Traffic-clogged Bangkok, Thailand opens city's 1st

[Shit-Spattered Dog]

Traffic-clogged Bangkok, Thailand opens city's 1st subway line

 

Feel free to move this post to the less viewed "News" section.

 

Pruned this off the web tonight. But I read last year there are no transfer stations within it to the overhead Skytrain. So it mean you have to take a car or taxi to connect with Skytrain and vis versa. Doesn't reach out to the new airport neither.

 

I'm sure it useful, because they spent$2.75 billion US on it. Here my challenge: someone ride it end to end and report on it usefullnes. This report should include the many hotels which cater to the sanuk crowd, and nightlife zones, bars beers hall, etc.

Timing is crictial. How long does it take ride from one zone to the other? Opening hours closing hours. Safety. Also your general feeling if the $2.75 Billion is well spent.

 

Canadian Press

Saturday, July 03, 2004

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's king inaugurated Bangkok's first subway line Saturday, which city officials hope will help ease the capital's notoriously congested traffic.

The new $2.75-billion US ($3.64-billion Cdn) subway complements an elevated rail system - called the Skytrain - which has been running since December 1999. The subway system, intended to serve more than 200,000 passengers a day, initially has a single 20-kilometre line spanning 18 stations from central Bangkok to outlying areas.

Thousands of people gathered at Hualamphong Station - also the capital's main railway terminus - for the subway's inauguration by 76-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, accompanied by Queen Sirikit and their daughter, Crown Princess Sirindhorn.

The royal family performed an opening ceremony and then boarded a train for a special first run. The public was allowed to ride later Saturday.

Thailand's infamous traffic jams improved after the opening of the Skytrain and an elevated highway system, but have worsened again in recent years.

[Pom Michael]

There are three transfer points (Saladaeng - Rama 4 / Silom Intersection), (Asoke - Sukhumvit / Asoke Intersection) and (Morchit). There does not seem (yet) to be a commen payment ticket system, although until 12 Aug the Subway is a flat 10 baht per ride.

[ultras67]

Went on it yesterday.

 

It was pretty good but still needs some improvement with signs for exits - unless you read them carefully you could end up back on the platform. More exits turnstiles would be good as well - there are only 2 and the queues to get out were about 40 yards long.

 

Went from Silom ( or as they now call it Si Lom ) up to Fortune City in about 15 minutes. Rama 9 Station.

 

For the soapies go to either Thailand Cultural centre or Huai Kwang and maybe Sutthisan depending on your destination.

 

For Soi Cowboy go to Sukhumwit and of course for Patpong its Si Lom.

 

The platforms at Silom are too narrow. Any more than five people waiting in line at one of the door entrances means you need to walk through them to get along the platform.

 

The cars need more grab handles especially at the door areas. There is only one pole at the centre and nothing else to hang onto, so if its crowded you will be doing a balancing act and hoping you dont fall over.

 

But why call the station Chatuchak and not Mor Chit like the BTS? A few people might get confused at that one.

 

Before the common payment system works they will need to think about it quite a lot. On the subway for a single journey you get a little black disc which you tap on a panel on the turnstile ( obviously some receiver / transmitter / magnetic job there in the disc ) and for a multiple you palce the card on the panel and of course on the BTS you slide the card through a slot. Cards that can go through the BTS slot but still activate the panel - dont know how much money that would cost. Might even be better to upgrade the BTS turnstiles.