Bangkok Skytrain
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Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) or Skytrain (Thai: รถไฟฟ้า) is the elevated metro system in Bangkok, Thailand, operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The Skytrain with 23 stations along 2 lines, was opened on December 5, 1999 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The Sukhumvit line runs northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and On Nut respectively; the Silom line plies Silom and Sathon, the Central Business District of Bangkok, terminating at the National Stadium and Saphan Taksin (Taksin Bridge). The lines interchange at Siam station and have a combined route distance of 23 km. The Skytrain is formally known as the Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday (รถไฟฟ้าเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 6 รอบ พระชนมพรรษา) because it was opened to the public on HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 72nd birthday.
Bangkok also has a subway system called the MRT or unofficially the Metro.
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[edit] History
The only railbound MRT system was initially referred to as the Lavalin Skytrain because it was to be designed using the Vancouver SkyTrain as a model adopting the technology developed by SNC Lavalin. Due to 'political interference', the concession with Lavalin was cancelled in 1992, in spite of Bangkok's chronic traffic congestion. The Thai Government focused on increasing road and expressway infrastructure in an attempt to combat congestion. However, this had less than the desired impact as the number of cars on the road increased dramatically. The lines considered under the skytrain project became later the basis for the Bangkok Metro system and interesting enough are mainly underground.
In the early 1990s, foundations for the Lavalin Skytrain were constructed in the middle of two bridges spanning the Chao Phraya river. The Taksin bridge now supports the under-construction Silom line to Thon Buri, scheduled be completed by June 2007 [1]. The support at Phra Pokklao bridge remain unused but may be utilised as part of the MRT's future Purple Line.
Shortly after the it became clear that the Lavalin Skytrain got stalled, then-governor Major-General Chamlong Srimuang asked his deputy Krisda Arunvongse na Ayutthaya to create a new feeder system with a route along Sukhumvit and Silom Rd. Krisda, who in the same period got elected governor himself, and his team from BMA managed to find an investor to build it. Krisda also convinced all to let the city supervise the project. The investor founded Bangkok Transit System Corporation and this company successfully financed the system and grew it from a feeder system to a full mass transit project. Siemens as supplier of the railway technology and the Thai contractor Italian Thai Development built the system for BTSC.
The 'Skytrain' name was given to the system later by the press. It stuck and will likely be kept even though the portion of system through the historic Rattana Kosin island will one day be below grade.
Originally, the Skytrain depot was to be built in Lumphini Park, but due to widespread objections from Bangkok residents it was constructed on a parcel of land located along Phahon Yothin Road, replacing the old Northern/Northeastern bus terminal (Mo Chit). The current depot at Mo Chit is a part of the proposed 'Bangkok Terminal' project, where a large complex comprising a new regional bus terminal, park & ride facility and other commercial development can be built directly above it.
Thanayong Public Company Limited (Thai บริษัท ธนายง จำกัด (มหาชน)) had a 28.21% stake in BTSC when the Skytrain began, and therefore in its early days the system was sometimes referred to as the "Thanayong Skytrain".
The Skytrain initially had lower-than-predicted ridership, with 200,000 passenger trips per day. Ticket revenue was only enough to meet the trains' operating cost, and not sufficient to service construction loans. However, the Skytrain's daily passenger numbers have steadily increased since then. On December 9, 2005, more than 500,000 single trips were made on the Skytrain in a single day for the first time. BTSC is currently planning to purchase more trains and is studying the possibility of putting 6-car trains into service. The company will implement a contactless ticketing system in 2006, allowing both BTS and MRT passengers to use their RFID smart cards as joint tickets starting in 2007.
[edit] Station layout
All the stations to the skytrain are elevated. The platforms are built to accommodate trains of 6 cars, but trains of only 3 cars are in operation.
The first elevated level of the stations is accessed with stairs and often escalators, and contain the ticket booths, some small kiosk-like shops and access control gates. The second level (and third at Siam station) is again accessed with stairs and escalators and contains the platforms and rails. Siam station is unique in the way that it is the only BTS station utilizing an island platform to facilitate transfer between lines. All of the other stations are built with side platforms. Additionally, many stations are equipped with ramps and elevators which allow wheelchair-bound passengers to access the ticketing hall and platform from the street level. The distance between doors is equal throughout the train, regardless of whether they are in the same or different cars and the locations where the doors will be after the train has stopped are marked on the platform. For security and safety, security personnel are stationed at every platform and all ticketing halls.
Three Skytrain stations, Sala Daeng, Asok and Mo Chit, serve as interchanges with the MRT. Saphan Taksin station is connected to the adjacent Sathon pier where the all Chao Phraya Express river boat services call. Many stations are linked by 'Skybridges' (overhead pedestrian walkways) to neighbouring buildings and public amenities.
Consumption of food or drink is forbidden.
[edit] Ticketing
For single-trip and store-value ticket holders fares are calculated according to distance, but adult / student / tourist passes for limited / unlimited train rides are also available. Although it currently uses magnetic farecards, which require replacement once every 2 years, the Skytrain will be adopting RFID contactless technology in its ticketing system, similar to those presently being used in the MRT.
[edit] Station list
[edit] Sukhumvit Line
- Mo Chit – interchange with the Metro (Chatuchak Park station), named after the old Bus Terminal
- Saphan Khwai
- Sena Ruam (planned)
- Ari
- Sanam Pao
- Victory Monument (Anutsawari Chai Samoraphum) – footbridge to Century Movie Plaza
- Phaya Thai – interchange with Suvarnabhumi (Suwannaphum) Airport Rail Link (Light Red Line) in late 2007
- Ratchathewi – footbridge to the Asia Hotel
- Siam – interchange with Silom Line; named for its proximity to Siam Square; footbridge to Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Central World Plaza shopping complexes
- Chit Lom – Erawan Shrine; footbridge to Central Chitlom department store, Gaysorn (Keson) shopping mall and Central World Plaza
- Phloen Chit – footbridge to Wave Place
- Nana
- Asok – interchange the Metro (Sukhumvit station), footbridge to the Sheraton Grand hotel, Times Square shopping center and Robinson department store.
- Phrom Phong – Benjasiri Park; footbridge to The Emporium shopping mall
- Thong Lo – Japanese district
- Ekkamai – Eastern Bus Terminal
- Phra Khanong
- On Nut – footbridge to Tesco Lotus
[edit] Silom Line
- National Stadium (Suphachalasai Stadium สนามกีฬาศุภชลาศัย) – footbridge to MBK Center, Tokyu department store and Siam Discovery Centre
- Siam – interchange with Sukhumvit Line; footbridge to Siam Center, Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza
- Ratchadamri
- Sala Daeng – interchange with the Metro (Si Lom station); footbridges to Central Silom Complex, Robinson, Thaniya Center and J-City. Patpong Night market is within walking distance
- Chong Nonsi
- Sueksa Witthaya (planned)
- Surasak
- Saphan Taksin – interchange with the Chao Phraya Express Boat (Sathon pier)
- Charoen Nakhon (to be opened 2007)
- Wongwian Yai (to be opened 2007)
[edit] Route extension
Planned extensions to the Skytrain were stalled by the previous government, but since the coup, a new project schedule has been announced. It seems that now work on the Onnut-Samrong extension is scheduled to be complete in February 2009 (in thai). [2] Previous expectations of the Taksin extension will not make the expected date of December 2006, however, plans and construction for the SRT Airport Link, which will connect at BTS Phaya Thai station and MRT Petchaburi Station are still scheduled for late 2007.
Since 2002, the cabinet was requested to amend a law in order to allow a private firm to finance the cost of operating the train system, while the government takes care of all the civil engineering works. The government has not responded to this request. Many accuse the government, controlled by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party, of stalling the Skytrain extensions in order to punish the BMA, which is controlled by the opposition Democrat Party, by doing so hoping to prevent the Democrats from gaining popularity among Bangkok residents. On October 18, 2005, with no approval from the central government forthcoming, the BMA decided to seek to complete the Wong Wian Yai extension using its own budget. Prime Minister Thaksin has pledged to make every effort to block the BMA's move[3] but his attempt backfired, resulting in a plunge of popularity for his beleaguered Thai Rak Thai party among Bangkok voters, particularly in the Thonburi wards.
Constructions of the 2.2 km Silom Line route extension (S7 Charoen Nakhon & S8 Wongwian Yai) began on December 13, 2005 and is expected to be completed within a year. Led by Governor Apirak Kosayothin, the BMA completed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on other proposed extensions in early December 2005 and is currently seeking financial support from the central government on four other extension routes. If granted, priorities will be given to the E9 On Nut - Samrong (Soi Sukhumvit 119) and S8 Wongwian Yai - Bang Wa (Th. Phetchakasem) extensions and construction could begin immediately.
The extension plan for the BTS can be summarised as follows:
[edit] Phase I
- On Nut – Samrong (terminating at Sukhumvit Soi 119) – 8.9 km, Now, shortened to Onnut - Bearing (terminating at Sukhumvit 107, the border pole of BMA) – 5.2 km. The rest has been pushed to Phase II
- Saphan Taksin – Wong Wian Yai (terminating at Th. Somdet Chao Phraya) – 2.2 km
- Mo Chit – Saphan Mai – 12 km
[edit] Phase II
- Samrong – Samut Prakan – 7.9 km (Now Bearing - Samrong - Samut Prakarn - with total distance of 10.6 km)
- Wong Wian Yai – Bang Wa (terminating at Th. Phetchakasem) – 4.5 km
- National Stadium – Phran Nok (terminating at Th. Charan Sanit Wong) – 6.8 km
It is estimated that most of the extension plans above will be completed by 2010 or 2012 at the latest, though political bickering has gotten in the way in the past. Note that these plans do not include the extensions proposed for the MRT.
[edit] Maps of the existing lines and proposed extension plans
- Download the System Map of Bangkok Rail Transit Network in PDF format
- Download the Master Plan of Bangkok Transport Network in PDF format
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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