BTS Skytrain to start trial early service from March 1

[webfact]

BTS to start trial early service from March 1

BANGKOK, 13 February 2014 (NNT) - The skytrain operator is set to begin an early service for commuters on a trial basis next month, following a slew of suggestions from the public.

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) chief operating officer Surapong Laoha-unya said the special service will go on a trial run from March 1 onwards. The new service offers passengers the chance to board the train before its usual operating hour at 6 am.

The first train will leave Mor Chit and Bearing stations at 5.15 am. Trains on the Silom Line will meanwhile depart at 5.30 am. Those who wish to use the service before 6 am are advised to use their Sky Smartpass or Rabbit Card to board the train as one-time passes are not available.

Passengers can check the BTS’s new schedules at announcement boards at each station.

Mr Surapong said BTS customers have been sending suggestions to the company, saying that train services should run earlier to meet the rising demand of workers who need to travel longer distances.

The operator will make another assessment after 6 months to determine whether the early service will become permanent.


-- NNT 2014-02-13

[Blackmirage2013]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

Edited February 13, 2014 by Blackmirage2013

[ikurauni]

They should run until 2:00 am at least.

[GeorgeO]

There is an obvious demand for later service, especially if you happen to be in Silom and want to get over to the Eastern side of the City. If you can actually get a taxi to take you there, he will no doubt be asking a ridiculous 'no meter' fee...!

[focus27]

"Those who wish to use the service before 6 am are advised to use their Sky Smartpass or Rabbit Card to board the train as one-time passes are not available."

So... they can open the stations but can't switch on the ticket machines?! TiT

For a city that wakes up so early just to smell the smog and get to work on time it is insane how late the BTS opens. There was a brief time, a few years ago, when I had to use the bus just because it started earlier than the BTS.

[salavan]

They should run until 2:00 am at least.

i agree with the amount of traffic can still get stuck in traffic jams at 1 and 2 am if you have to drive or catch a bus

[JSixpack]

As usual, a Thai announcement of expanded service is met here by sneers and cries for other service.

[isawasnake]

I always thought the operating hours may be a result of the number of people living close to the rail line, and the noise levels.

[Estrada]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

There is no need to add extra cars to the trains hours, it is a matter of speeding up the time interval between trains. The trains are all controlled by computer, the driver is only there to check the doors opening and closing. 5 extra 4 car units are being introduced this month (February) due to the extension to the Silom line, and the Thaksin station will be removed. After that the situation will improve at peak hours. BTS will run the trains for longer hours according to demand and profitability. The London Underground runs from around 5.20 until 00.20 so what is the problem Dooooooooh!!!!! Full information on the BTS and all the new and proposed skytrain, light rail and underground lines can be found here:

http://bts.listedcompany.com/misc/PRESN/20140213-BTS-managementPresentation.pdf

[Emster23]

Glad to see that finally there will be a trial in Bangkok..... oops! Wrong topic!

[FalangBaa]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

There is no need to add extra cars to the trains hours, it is a matter of speeding up the time interval between trains. The trains are all controlled by computer, the driver is only there to check the doors opening and closing. 5 extra 4 car units are being introduced this month (February) due to the extension to the Silom line, and the Thaksin station will be removed. After that the situation will improve at peak hours. BTS will run the trains for longer hours according to demand and profitability. The London Underground runs from around 5.20 until 00.20 so what is the problem Dooooooooh!!!!! Full information on the BTS and all the new and proposed skytrain, light rail and underground lines can be found here:

http://bts.listedcompany.com/misc/PRESN/20140213-BTS-managementPresentation.pdf

I wonder why they're removing the Thaksin station? Purely a coincidence no doubt...

[Thormaturge]

^

The removal of the Saphan Taksin station is due, I believe, to the delay caused when trains have to wait to enter this station since it only has one track.

So instead the station will be closed so that trains do not linger on the platform there in future....and passengers have to walk from Surasak instead. Progress, Thai style.

They should close every second station to speed up the line, and if that works subsequently close all the stations other than the terminals so the trains only stop at the end of the line.

[snooky]

Definitely should extend the time until 2AM so that late workers and party goers can get home. The taxi drives on Silom have been taking advantage of the demonstrations by refusing to take passengers except at exorbitant rates. This is especially true at the corner of Convent and Silom. Last Saturday evening shortly after the BTS closed, we waited 20 minutes and had at least ten drivers refuse us even though we told them to go via the expressway to our destination in Saphan Kwai. Finally after having a pleasant driver take us, we find, about 100 meters down Silom, a police roadblock stopping taxis, motorcycles apparently looking for who knows what, yet had they had a plainclothes officer at the corner of Silom and Convent radioing down to the roadblock the license numbers of those cabbies refusing passengers, they could have tripled their take. And in the process, letting the taxi drivers know that there is some enforcement going on. That so-called crack down last year was good for about three days..

[mdmayes]

As usual, a Thai announcement of expanded service is met here by sneers and cries for other service.

The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Rabbit Cards...more like Sardine Cards! I still remember the day, decades ago, when I got that raise that allowed me to drive and park my car in downtown San Francisco for work. The day I gave up public transportation for good was the best day of my life. (Also the year I stopped getting the flu 3-4x a year.)

[Jonmarleesco]

You mean BTS actually takes notice of its customers? Perhaps they can further improve schedules by having more trains travelling in the direction that needs them, rather than in the direction that doesn't; Loy Krathong, for example.

While they're at it, perhaps they can also advise local management that the purpose of the safety barriers on the platforms is, well, safety; hence, the gates should be closed pre-arrival, at the points where the trains stop, not at either end of the platforms, where they don't. And how about improving staff training. There are still guards whose whistles are their sole authority and who think the yellow lines still sancrosanct, despite the security gates that have rendered them irrelevant - the lines, that is; though perhaps the guards, as well.

Off topic? Perhaps, but technically, I think not.

[Jonmarleesco]

As usual, a Thai announcement of expanded service is met here by sneers and cries for other service.

You must be on the BTS board. You would need to be in order to justify such a statement - even to yourself.

[Estrada]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

There is no need to add extra cars to the trains hours, it is a matter of speeding up the time interval between trains. The trains are all controlled by computer, the driver is only there to check the doors opening and closing. 5 extra 4 car units are being introduced this month (February) due to the extension to the Silom line, and the Thaksin station will be removed. After that the situation will improve at peak hours. BTS will run the trains for longer hours according to demand and profitability. The London Underground runs from around 5.20 until 00.20 so what is the problem Dooooooooh!!!!! Full information on the BTS and all the new and proposed skytrain, light rail and underground lines can be found here:

http://bts.listedcompany.com/misc/PRESN/20140213-BTS-managementPresentation.pdf

I wonder why they're removing the Thaksin station? Purely a coincidence no doubt...

Saphan Thaksin is named in honour of a famous Thai King in history, not the sort of thing you want to joke about as it is not named after Mr. T. The problem is that they tried to save money and constructed it as a single track station so that now the trains go to Wong Wian Yai it is a bottle neck that slows the whole Silom line down. The station is set to be closed and removed to facilitate the construction of a second track, which will "ease the bottleneck over its stretch across the Chao Phraya River.

Edited February 14, 2014 by Estrada

[Estrada]

You mean BTS actually takes notice of its customers? Perhaps they can further improve schedules by having more trains travelling in the direction that needs them, rather than in the direction that doesn't; Loy Krathong, for example.

While they're at it, perhaps they can also advise local management that the purpose of the safety barriers on the platforms is, well, safety; hence, the gates should be closed pre-arrival, at the points where the trains stop, not at either end of the platforms, where they don't. And how about improving staff training. There are still guards whose whistles are their sole authority and who think the yellow lines still sancrosanct, despite the security gates that have rendered them irrelevant - the lines, that is; though perhaps the guards, as well.

Off topic? Perhaps, but technically, I think not.

What a stupid post. How can you have more trains travelling in a preferred direction? The trains all have to return their is no marshalling yards at the ends of the tracks only at Morchit. Therefore if you increase the trains travelling in one direction, you automatically increase the number of trains travelling in the opposite direction.

[tw25rw]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

There is no need to add extra cars to the trains hours, it is a matter of speeding up the time interval between trains. The trains are all controlled by computer, the driver is only there to check the doors opening and closing. 5 extra 4 car units are being introduced this month (February) due to the extension to the Silom line, and the Thaksin station will be removed. After that the situation will improve at peak hours. BTS will run the trains for longer hours according to demand and profitability. The London Underground runs from around 5.20 until 00.20 so what is the problem Dooooooooh!!!!! Full information on the BTS and all the new and proposed skytrain, light rail and underground lines can be found here:

http://bts.listedcompany.com/misc/PRESN/20140213-BTS-managementPresentation.pdf

I wonder why they're removing the Thaksin station? Purely a coincidence no doubt...

Saphan Thaksin is named in honour of a famous Thai King in history, not the sort of thing you want to joke about as it is not named after Mr. T. The problem is that they tried to save money and constructed it as a single track station so that now the trains go to Wong Wian Yai it is a bottle neck that slows the whole Silom line down. The station is set to be closed and removed to facilitate the construction of a second track, which will "ease the bottleneck over its stretch across the Chao Phraya River.

I understand that it was always a temporary station that would close when the line was extended. There is no room for 2 platforms.

[Razzler1973]

Even if it went to 2am but didn't stop at every station i.e. less staff in the non-used stations but passengers able to make use of it, stopping only at prominent points and end of the line ... better than not running at all

[OMGImInPattaya]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

There is no need to add extra cars to the trains hours, it is a matter of speeding up the time interval between trains. The trains are all controlled by computer, the driver is only there to check the doors opening and closing. 5 extra 4 car units are being introduced this month (February) due to the extension to the Silom line, and the Thaksin station will be removed. After that the situation will improve at peak hours. BTS will run the trains for longer hours according to demand and profitability. The London Underground runs from around 5.20 until 00.20 so what is the problem Dooooooooh!!!!! Full information on the BTS and all the new and proposed skytrain, light rail and underground lines can be found here:

http://bts.listedcompany.com/misc/PRESN/20140213-BTS-managementPresentation.pdf

I wonder why they're removing the Thaksin station? Purely a coincidence no doubt...

Saphan Thaksin is named in honour of a famous Thai King in history, not the sort of thing you want to joke about as it is not named after Mr. T. The problem is that they tried to save money and constructed it as a single track station so that now the trains go to Wong Wian Yai it is a bottle neck that slows the whole Silom line down. The station is set to be closed and removed to facilitate the construction of a second track, which will "ease the bottleneck over its stretch across the Chao Phraya River.

I understand that it was always a temporary station that would close when the line was extended. There is no room for 2 platforms.

Is that the case? Or when the ST was first being envisioned, did they think that the CP river station would always be the terminus for the Silom Line?

[isawasnake]

Even if it went to 2am but didn't stop at every station i.e. less staff in the non-used stations but passengers able to make use of it, stopping only at prominent points and end of the line ... better than not running at all

While we can all agree that the BTS is one of the best run aspects of Bangkok, I have never understood the stopping points. There was obviously some serious political persuasions going on. I just don't get stops that are 1 km from each other. It would just run so much faster and smoother if a good maybe 5 stops were taken out of the entire system. Too late for that though.

The problem with your solution is it would be so confusing.... tourists would get on and it would pass their stop.

[tobf16]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

There is no need to add extra cars to the trains hours, it is a matter of speeding up the time interval between trains. The trains are all controlled by computer, the driver is only there to check the doors opening and closing. 5 extra 4 car units are being introduced this month (February) due to the extension to the Silom line, and the Thaksin station will be removed. After that the situation will improve at peak hours. BTS will run the trains for longer hours according to demand and profitability. The London Underground runs from around 5.20 until 00.20 so what is the problem Dooooooooh!!!!! Full information on the BTS and all the new and proposed skytrain, light rail and underground lines can be found here:

http://bts.listedcompany.com/misc/PRESN/20140213-BTS-managementPresentation.pdf

In London the pubs close at 2300.

Here they are open a little longer and both staff and customers need to go home.

I guess the late party goers can now take the early BTS home.

[JSixpack]

As usual, a Thai announcement of expanded service is met here by sneers and cries for other service.

You must be on the BTS board. You would need to be in order to justify such a statement - even to yourself.

Though it may seem daunting, you really needn't be on the BTS board to tally, among all the posts in this thread, the sneers and cries for other service. Did you attend grammar school or not?

Then contrast the sneering, complaints, and gratuitous expressions of superiority--all irrelevant--w/ what would be only mature, rational, short response to the innocuous BTS announcement: "Oh, that's nice for those who might wish to take advantage of the new early service."

[Ajaan]

Yes, great! Start service early... then within ten years, you'll have it running from 5:00am till 2:00am and use the three other hours for maintenance service!

Next up... why not add extra cars to trains during peak hours.... do ya think that will improve service?!!! Dooooooooooooh!!!!

There is no need to add extra cars to the trains hours, it is a matter of speeding up the time interval between trains. The trains are all controlled by computer, the driver is only there to check the doors opening and closing. 5 extra 4 car units are being introduced this month (February) due to the extension to the Silom line, and the Thaksin station will be removed. After that the situation will improve at peak hours. BTS will run the trains for longer hours according to demand and profitability. The London Underground runs from around 5.20 until 00.20 so what is the problem Dooooooooh!!!!! Full information on the BTS and all the new and proposed skytrain, light rail and underground lines can be found here:

http://bts.listedcompany.com/misc/PRESN/20140213-BTS-managementPresentation.pdf

I wonder why they're removing the Thaksin station? Purely a coincidence no doubt...

If you're implying that there's some relationship between the name of Saphan Taksin station and the name of Thaksin Shinawatra, you're just showing your lack of knowledge of the Thai language. The two names (Taksin, for whom the bridge was named, was the first king of reunified, post Burma-invaded Thailand, in 1782) are spelled and pronounced completely differently in Thai, they have no relation whatsoever to each other.

[planr]

Even if it went to 2am but didn't stop at every station i.e. less staff in the non-used stations but passengers able to make use of it, stopping only at prominent points and end of the line ... better than not running at all

While we can all agree that the BTS is one of the best run aspects of Bangkok, I have never understood the stopping points. There was obviously some serious political persuasions going on. I just don't get stops that are 1 km from each other. It would just run so much faster and smoother if a good maybe 5 stops were taken out of the entire system. Too late for that though.

The problem with your solution is it would be so confusing.... tourists would get on and it would pass their stop.

Spacing on the BTS system is consistent with global practice for urban transit. By spacing stations roughly 1 kilometre apart, it means that stations will typically always be within a reasonable walking distance and provide higher levels of service in areas with higher population density.

Systems like the Airport Rail Link are designed more as commuter rail, with stops spaced further apart and designed to capture riders from a wider catchment area in less dense areas, where some will park and ride, and others will connect from different pubic modes like bus.

The BART system in San Francisco is actually a hybrid of the two, with stations in suburban areas spaced far apart, but in downtown SFO, stations are quite close together.

Is that the case? Or when the ST was first being envisioned, did they think that the CP river station would always be the terminus for the Silom Line?

Original designs for the Silom Line called for one station located immediately on the Thon Buri side of the river (think near The River condo) because at the time the system was built, there was still available space on that side of the river. For whatever reason, a decision was made to build Saphan Taksin instead, probably owing to cost savings. But at the end of the day, yes, plans have always called for the line to traverse the river.

[Razzler1973]

I don't mind the spacing but I guess it would be possible to run 'fast trains' i.e. same speed but stop at x fewer stops

If people are made aware of this then they'll get that it only stops at certain places. We have a few year old Metro system here in Dubai and they have recently been running 'express trains' in the very early morning than run from one end to the other (where a lot of people work) and there are limited stops in the middle

I am sure something like that would be useful for evenings

If you are coming from quite far, even if it doesn't stop at your exact station you'll be a hell of a lot closer to where you want to go and can then get a taxi or walk or whatever

[FalangBaa]

Even if it went to 2am but didn't stop at every station i.e. less staff in the non-used stations but passengers able to make use of it, stopping only at prominent points and end of the line ... better than not running at all

While we can all agree that the BTS is one of the best run aspects of Bangkok, I have never understood the stopping points. There was obviously some serious political persuasions going on. I just don't get stops that are 1 km from each other.

The reason is simple: Thais hate walking, and when forced to do so, walk at a snail's pace. If the stops were more than 1 km apart, only farangs would use the BTS and it would not be economically viable. To be honest, knowing Thais' attitude to walking, I'm surprised they aren't 0.5 km apart.

[Familyonthemove]

You mean BTS actually takes notice of its customers? Perhaps they can further improve schedules by having more trains travelling in the direction that needs them, rather than in the direction that doesn't; Loy Krathong, for example.

While they're at it, perhaps they can also advise local management that the purpose of the safety barriers on the platforms is, well, safety; hence, the gates should be closed pre-arrival, at the points where the trains stop, not at either end of the platforms, where they don't. And how about improving staff training. There are still guards whose whistles are their sole authority and who think the yellow lines still sancrosanct, despite the security gates that have rendered them irrelevant - the lines, that is; though perhaps the guards, as well.

Off topic? Perhaps, but technically, I think not.

What a stupid post. How can you have more trains travelling in a preferred direction? The trains all have to return their is no marshalling yards at the ends of the tracks only at Morchit. Therefore if you increase the trains travelling in one direction, you automatically increase the number of trains travelling in the opposite direction.

And the new platform barriers are not powered - so they cannot open and close for the trains. They look to me like their main purpose is advertising revenue as they have very limited value from a safety point of view?