Technical problem leaves Bangkok BTS in rush hour meltdown

[webfact]

BANGKOK: -- BTS SkyTrain apologizes for service disruption this morning

on both Silom and Sukhumvit Lines. Passengers please use another public transport /BTS Skytrain

RT @RichardBarrow: URGENT Gates to all BTS skytrain stations closed. No trains running in #Bangkok (Pic @BRcoolman)http://t.co/JQWH1isvPI

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: 7:16am No news from Skytrain officials as to the problem or for how long shutdown will continue (Pic @winaithornPNC)http://t.co/a0cPplbq2l

[MaxLee]

Maybe the protesters cut the power line or hacked the Computer system

Edited December 24, 2013 by MaxLee

[webfact]

RT @ChadapornLin: BTS system failure halts all service; commuters urged to use other modes of transportation

[taony]

"Richard Barrow ‏@RichardBarrow

9m

The @BTS_SkyTrain just tweeted in English for the first time today informing expats & tourists of the situation pic.twitter.com/byP9PtgMAX"

That's not informing anyone of anything, its just them taking a few hours to tell people what they already know.

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: 8:15am - RT @knowmorepor: BTS executive gave an interview said it is caused by radio transmitters failure in signaling system.

[webfact]

BTS service disrupted by technical error
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The BTS skytrain service was disrupted by technical error Tuesday morning.

Passengers could not use the service at all stations.

The disruption of the service started at 6 am according to a Tweeter message from BTS. By 8 am, the service has not resumed yet.

BTS announced on its micro-blogging Tweeter site that the service was halted because BTS navigation control system malfunctioned.


-- The Nation 2013-12-24

[webfact]

RT @thaicam: "A developing story" RT @qandrew: BKK's Skytrain not working this morning stranding 300,000 commuters. No reason given

[jeffinbangkok]

Any reports of when the BTS will be back up and running????

[Estrada]

RT @RichardBarrow: 8:15am - RT @knowmorepor: BTS executive gave an interview said it is caused by radio transmitters failure in signaling system.

Should read transmitters are being jammed causing a failure in the signalling system.

Actual problem is that the trains are not controlled by the drivers, but from the Morchit control room via WIFI. The system suffers occasionally due

to the jamming of its signal by local radio transmissions such as radio stations and taxis straying near BTS's wavelength. In the past these outages have been only a matter of minutes after momentary loss of communication while the computer recalculates where all the trains are located on the system. Control by WIFI is not a good system to use in Bangkok where there is less control on the airwaves.

Radio communications used by the demonstrators and/or press/TV could jam the BTS communication systems, if they stray on to the same wavelength.

Edited December 24, 2013 by Estrada

[MaxLee]

Any reports of when the BTS will be back up and running????

No, smiley smiley thank you, see you again next year

[ezzra]

Could it be that they forgot to pay the electricity bill??

[webfact]

Subway crowded, traffic congested after BTS service halted

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The subway service was crowded and main Bangkok streets were hit by traffic snarls after the BTS halted its skytrain service at 6 am.

Gridlocks were reported at several parts of the capital and passengers were seen crowded subway trains and stations.

BTS announced on its micro-blogging Tweeter site that the service was halted because BTS navigation control system malfunctioned.


-- The Nation 2013-12-24

[Estrada]

Maybe if the owners of the BTS, yes it is privately owned by one of the richest and corrupt families in Thailand, hadn't not been so busy milking money from investors with their infrastructurefund and other financiel instruments, and spent a little on maintance, this would not have happened??

Complete rubbish!

I am an investor with a million shares in BTS.

1. I have not been "milked" of my money

2. I have made 300%+ profit in 3 years

3. I have dividends of 7% on top of the profit on sale of shares in BTS.

4. I have seen their workshops and maintenance system, I see no problem.

5. The problem is with the use of radio communication system to control the trains

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: 9am BTS Skytrain still not working & will probably take a few more hours to fix (Pic @BeingAndrea)http://t.co/yJYdY6uWmb

[webfact]

BTS in dark when service will resume
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The BTS announced that at 8:03 Tuesday that it does not know when the service will resume following the malfunction of its navigation system.

It said radio communication system of the trains broke down and it was the first of such technical error in 14 years.

The system error happened at 3 am. BTS urged the passengers to turn to use other public transport means.


-- The Nation 2013-12-24

[brit1984]

^ trains break down in every other country except the countries that don't have trains

[webfact]

BTS
Skytrains' service expected to resume this afternoon : Anat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Service of the skytrains that broke down this morning is expected to resume this afternoon, Anat Apapirom, advisor to the Bangkok MassTransit System (BTS) Company said.

He said the computerized controlling and navigation systems of both Sukhumvit and Silom routes broke down at about 3am. The malfunction was the first time in 14 years, he said.

"Our experts and engineers are doing with best efforts to fix the errors and problems. The repairs will take about half day, so the services will resume this afternoon," he said.

BTS officials were seen informing people about the problems at foot of the stairs under the stations. They suggested people to use other public transportation.

At many stations, bus stops were crowded with people heading to offices.

-- The Nation 2013-12-24

[mayuri]

my office starts at 8am and i reached at 8:45am
BTS not working was a shock and sukhumvit was jam packed

[BKKdreaming]

I wonder how many of the out of service signs they already had made ?

Wifi normally goes 1000 meters or less, how does it all work from MoChit 10KM away and thru big buildings ?

[brit1984]

brings back bad memories of commuting to work in london

[noitom]

The fact that BTS can't put out more disclosure creates a massive security concern. Thailand is a major security risk. This is a fine example.

[geriatrickid]

Only in Thailand, does this country not realize that they are just the laughing stock of the civiliesd world.

Jeebus, get a grip.

Mass transit systems have outages frequently. Some such as the London tube have catastrophic fires. The Paris and Montreal Metro systems have stoppages. The NYC transit system often has a line down for a period on any given day. Do I need to go on?

Sh*t happens. Life goes on. No one outside BKK cares.

[geriatrickid]

The fact that BTS can't put out more disclosure creates a massive security concern. Thailand is a major security risk. This is a fine example.

Are you going to run screaming through the streets now?

Have a look at other mass transit systems. they usually have the same problems especially in some large North American cities. The BTS security issue was dealt with by closing the stations and evacuating pax. Sometimes it is best not to offer timelines of re-establishing service if the cause of the disruption is unknown or if there are other issues involved. People need to stop the panic sowing.

[pinball]

They only have TWO lines and they cant run them properly, Where is the backup system ..............................

[taony]

Anytime there is two drops of rain in NYC the subways get messed up. but at least there are alternatives there.

[worgeordie]

I might be the dreaded "leaves on the track" that seems quiet

common excuse in the UK.

regards Worgeordie

[webfact]

Sky train services disrupted



BANGKOK: -- Sky train services on the Silom Line and Sukhumvit Line disrupted this morning stranding tens of thousands of passengers using the services to work during the morning rush hours.

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) said this morning that it has to halt train services on Silom and Sukhumvit Lines since 6 a.m. today after it detected system error at about 3.00 a.m. during normal check before opening the services.

BTS chief operating officer Surapong Laoha-unya said there was a failure in the network control system and for safety reason, BTS has to halt train services on the two lines.

He said that the network control failure caused controllers to be unable to see the trains.

This was the first time of the failure of the network control and BTS technicians are working closely with the train manufacturer to fix the problem, he said.

The BTS Sky Train System operates in two lines with a total of 34 stations. About 700,000 passengers use the Sky train services daily.

The disruption of the Sky train services has forced passengers to turn to subway train services causing all morning trains packed with passengers

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/sky-train-services-disrupted/


-- Thai PBS 2013-12-24

[MMarlow]

The fact that BTS can't put out more disclosure creates a massive security concern. Thailand is a major security risk. This is a fine example.

No it doesn't at all.

This is a fine example of a technical malfunction, that's all.

[MMarlow]

They only have TWO lines and they cant run them properly, Where is the backup system ..............................

They've run pretty well for the last 10 years or so.