BMTA unveils renovated and modified buses that can service for another 10 years

BANGKOK: Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has revealed prototype of modified old NGV-powered buses with plan to improve its fleet of 671 old buses for use rather than decommissioning them.

BMTA says the modified vehicles can be used for at least 10 years as confirmed by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, which is in charge of the modification

BMTA board members and executives along with King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang’s technicians yesterday led journalists to a bus depot in Ratchaburi province to witness the first three more NGV buses which have been renovated and modified under BMTA’s pilot project to improve its fleet of 671 old buses.

According to the BMTA, the 20-year-old NGV buses have been improved from top to bottom from their engine to gear system.

What remained of the old bus is only the chassis.

The overhaul work will expand the life service of the buses for at least 10 years, according to King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang’s technicians.

The BMTA turns to the plan to repair its fleet of old busses after its bid to purchase new 489 NGV busses fail.

BMTA board director Pranee Sukrasorn said that the plan to repair and renovate 671 NGV buses will be part of a bus fleet procurement plan which the BMTA expects to finalise by the end of this month.

It will be tabled in the cabinet for approval by April, she said.

According to her, the procurement plan will also include a renewed plan to purchase new 489 NGV buses and a plan to buy 200 new electricity buses.

She said it is expected to take one year and a half to have all the 671 buses modified, adding that 60 old buses will be sent for modification each time to minimize impact on its bus services.

The bus fleet procurement plan is part of the BMTA’s effort to boost its business performance as recommended by the State Enterprise Policy Committee, said BMTA managing director Surachai Eamvachirasakul.

He said the BMTA also plans to generate revenue from unused properties in its depots and to modernize its fleet of buses.

BMTA will also install GPS system on its buses while E-ticket and bus station intelligent systems will also be applied.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/153795

-- Thai PBS 2016-03-05

"What remained of the old bus is only the chassis"

Isn't that the framework which is supposed to keep the rest together?

They did check the brakes !.only mention engine and gearbox.

regards Worgeordie

TAXI !

Durn...this caused a lot of officials to lose out on corruption kick-backs for a new buses procurement. Getting harder to make a good living in the govt.

They did check the brakes !.only mention engine and gearbox.

regards Worgeordie

Brakes, brakes are they important?

There is nothing wrong with upgrading old crap , however it tends to give you crap in return , there is no guarantee reliability built into an upgrade, however I wish them luck , the maintenance after upgrade will be the telling feature here. and the sad part it could cost more than the procurement of more modern safe buses..........................

The Bangkok non air conditioned bus fleet has always struck me as being particularly rugged and simple. If properly renovated I would hope that they can continue to provide reliable and cheap service.

Armed with Nancy Chandlers map I used them to explore Bangkok when I first came here. Great fun.

I could never master the knack of keeping my bus fare in my ear though!

Does any one remember those green minibuses? 20 seated, 30 standing, 8 hanging out the doors, and driven by a psychopath on day release from the asylum, with ambitions to progress to formula one! Now that was living in the fast lane....

Ill never forget one careering past me on Sukhumvit, making smoke like a WW2 destroyer out of a Douglas Reaman novel!

Those buses are orange now.

Buses are fine with new brakes. How about teaching and controlling the Idiots driving them. Oh! we can't do drug or alcohol test but in 10 years how many more will die.

The Bangkok non air conditioned bus fleet has always struck me as being particularly rugged and simple. If properly renovated I would hope that they can continue to provide reliable and cheap service.

Armed with Nancy Chandlers map I used them to explore Bangkok when I first came here. Great fun.

I could never master the knack of keeping my bus fare in my ear though!

Does any one remember those green minibuses? 20 seated, 30 standing, 8 hanging out the doors, and driven by a psychopath on day release from the asylum, with ambitions to progress to formula one! Now that was living in the fast lane....

Ill never forget one careering past me on Sukhumvit, making smoke like a WW2 destroyer out of a Douglas Reaman novel!

The small green busses have 'moved up', upcountry that is I believe. Mind you I regularly take bus 14 from Victory Monument and some are just as amazing.

BTW with prices now at 9 or 13 Baht (at least on the line I use) I haven't seen any Thai keeping their fare in the ear for a long time already.

Durn...this caused a lot of officials to lose out on corruption kick-backs for a new buses procurement. Getting harder to make a good living in the govt.

Renovations must be paid for as well. Any money changing hands can leave a few baht stuck to greasy palms along the way. Then there are parts to be bought and all kinds of little niches to over inflate prices. Its a gold mine.

Glue and Sellotape comes to mind

The Bangkok non air conditioned bus fleet has always struck me as being particularly rugged and simple. If properly renovated I would hope that they can continue to provide reliable and cheap service.

Armed with Nancy Chandlers map I used them to explore Bangkok when I first came here. Great fun.

I could never master the knack of keeping my bus fare in my ear though!

Does any one remember those green minibuses? 20 seated, 30 standing, 8 hanging out the doors, and driven by a psychopath on day release from the asylum, with ambitions to progress to formula one! Now that was living in the fast lane....

Ill never forget one careering past me on Sukhumvit, making smoke like a WW2 destroyer out of a Douglas Reaman novel!

Great post. Those were the days.

Renovating the air conditioned buses might make good sense but how about all of the very old buses which are not air conditioned ? Many of these buses seem overly long when the wheelbase is considered.

The Bangkok non air conditioned bus fleet has always struck me as being particularly rugged and simple. If properly renovated I would hope that they can continue to provide reliable and cheap service.

Armed with Nancy Chandlers map I used them to explore Bangkok when I first came here. Great fun.

I could never master the knack of keeping my bus fare in my ear though!

Does any one remember those green minibuses? 20 seated, 30 standing, 8 hanging out the doors, and driven by a psychopath on day release from the asylum, with ambitions to progress to formula one! Now that was living in the fast lane....

Ill never forget one careering past me on Sukhumvit, making smoke like a WW2 destroyer out of a Douglas Reaman novel!

Great post. Those were the days.

Fareway to heaven.jpg

Oh yes, I'd forgotten about the lass whose job was to hang out of the side door shouting abuse at all the other road users!

Happy days indeed

This project coming out of the same place that just had a 1.6 billion baht embezzlement scandal...

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/110861

Kittisak was accused of being a key man who could provide mystery in the controversial embezzlement of over 1.6 billion baht in cash from the KMITL’s bank accounts in Siam Commercial Bank’s Srinakarin branch.

Earlier the police have arrested eleven suspects who included the KMITL former executives and the former branch bank manager Songklod Sriprasong in the embezzlement conspiracy.

The Bangkok non air conditioned bus fleet has always struck me as being particularly rugged and simple. If properly renovated I would hope that they can continue to provide reliable and cheap service.

Armed with Nancy Chandlers map I used them to explore Bangkok when I first came here. Great fun.

I could never master the knack of keeping my bus fare in my ear though!

Does any one remember those green minibuses? 20 seated, 30 standing, 8 hanging out the doors, and driven by a psychopath on day release from the asylum, with ambitions to progress to formula one! Now that was living in the fast lane....

Ill never forget one careering past me on Sukhumvit, making smoke like a WW2 destroyer out of a Douglas Reaman novel!

I loved the older buses with Buffalo in full gallop

This project coming out of the same place that just had a 1.6 billion baht embezzlement scandal...

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/110861

Kittisak was accused of being a key man who could provide mystery in the controversial embezzlement of over 1.6 billion baht in cash from the KMITL’s bank accounts in Siam Commercial Bank’s Srinakarin branch.

Earlier the police have arrested eleven suspects who included the KMITL former executives and the former branch bank manager Songklod Sriprasong in the embezzlement conspiracy.

But.....That was last year...the KMITL is a fine institution.......

I'm sure someone is doing very nicely from this bus refurbishment scam....

Buses are fine with new brakes. How about teaching and controlling the Idiots driving them. Oh! we can't do drug or alcohol test but in 10 years how many more will die.

In many cases --take all the chimps out of the zoo to man the buses---better drivers and will not flee the scene at accident.

Renovating the air conditioned buses might make good sense but how about all of the very old buses which are not air conditioned ? Many of these buses seem overly long when the wheelbase is considered.

Why not while they are at it, put seats on the roof to save the students laying down.

That familiar adage... putting lipstick on a pig, in this case 671 of them... comes to mind...

Glue and Sellotape comes to mind

At least upgrade and use the good stuff. Duct Tape,

I think the Who said it better.

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around me

Pick up my guitar and play

Just like yesterday

And I'll get on my knees and pray

We don't get fooled again

No, no!

Edited March 5, 201610 yr by BigBadGeordie

With a supposed emphasis on better business by BMTA, one could hope for an article mentioning the cost of reconditioning 671 buses.

Further, if one were deleriously optimistic, one could hope for a comparison of costs for refurbishment versus buying new buses.

One could be disappointed.

Edited March 5, 201610 yr by phoenixdoglover

Why is the rebuild cost 1.000.000 baht in Ratchaburi and 800.000 baht in Bangkok ( from earlier report )

Lets see who gets the 200.000 baht

The Bangkok non air conditioned bus fleet has always struck me as being particularly rugged and simple. If properly renovated I would hope that they can continue to provide reliable and cheap service.

Armed with Nancy Chandlers map I used them to explore Bangkok when I first came here. Great fun.

I could never master the knack of keeping my bus fare in my ear though!

Does any one remember those green minibuses? 20 seated, 30 standing, 8 hanging out the doors, and driven by a psychopath on day release from the asylum, with ambitions to progress to formula one! Now that was living in the fast lane....

Ill never forget one careering past me on Sukhumvit, making smoke like a WW2 destroyer out of a Douglas Reaman novel!

That was when there was just one Aircon route, maybe two: the number 5 was one of them. Cost an outrageous 3 Baht , increased to 5 within a few years. The 1/2 service also had an aircon service in the 80s.