that Sudarat could not join the event because she had gone abroad. He insisted that he had no rift with Sudarat and that he had already received advice from her.

Nevertheless, key members of Pheu Thai offered differing accounts of Sudarat's whereabouts. Secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said Sudarat was on a merit-making trip to India; ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said she was doing so in Japan; while Bangkok MPs who asked not to be named said they had had dinner with Sudarat on Monday.

Yingluck said she was very excited that Pongsapat, former secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, had agreed to become the Pheu Thai candidate.

Yingluck said Pongsapat had been working closely with the people and was well qualified to become the next Bangkok governor. She said Pongsapat would be able to better coordinate with the government in providing services to Bangkok.

Pongsapat yesterday vowed to carry out a constructive campaign and to refrain from mudslinging.

"If we give the priority to the needs of the people, we will never lose. We will definitely win the election," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said he hoped Pongsapat would be elected governor so that the central government would be able to better cooperate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on flood-prevention measures - an issue over which Plodprasop, as head of the government's anti-flood policies, often clashed with Sukhumbhand.

Banharn Silapa-archa, de facto leader of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, added his support for Pongsapat.

"Chart Thai Pattana as a coalition partner must support the choice of the coalition leader," he said.

Independent candidate Suharit Siamwalla announced on his Facebook page that he would introduce reforms in BMA schools in order to better prepare students for the coming Asean Economic Community.

He said new courses in BMA schools would make parents rest assured that their children would grow up to be smart and competitive with their Southeast Asian neighbours.

Another independent candidate, Pol General Seripisut Temiyavej, also took to Facebook, telling his followers that he is an honest person, and that Bangkok residents should vote for him if they want to see changes.

-- The Nation 2013-01-16

[whybother]

Nevertheless, key members of Pheu Thai offered differing accounts of Sudarat's whereabouts. Secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said Sudarat was on a merit-making trip to India; ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said she was doing so in Japan; while Bangkok MPs who asked not to be named said they had had dinner with Sudarat on Monday.

You would have thought they would manage to get their lies straight.

[Katipo]

10b for Skytrain. Good idea that.

[Thai at Heart]

Nevertheless, key members of Pheu Thai offered differing accounts of Sudarat's whereabouts. Secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai said Sudarat was on a merit-making trip to India; ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said she was doing so in Japan; while Bangkok MPs who asked not to be named said they had had dinner with Sudarat on Monday.

You would have thought they would manage to get their lies straight.

Is this the first piece of true investigative journalism by the nation? Amazing what happens when you ask the same question to three different people huh?

[whybother]

10b for Skytrain. Good idea that.

10 baht for the extension, down from 15 baht.

Sent from my HTC phone.

[smutcakes]

10 baht! bloody populist policies.

On a serious note, is it under his authority to regulate the cost of fares? Would the operator who won the concession not be in charge of setting fares?

[zakk9]

10b for Skytrain. Good idea that.

10 baht for the extension, down from 15 baht.

Sent from my HTC phone.

Why on earth can't they just have one pricing system for the whole network like in all other major cities around the globe?

And while they're at it, please include the underground and the Airport Link City Line as well.

The whole local train system in Bangkok is developing into such a mess, it's unbelievable.

[Payboy]

Independent candidate Suharit Siamwalla

Just to put a face to the name.....

[MaxLee]

When traveling by BTS these days,... has anybody noticed, how bad the breaks were for a couple of weeks now. I mean, when it stops at a station, the train is shaking 2-3 times...

That makes me think something is wrong with the maintenance of the train engines... anyone experiencing the same????

[Katipo]

10b for Skytrain. Good idea that.

10 baht for the extension, down from 15 baht.

Sent from my HTC phone.

Why on earth can't they just have one pricing system for the whole network like in all other major cities around the globe?

And while they're at it, please include the underground and the Airport Link City Line as well.

The whole local train system in Bangkok is developing into such a mess, it's unbelievable.

I know a cross-network payment system is being worked on. Not sure when it will be implemented however

I expect great strides to the public transport system to made once even politicians with police escorts can't escape 2 hour commutes to and from work each day.

[Katipo]

When traveling by BTS these days,... has anybody noticed, how bad the breaks were for a couple of weeks now. I mean, when it stops at a station, the train is shaking 2-3 times...

That makes me think something is wrong with the maintenance of the train engines... anyone experiencing the same????

Usually it only does that when the rails/wheels are wet.... when raining.

[rubl]

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held a press conference at the Pheu Thai head office yesterday to officially announce Pol General Pongsapat Pongcharoen as the party's candidate in the gubernatorial poll.

... and the former Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand had to resign in order to avoid accusations of mis-using his position in the election race ?

[MaxLee]

When traveling by BTS these days,... has anybody noticed, how bad the breaks were for a couple of weeks now. I mean, when it stops at a station, the train is shaking 2-3 times...

That makes me think something is wrong with the maintenance of the train engines... anyone experiencing the same????

Usually it only does that when the rails/wheels are wet.... when raining.

No serious, man. I've felt that robbl-robble-shaky stop to such an extreme like I never felt it before when taking the BTS these days.

[Familyonthemove]

When traveling by BTS these days,... has anybody noticed, how bad the breaks were for a couple of weeks now. I mean, when it stops at a station, the train is shaking 2-3 times...

That makes me think something is wrong with the maintenance of the train engines... anyone experiencing the same????

I've noticed that the new 4 car trains seem to need to several jabs on the breaks to stop.

[DocN]

I promise this, I promise that...and after I am elected, I will slowly back out of every promise I ever made!

[MaxLee]

When traveling by BTS these days,... has anybody noticed, how bad the breaks were for a couple of weeks now. I mean, when it stops at a station, the train is shaking 2-3 times...

That makes me think something is wrong with the maintenance of the train engines... anyone experiencing the same????

I've noticed that the new 4 car trains seem to need to several jabs on the breaks to stop.

So it was true.... I wouldn't be surprised that BTS authorities would leave this unnoticed, until a major accident happens

[RisqEM]

10b for Skytrain. Good idea that.

10 baht for the extension, down from 15 baht.

Sent from my HTC phone.

Why on earth can't they just have one pricing system for the whole network like in all other major cities around the globe?

And while they're at it, please include the underground and the Airport Link City Line as well.

The whole local train system in Bangkok is developing into such a mess, it's unbelievable.

Couldn't agree more. It's such a joke, they should be ashamed of themselves at how pathetic it looks to visitors. Two prices to ride the same train, with such terrible quality trainsI had two trains break down on me on the Sukhumvit line this week, and the air con's are dripping water half the time!

[MaxLee]

Pheu Thai's proposal:

Sh******t on public transportation; encourage people to buy cars

Make owning a car (appear) cheaper, and make public transportation expensive and worst in quality...

[seminomadic]

Why on earth can't they just have one pricing system for the whole network like in all other major cities around the globe?

And while they're at it, please include the underground and the Airport Link City Line as well.

The whole local train system in Bangkok is developing into such a mess, it's unbelievable.

Not so unbelievable when you understand Conway's Law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway's_law

-- communication between groups for the sake of the quality and effectiveness of the final product is not important in this culture.

P!ss on the faceless masses, even if they are your end-users. Look out for #1 and have the appearance of being boss at all times.

[whybother]

10 baht! bloody populist policies.

On a serious note, is it under his authority to regulate the cost of fares? Would the operator who won the concession not be in charge of setting fares?

No, it is usually the government that sets fares. The operator operates and collects.

Sent from my HTC phone.

[smutcakes]

10 baht! bloody populist policies.

On a serious note, is it under his authority to regulate the cost of fares? Would the operator who won the concession not be in charge of setting fares?

No, it is usually the government that sets fares. The operator operates and collects.

Sent from my HTC phone.

Ok thanks for the clarification.

Must be difficult for the tendering company to do their long term financials when they are not governing the cost of the system. Maybe if the fares are lowered they are going to have to look for cost savings elsewhere which could effect the service standard to maintain their profit margin.

[whybother]

10 baht! bloody populist policies.

On a serious note, is it under his authority to regulate the cost of fares? Would the operator who won the concession not be in charge of setting fares?

No, it is usually the government that sets fares. The operator operates and collects.

Sent from my HTC phone.

Ok thanks for the clarification.

Must be difficult for the tendering company to do their long term financials when they are not governing the cost of the system. Maybe if the fares are lowered they are going to have to look for cost savings elsewhere which could effect the service standard to maintain their profit margin.

The operator is often paid for the service provided and KPIs met, regardless of the fare collected.

[RubbaJohnny]

Pardon me sleaze is that the Chatter Woo Woo Choo Choo

[rheinwiese]

When traveling by BTS these days,... has anybody noticed, how bad the breaks were for a couple of weeks now. I mean, when it stops at a station, the train is shaking 2-3 times...

That makes me think something is wrong with the maintenance of the train engines... anyone experiencing the same????

You are absolutely right. The ride is not smooth.

It's not the maintenance, it's the new Chinese made 4-carriage trains.

The old Siemens 3-carriage trains are just fine.

[MaxLee]

When traveling by BTS these days,... has anybody noticed, how bad the breaks were for a couple of weeks now. I mean, when it stops at a station, the train is shaking 2-3 times...

That makes me think something is wrong with the maintenance of the train engines... anyone experiencing the same????

You are absolutely right. The ride is not smooth.

It's not the maintenance, it's the new Chinese made 4-carriage trains.

The old Siemens 3-carriage trains are just fine.

If that's the case, lets just regard those Chinese cheap-(shot)-BTS-trains as a parting gift from Sukhumband, who after his resignation from BKK governor duties, must have thought: "Screw you to hell, everybody!"

No satisfaction refund 4-life guarantee, if this ends deadly for millions of innocent passengers …

Edited January 17, 2013 by MaxLee

[rubl]

Since we're on a 'wooing commuters' topic:

On 2010-06-29:

"Built by Chinese train manufacturer Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., at a cost of $US70 million (Bt2.27 billion), the new trains will be deployed on the Silom line running through the heart of the business and financial district along Silom and Sathon Roads, between the National Stadium and Wongwian Yai."

http://www.thailand-...s-network/2962/

On 2008-07-21:

"In the first quarter, BTS signed a US$70-million (Bt2.28 billion) contract for 12 four-carriage trains with Changchun Railway Vehicles and Citic International of China, and Mitsui (Thailand). The trains will be delivered next year. This is part of a planned business expansion for the time after the company's debt rehabilitation is complete, Keeree said."

http://nationmultime...ss_30078503.php

[doctorproc156]

The bigger question is, when is the BMTA going to modernize it's bus system? A lot of other countries have bus systems as efficient as trains and there are still a lot of suburbs that have zero/severly inadequate public transportation access.

[MaxLee]

The bigger question is, when is the BMTA going to modernize it's bus system? A lot of other countries have bus systems as efficient as trains and there are still a lot of suburbs that have zero/severly inadequate public transportation access.

And the answer to this question is:

Face first -> car means status-> first car buyer policy-> tax refunds-> majority brainwashed masses happy -> must buy car -> more traffic jams -> government doesn't care -> Global warming impact -> more green house gases up in the air because of deforestation at the cost of building more roads, condos whatever which lead to more traffic Jams -> then comes tsunami or floods, earthquake, or whatever -> government sh****tloading on other provinces again in order to protect their precious deeper sinking Bangkok -> but that doesn't work again, flood accumulates -> car industry suffers again-LOSS OF FACE -> but here we go again at point one -> TRY TO SAVE FACE.

The current government is just kowtowing to the Japanese car industry for compensating them for the losses during the big floods, so why would they bother with something as FACELESS as public transportation or improving the quality of life, education and infrastructure in other provinces.

In other words people from other provinces are practically forced to come all the long way to Bangkok in the belief they can earn more money and have a better quality of education and life there, but we all know it won't work this way.

Unfortunately Bangkok in the stubborn government's view is Thailand's FACE number one

[zakk9]

The bigger question is, when is the BMTA going to modernize it's bus system? A lot of other countries have bus systems as efficient as trains and there are still a lot of suburbs that have zero/severly inadequate public transportation access.

They have actually bought some new buses, flashy yellow, Chinese ones that seem to be falling apart after running for a couple of years, while the brown Japanese buses they bought a couple of decades ago still run smoothly. But the buses will be stuck in the traffic anyway, so why bother...?

[Payboy]

I think the BRT was a huge success, no?