Police Want Subway Opening Set Back

[george]

Police want subway opening set back

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday suggested that the official opening of Bangkok's new subway system be postponed to September because of safety and policing concerns.

Following a meeting between police and subway officials yesterday, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Lt-General Thani Somboonsub said both parties had decided to establish a panel to study whether it was possible to set up a special police unit responsible for investigating all subway crimes.

At the moment, police have yet to decide which district will be responsible for investigating subway crimes, he said.

Thani said test runs of the subway over the past few days showed that the system needed to be improved to make sure it was completely safe and could provide a smooth service.

However, Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority governor Prapat Chongsanguan insisted that the official opening would be ahead of schedule, either in June or July.

The subway's official inauguration had earlier been set for August.

A Suan Dusit poll released yesterday showed that more than 80 per cent of respondents would use the subway because of its convenience while 10.7 per cent said they would not because buses were cheaper.

Some 60 per cent of respondents said they were confident the subway would be safe because foreign engineers had checked the system while 27 per cent were not confident of its safety.

The survey was conducted after more than 200 frightened subway passengers were evacuated on Thursday after one of its trains was halted after a break malfunctioned.

Prapat said the trials, which started on Tuesday, had revealed two other problems: the air-conditioners were not cool enough and automatic doors on one carriage did not work. He said the air-conditioning and door problems had been fixed and engineers were checking the brake system.

--The Nation 2004-04-17

[astral]

How come they are only thinking about things like this at the last minutes?

Sack the project manager, he has not been doing his job!!

In the UK and US the subway systems have their own police forces,

the same model should be applied here.

We do not want Sgt Plod who thinks he can do a better job than the computer automated traffic lights muddling with matters underground.

He will be totally in the dark.

[samran]

sounds like the police are trying to extend their power base. This shouldn't be allowed to happen.

They should do whatever the skytrain people are doing now. At least it keeps the boys in brown away.

[john b good]

C'mon now! they have only had about four years to get their sh*t together.

Oops sorry, it is Thailand we are talking about isn't it.............

[taxexile]

C'mon now! they have only had about four years to get their sh*t together.

Oops sorry, it is Thailand we are talking about isn't it.............

i think they have done amazingly well to get a project of the complexity of the tube system here up and (almost) running in only 4 years. to get an underground railway dug and put into operation through one of the most congested and built up cities in the world..... most western cities would not even have attempted it.

[natee1]

C'mon now! they have only had about four years to get their sh*t together.

Oops sorry, it is Thailand we are talking about isn't it.............

What about 'the wrong kind of leaves' falling on railtracks causing delays?

The reputedly most civilised country in the world had only about 150 years to sort this out!!! Shut up.

[meadish_sweetball]

Wait, don't tell me, the police more specifically want to postpone the opening until September... 11??!?!