.. Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 NOTE: This was approved. +++++++++++++ http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=34996 MRTA to propose resuming subway service BANGKOK, JAN 20 (TNA) - The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has proposed a partial reopening of the Bangkok subway system in a bid to ease the capital's traffic woes. The network was shut down earlier this week after an underground train crash which injured more than 100 people, some of them seriously. MRTA head Prapat Chongsanguan said he would urge the operator of the Bangkok's first subway systerm, Bangkok Metro Company Limited (BMCL), to find marketing strategies to restore commuter confidence. Free rides should be offered to passengers before the service officially reopens,Mr. Prapat said. Initially, the subway may be available from Bangsue station to Ratchada station, and from Hualamphong station to Phra Ram IX station. The Thai Cultural Center station, where the collision occurred on Monday, should remain closed, he said. The head of the accident investigating team, Police Major General Kamol Kaewsuwan, said interviews with witnesses and officials had pointed to staff negligence as the cause of the crash. Police would also question technical specialists from Siemens AG, the German maker of the subway trains, before filing any charges against those staff responsible.(TNA)-E004 ++++++++ http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Subway/crash.shtml Things being done at the Thai Cultural Centre station - translated and summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi from Manager Daily, January 24, 2005: The Thailand Cultural Center station needs some repair before resuming full services: 1) Track replacement since the crash damaged the steel rails [uIC54 -> smaller than UIC60 track used in Kuala Lumpur's STAR LRT and PUTRA LRT] 2) Screen door system - needs to be reconfigured so doors open automatically during accidents. 3) Signals - the signal system was been damaged by the crash. Commentary by Wisarut (a knowledgable train buff): Additional reparation I wish MRTA would do immediately: 1) 3rd rail at all parts of the depot to prevent such an accident in the same way BTS has done. 2) Moving the track switchings further away from the gate of the tunnel. 3) Correcting the grading of tunnel from 4% to 2% 4) Reconfiguring subway gate to be opened immediately after the accident +++++++++ Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickfarang Posted January 26, 2005 Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 It sounds like it will be quite a long time before the Thai Cultural Center Station is opened again. Let's hope they take lessons learned into account when designing extensions, and maybe even do a little inductive thinking to anticipate problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted January 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2005 Well, not if they do not do the last four. Those are just suggestions by a knowledgabe hobbiest. Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gummigut Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 Took 50 minutes for me to get from Fortune to Asoke and Sukhumvit. Can't open the subway sooner for my liking! <<burp>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krml Posted January 30, 2005 Report Share Posted January 30, 2005 Maybe not. According the article in The Nation BANGKOK SUBWAY: Authority threatens to halt opening Published on January 30, 2005 MRTA demands contract change for bigger say on safety The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) yesterday demanded a substantial amendment to the subway concession contract signed with private operator Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL) in return for the latter to reopen the service. MRTA chief Prapat Jongsa-nguan said contract changes were necessary so as to increase public safety following the January 17 crash, in which hundreds of commuters were injured. He said that the state agency, which awarded the contract to BMCL to operate the subway service, would not allow the private firm to resume its operation unless it agreed to the contract amendment. The subway service, the first of its kind in Bangkok, was suspended on January 17 after an empty train accidentally ran into another train with 700 passengers onboard, resulting in hundreds of people being injured. According to an informed source, the MRTA demanded to be empowered under the contract with BMCL to closely supervise the public-safety aspects of the subway operation following the crash, which has hurt commuter confidence. Under the contract, signed in 2000, the state agency does not have direct authority to intervene in the private firm?s operations. ?BMCL was told that it?s supposed to accept the contract changes by the end of tomorrow or else the firm would not have approval to reopen the subway on February 1 as scheduled,? the source said. Essentially, the contract amendment would require BMCL to overhaul its system-operating plan and appoint MRTA representatives on its operation and maintenance committees as well as its safety committee. Second, both parties are required to hold joint meetings on public safety at least once a month. Third, MRTA officials must be appointed as co-chief controllers on train services, and Siemens, which supplied the train system, must provide additional training to MRTA and BMCL personnel at the latter firm?s expense. Fourth, BMCL must hire foreign experts on subway operations as consultants for an entire year one month after service is resumed. Fifth, BMCL must reorganise the management of its subway service to ensure maximum safety for the public. Sixth, all personnel operating the trains, the signalling system and train maintenance services will be required to pass technical tests to qualify for licences to be issued by the MRTA. Meanwhile a banking source said commercial banks that provided loans to BMCL would have to endorse the contract changes before the private firm could agree to the changes as sought by MRTA. Krung Thai, Bank of Ayudhya, Siam City Bank and Thai Military Bank are the firm?s major creditors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gummigut Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Yah, I read that today also. Piece of crap!!! <<burp>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted January 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Maybe there is still hope... http://nationmultimedia.com/2005/01/31/national/index.php?news=national_16252950.html +++++++++++ SUBWAY: Suriya to decide on re-opening Published on January 31, 2005 Transport officials, operator BMCL at odds over date of service?s resumption Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreang-kit will decide today whether the subway system can re-open tomorrow following the suspension of services after an accident on January 17. ?The transport minister will have the final say,? MRTA governor Prapas Chongsanguan said yesterday. The collision between two trains, which injured more than 200 passengers, prompted the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) to demand amendments in the concession contract granted to the subway operator, Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (BMCL). Prapas said Suriya would decide on whether the subway should be allowed to resume operations after he was briefed on the planned amendments. The MRTA had demanded that the BMCL sign the amended contract by 10am today if it wanted to resume services tomorrow. But BMCL said it would not be able to meet the deadline because as a public company it had to get approval from its shareholders and creditors before signing the amended contract. Prapas said that the MRTA and BMCL had already agreed on most of the planned amendments that address safety concerns. They remain divided on just one main point: whether the regulator hired by MRTA or the one hired by BMCL should make final decisions during operations, and what their respective roles and responsibilities would be. Prapas said he expected BMCL shareholders would approve the planned amendments because everyone should give first priority to safety. BMCL executive Sombat Kijjalak said the company would not object if the MRTA regulator took charge of train traffic, provided it was more experienced and capable than BMCL?s regulator. ?We just need to clarify that for efficient operations,? he said. He said the details of this issue could be tackled later, and expected a clear framework on the scope of responsibilities of the regulators to be ready by March 1. Sombat said BMCL had lost income of about Bt2.3 million a day due to the suspension of services. The subway operator staged emergency drills during the past two weeks to ensure that passengers could be evacuated quickly in case of fire or bomb threats and that officials responded efficiently to control the situation. Necessary repairs were also carried out on the track and stations. ?We are now ready to resume our services, both in terms of tracks and personnel,? Sombat said. He said Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and some Cabinet members would ride the subway today to boost public confidence in the underground system. +++++++++ Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didierhardy Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Confirmed, subway has opened this morning. Took a ride to work. WCA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Hi, "Confirmed, subway has opened this morning. Took a ride to work." From which station? Huaykwang? Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
didierhardy Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Praram 9 WC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.