Sky Strain
Sky Strain
June 23rd, 2009Ten years on, is the BTS still on track? To find out, BK speaks to its top brass. By Top Koaysomboon, Melissa Largent
and Narisa Pokunchana, photography by Kristin Lannge
This December, the BTS will celebrate its 10th year of operation. It’s already had its first mini-anniversary party with the opening of the much delayed Wongwian Yai extension. But despite the obvious benefits that the skytrain has made to getting around our congested city, are we really happy with the service we’re getting?
After all, anyone using the Silom or Sukhumvit line at rush hour will tell you that the capacity is currently stretched to the limit: crowded trains, full platforms and lengthy waits are just some of the complaints being leveled against the BTS.
So what exactly are the people in charge doing about it and what are their plans for the future? To find out, we put your list of issues to Surapong Laoha-Unya, Director and Chief Operating Officer of the BTS to see where we are and what the future has in store for us, their humble passengers.
What most bothers you about the BTS?
Chutaporn Kettipchumratscang
23, a part-time salesperson
who uses the BTS every day
"Since the new stations opened, I’ve noticed that the trains run much slower and they’re so crowded. I get on at Saphan Taksin Station and there used to be lots of seats, but now everyone getting on at Wongwian Yai means I have to stand."
The Cause:
Surapong Laoha-Unya: “You have to remember that the extension to the Silom Line is still in its test period and won’t be officially opened until August. We admit that we planned for less passengers to be getting on at Taksin and Surasak stations after the new stations opened but this hasn’t proved to be the case.”
The solution:
SL: “We are now in the process of changing the frequencies of the trains so that people shouldn’t have to wait for more than four minutes. Before, every train had to go all the way to Wongwian Yai before returning. Under the new system, during the rush hour (7:30-8:30am and 5:30-6:30pm), there will be two empty trains that run between National Stadium and Surasak to add more frequency and pick up the extra people at Saladaeng and Siam, two of the worse affected stations.”
Rodjana Somsupap
22, a sales assistant
who uses the train every day
"I have definitely noticed that there are now too many people using the service. The packed carriages mean I often have to wait for the next train or even two trains."
The Cause:
SL: “Back in 2000 when the BTS first started, we saw around 160,000 passengers per day travelling on the sky train. This figure has now risen to around 400,000 people a day but obviously using the same number of trains and stations.”
The solution:
SL: “The BTS has actually invested US$70 million (B2.4 billion) in 12 new trains each with four carriages (the current trains have three carriages). They are set to be delivered by the end of the year but they won’t be ready to enter service until early next year. These new trains will be used on the Silom line while the old carriages will be moved over in preparation for the extension to the Sukhumvit line.”
Jane Pornwadee
26, an assistant manager
who uses the BTS daily
"I catch the train at Saphan Taksin station every day, which is really handy, but I’ve heard a rumor that it’s going to close now that the new stations have opened in Thonburi."
The Cause:
SL: “The thing was Saphan Taksin was actually only ever meant to be a temporary station while we finished the extension over the river. This is why it is actually so close to Surasak station and why it was built with only one platform.”
The Solution:
SL: “This rumor was reported in the papers a while ago. Since then we received a tremendous response from local residents demanding that we keep the station open. Now we are looking into adding an extra platform and are currently running a study to see how to do this most effectively without causing too many disruptions to the existing service.”
Manapat Singtha
30, a graphic designer
who only uses the BTS a few times a month
"I like the BTS because it’s fast, and I can control my travelling time but the trouble is the stations don’t cover where I want to go"
The Cause:
SL: “Again we would point to political issues and financial problems as causing delays to our planned extension projects. However, there is also the additional issue that it’s not always easy to build new lines through the crowded city. For example, the planned extension from National Stadium to Pran Nok is particularly difficult because it will have to pass through the old town.”
The solution:
SL: “There are a number of extensions already in the pipeline. The next project due for completion is the line from Wongwianyai to Bang Wa scheduled to finish in mid-2011. The Mochit-Saphan Mai and Baering-Samut Prakarn lines are also due to be finished within four to five years, while the National Stadium to Pran Nok line should be completed within the next seven years.”
Songwoot Wattanapan
29, IT consultant who uses
the BTS five times a week
"The BTS is quite expensive when compared to similar services in other countries which have a larger network coverage and higher living costs."
The Cause:
SL: ”Ticket prices are actually planned to increase but we can’t confirm exactly when. This is based on our existing contract with the BMA which means ticket prices are directly related to the consumer price index and inflation.”
The solution:
SL: “2009 is actually the first year the BTS will make a profit, now that the restructuring of debts on overseas loans was agreed with the courts in October 2008.”
Average Number of Passengers per Day
Sonia boonchanasukit
24, an editor
who catches the BTS at On Nut
"I live in Bang Na and I’ve watched the new extension to Soi Baering being built for over three years now. Why has it taken so long and when will it be finished?"
The Cause:
SL: “We admit that political issues have certainly played a major factor in the delays to this project. Also our well documented financial problems (caused by taking an overseas loans and the devaluation of the Baht) have not helped speed up this process.”
The solution:
SL: “All the building work should be completed in August or September but then we need to put in all the signaling, communication and ticketing systems. We estimate that this will need at least 1.5-2 years. Still if things go as planned it is highly possible that we can use the extended line in December 2010 as the Bangkok Governor claimed.”
Worawit Tangdamrongtham
35, business owner
who used to take the BTS every day
but now drives to work instead
"I think they should improve on the ticketing system. You have to go and queue to exchange your bill to get the coins, then you have to queue for the tickets, then, you have to wait in line to enter. There should also be a single ticket system for the MRT and BTS it’s really annoying having to carry around two cards all the time"
THE CAUSE:
SL: “The BTS and the MRT currently use different formats of tickets that actually come from two different suppliers. The only way we could make the existing cards work for both would be to change our ticketing gates which would cost a huge amount of money.”
The solution:
SL: “We are currently running a special study which uses a new joint ticket or E-money ticket that can be used on both services.
If all goes well, this should be ready for use next year.”
Saransri Prawatpattanakul,
27, a public relations officer
who takes the BTS to work
"I really can’t stand the noisy advertising. I’m sick of it!!"
The Cause:
SL: “Actually, the Suan Dusit poll conducted a survey on behalf of the BTS and they found that around 80-90% of passengers actually enjoy watching the TV while riding on the train.”
The solution:
SL: “We do ensure that we don’t have the volume too loud so that it doesn’t irritate people who don’t want to watch it.”
Global Training
Compared to our BTS (B15-40), how much does a single trip cost in other cities?
Hong Kong MTR B13 From HK$3.00
Tokyo Metro B57 From ¥160
KL Monorail B12-24 From R1.20-2.50
Paris Metro B65 Euro 1.40
Singapore BTS B15 SG$0.165
New York Subway B68 US$2
London Underground B224 £4
