BTS Ticket Fare Should Not Be Increased

[Jai Dee]

BTS ticket fare should not be increased

Mr. Yuthapong Charas-sathian (ยุทธพงศ์ จรัสเสถียร), the Deputy Spokesman of Democrat Party, will submit a proposal to Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, asking the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to suppress the increase of the fares of Bangkok Mass Transit (BTS) Skytrain fares.

The adjustment of BTS ticket prices is scheduled to be effective on the 1st of December 2006, while the minimum price is currently set at 15 baht. Mr. Anat Arpapirom (อาณัติ อาภาภิรม), the BTS Board Advisor, explained that the fares need to be raised because the costs of operation have risen such as utility, gasoline, and maintenance fees. Moreover, since the BTS has operated for seven year, the fares of the skytrain never increase at all.

However, the BTS already sent a notification letter to Mr. Apirak since the 24th of October, but the letter contains no evidences to clarify about the rising costs.

According to the concession contract number 13.2 which states the maximum ceiling of the fare at 15 baht, and at present, the utility and gasoline fees have been reduced. Therefore, BMA has the right to halt the raise of BTS fares.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 13 November 2006

[allane]

Gasoline???? The skytrain is electric.

[chickengeorge]

Costs must have gone up. I see nothing wrong with a small increase. It's a business not a charity service. Just wish they spent some money buying more trains or adding carriages. It's a really uncomfortable ride a certain times of the day.

[dantilley]

Don't think they should increase it, as it's only really good value for money when traveling alone right now.

If you have two or more people, I think all except the single station 10 baht journeys would be cheaper in a taxi.

[Ijustwannateach]

There is a time improvement which is worth the higher cost at certain times of day, though...

Higher oil charges result in higher energy costs all across the board; however, they should phase these increases in more gradually- they already had a huge increase in the multi-trip passes.

If this means they won't increase again for another 7 years and the new lines will actually be finished, I'd be inclined to accept the increases.

[Jai Dee]

BKK Governor orders BMA to study on whether increase in BTS ticket price can be suspended

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) has instructed the Bangkok Administration Administration (BMA) to study on whether BMA can suspend the increase in prices of BTS tickets or not.

After discussing with the Bangkok Transit System Company (BTSC) executives on the BTS pricing adjustment, he said that the conclusion of the matter has yet been issued although BTSC has explained its reason for the increase. BTSC further added that the increase in fares will benefit its debt structure, pay off implementing fee, and new tickets which can used for transit services. BTSC has been ordered to gather details and study the effect of the increase in prices of BTS tickets.

In the meantime, BMA will consider the details of the contract on whether it can suspend the price adjustment of BTS or not. Mr Apirak said the action for suspending the plan must be taken before December 1st.

The report said that the number of BTS customers is estimated at 400,000 people per day; therefore the increase in the skytrain fare will affect commuters. He has urged officials to find alternative measures to assist people as well.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

BTS to go ahead with fare increase

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Wednesday failed to convince Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTS) not to raise its Skytrain ticket prices from December 1.

Following the two-hour meeting with the city's executive committee on Skytrain project headed by Deputy Bangkok Governor Bannasopit Mekvichai and related officials, adviser to the BTS board Anat Abhabhirom said he had explained to the committee the four reasons for the Skytrain pricing adjustment.

They included the increase in operating costs such as electricity and tap water and that the hike was part of the company's business rehabilitation plan. In addition, the BTS now faced financial problems and the new fares were still within the fare ceiling previously set, according to Anat.

Starting from Thursday, the BTS will explain to the public about the need for the fare hike at all Skytrain stations, Anat said.

Source: The Nation - 16 November 2006

[johnnyk]

Fare hikes are necessary, the trick is to hike it without losing ridership.

Its impossible to run such systems at profit and nobody tries, in North America transit systems typically aim at approx. 40-60% cost recovery through the farebox. I used to work for the Toronto Transit Commission which regularly achieved 69-70% of its operating costs from the farebox. This was regarded as a miracle in the industry.

Transit systems are services for the common good with many of the payoffs not always apparent.

Payoffs include reduced traffic congestion and emissions, commercial, industrial and residential development of areas served by transit, convenience and so on.

They are pretty well always government funded and operated because the capital costs are very high. Generally governments have to borrow money somewhere to build them, usually they float loans or bonds so some of the revenue from the farebox/advertising/leases must be dedicated to debt servce. Private interests very seldom build BTS and subways as enough money can't be made to mitigate risk and to provide a decent ROI. To make any money at all fares would have to be so high that ridership would collapse.

Rapid transit systems also require serious maintenance of expensive equipment if they are to maintain safe and efficient service (trains/tracks/switching/guideways etc). All of this requires decent revenues or else the system falls into disrepair, people avoid riding it and down and down it goes.

Another problem is that BTS and subway systems need downtime for maintenance so they can't be run 24/7, more like 18/7. Though they run 18 hours a day the peak revenue periods really only exist for 6-8 hours, the catch is that costs are 24/7 with the exception of smaller train crews in the off-peak hours.

Costs continually increase and if fares don't keep pace then the money will have to come from other sources like taxes.

Its a pretty tricky business to get right.

Edited November 16, 2006 by johnnyk

[Barney_the_Dinosaur]

A fare rise might encourage some of the passengers to travel using alternative means. The BTS is always packed !!!

The original plan was to put more carriages on when load factors increased. Thats why the platforms are so much longer than the trains.

For some reason they haven't accomplished this.

[Firefan]

Maybe the could charge foreigners 10 times the going rate for Thais?

They do it elsewhere... Cheers!

[Losangels]

For some reason they haven't accomplished this.

I did question a staff about additional carraige during peak hours some time ago and her answer was that they increased the frequency of train arrivals during that time. Somehow my question wasn't answered or she didn't understand my question

One of the reasons they have to increase fares is to pay for all the monitors inside the train for in-your-face advertisments for all the passengers to enjoy

By the way they increased the fare couple months ago for monthy passes

[Jai Dee]

BTS executives have been invited to join a discussion concerning BTS fare adjustment

Executives of Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) have been invited to join a discussion concerning the BTS fare adjustment next week.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) said that Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and BTS executives will jointly find ways to suspend BTS fare adjustment, including measures relieving people’ s burdens. At the same time, BMA has submitted BTS a letter requesting BTS executives to postpone the plan to increase BTS ticket prices until the clearer details will be issued.

However, a meeting between BMA and BTS will hold a discussion next week to find its long-term solutions.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

BTS minimum fare to be kept at Bt10 till March 1

The minimum fare on Skytrain system will be fixed at Bt10 until March 1, its operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) announced Thursday following a heated negotiation with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

BTS initially planned to raise the minimum fare on its system from Bt10 to Bt15 from Friday onward.

However, BMA - which granted the concession to operate the Skytrain system to BTS has established a committee to review its fareadjustment plan and the committee suggested that the fare hike should be postponed.

"Please think about passengers who have just suffered from flooding problems," the committee's chairman and Bangkok Councillor Pipat Larbprathana said.

He also said BMA was planning to implement many extension routes of Skytrain system and the BTS would stand to receive higher income.

BTS has explained that it would have to raise the fare to cope with a 30percent increase in operating costs, but agreed to postpone the plan for three months.

Source: The Nation - 1 December 2006

[griser]

Maybe the could charge foreigners 10 times the going rate for Thais?

They do it elsewhere... Cheers!

Shaddup, Don't give em ideas!

Greg

[think_too_mut]

Maybe the could charge foreigners 10 times the going rate for Thais?

They do it elsewhere... Cheers!

Shaddup, Don't give em ideas!

Greg

Even worse, that may invite former boiler room staf, turned real estate agents, to double their write ups on this site about real estate prices always going up.

[think_too_mut]

Fare hikes are necessary, the trick is to hike it without losing ridership.

No drama there.

Those riding BTS won't be put off if the fare jacks up from 20 to 25 baht.

It would mean a 5 cents US$ rise, for people affluent enough to live in the (small) area covered by the BTS. Peanuts, by any standards.

[wave]

Why does the fare have to rise by 5 baht? Before any one says that the smallest denomination coin the machines accept is 5 baht it is not, they all accept 1baht coins as well. Try it.

wave

[RBWilson]

A fare rise might encourage some of the passengers to travel using alternative means. The BTS is always packed !!!

The original plan was to put more carriages on when load factors increased. Thats why the platforms are so much longer than the trains.

For some reason they haven't accomplished this.

Agreed - Try to get on an inbound train at Ratchathewi station between 0745-0845 any workday; it is virtually impossible. I had to wait for 5 trains last time before I could 'squeeze' in.

[Briggsy]

I'll still ride the BTS after this increase. This level of increase will not put me off particularly when the traffic is heaviest.

[dantilley]

Fare hikes are necessary, the trick is to hike it without losing ridership.

for people affluent enough to live in the (small) area covered by the BTS.

The stretch from PhayaThai up to Mo Chit is hardly what you'd call affluent, except for Ari.

[think_too_mut]

Fare hikes are necessary, the trick is to hike it without losing ridership.

for people affluent enough to live in the (small) area covered by the BTS.

The stretch from PhayaThai up to Mo Chit is hardly what you'd call affluent, except for Ari.

It's a peanuts money by any standards.

All those stations 300 meters apart , all day, they carry 420K people.

While BKK is 3 times the population of Norway, Tokyo is 28 mil people. Only Shinjuku station in Tokyo sees 2 million passengers a day.

I just think the SkyTrain fares in BKK should be abolished and the toy made available for free to the public. It is not making money anyway. And it is a mockery of public transport.

Such a big city with such a laughable public transport solution.

[dantilley]

So why do you think it's laughable? My experiences with the BTS have been mostly positive.

And as for the stations being 300 meters apart, it's still much preferable to walking the same distance.

[backflip]

"Tokyo is 28 mil people"

Only if you count everyone twice. The population of Tokyo is about 13 million, a fact that can be verified by a simple Google search. Accordingly, I'll assume that your posts are nothing but bunk.

[think_too_mut]

"Tokyo is 28 mil people"

Only if you count everyone twice. The population of Tokyo is about 13 million, a fact that can be verified by a simple Google search. Accordingly, I'll assume that your posts are nothing but bunk.

Have you counted Yokohama (4 mil) and other places that are Tokyo or tighly gravitate to it. There is no discontinuation of houses and buildings between Shinagawa and Yokohama. It's all like 1 place. Have you been to Tokyo at all?

Back to BTS ticket price:

The ferry from Staten Island to New York is free.

To penalize the motorists for using their cars, New Jersey and New York goverments jacked up the bridge tolls for the amount that covers ferries to ply the waters and be free.

BKK traffic jams will never be resolved unless they do something like "Big Dig" in Boston (that went over 20 billion $ in cost) which is unlikely.

[Briggsy]

No! No! Don't make it free (not that they ever would). Can you imagine what would you happen. Thousands of bloody hawkers would invade the trains and platforms laying claim to every square inch with their garbage. There would be no escape. I'm getting nightmare visions. We'd all have to walk on the track.