Economic stimulation should not be the only determinant to build a mass transit system: transport expert

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A transport expert said on Thursday that the Purple Line rail system from Taopoon to Bang Yai attracts smaller number of passengers than projection and is losing heavily despite fare cuts stems not from the route itself but from the problem of prioritization of development projects plus the lack of a function Plan B.

 

Offering his opinion in his Facebook page, Dr Pramual Suteecharuwat, former deputy director of Transport Institute of Chulalongkorn University, noted that a good mass transit system is the one which supports human activities, connects with people living in areas surrounding the project and encourages people to use the service throughout the day – not just traveling back and forth from home to office and vice versa.

 

Prioritization of mass transit development projects calls for consideration about which project should come first and which should come later and must correspond with town development and growth of the city so that the project will provide optimum benefits in order that the system will become popular and attract passengers instead of being deserted most of the time, said Dr Pramual, adding that route only should not be the main determinant whether a project should be implemented or not but other factors as well.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/economic-stimulation-should-not-be-the-only-determinant-to-build-a-mass-transit-system-transport-expert/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-11-10

In Thailand, the primary purpose of building new mass transport systems are the kickbacks the projects generate for the politicians.

The major problem with the Purple Line is that it didn't connect directly with the MRT station at Bang Sue.  This was a significant oversight -- maybe even negligence?

11 minutes ago, pookiki said:

The major problem with the Purple Line is that it didn't connect directly with the MRT station at Bang Sue.  This was a significant oversight -- maybe even negligence?

Some might refer to it as gross incompetence on a grand scale.

2 hours ago, ratcatcher said:

Some might refer to it as gross incompetence on a grand scale.

Negligence comes easy to those responsible for competence. Remember where you are !

Pro-active planning in Thailand is virtually non existent with the exception of planning how much anyone can make out of any 'project' that comes along.   As for ''Plan B''.....same rules as ''Plan A''  !

The Hua Hin/Pattaya ferry project springs to mind.  It is just conceivable that it will (eventually) go ahead, but , although  a great idea in principle, can it ever be profitable?  However, with the kudos and possible kick-backs involved in going ahead with the scheme, do the authorities really care about financial viability, since unlike the Rice Scheme, nobody in authority will ever be asked to bear any responsibility or be asked to repay any future losses.

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Prioritization of mass transit development projects calls for consideration about which project should come first

Really. I find it usually centres on funding. Its usually Babble On (Babylon) till the big stumbling block funding comes up. Then heads are scratched and everybody says "lets shelve it for now"