BTS Skytrain in Encyclopedia

The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known by its abbreviation as the BTS Skytrain (), is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The system consists of twenty-three stations along two lines: the Sukhumvit line running northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and On Nut respectively, and the Silom line which plies Silom and Sathon Roads, 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 55 km. The system is formally known as the Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday ().

History

The 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 April 2009. The supports at Phra Pin-klao bridge Phra Pin-klao 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 was 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 was elected governor, 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 Phahonyothin 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 ?????? ????? ????? (?????)) 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 system was officially opened on December 5 1999 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. It 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.

Station layout

The first elevated level of the stations contains 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. With the exception of Siam Station, the stations follow a side platform layout. Siam Station utilizes island platforms to facilitate cross-platform transfer between the two lines. Additionally, many stations have ramps and elevators to allow wheelchair-bound passengers to access the ticketing hall and platforms from the street. The distances between doors are 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. The platforms are built to accommodate trains of six cars, but trains of only three cars are in operation. For security and safety, security personnel are stationed at every platform and all ticketing halls.

Three Skytrain stations, Sala Daeng, Asok and Mo Chit, are interchanges with the underground MRT system. Saphan Taksin station is connected to the adjacent Sathon pier where the Chao Phraya Express Boat services call. Many stations are linked by 'Skybridges' (overhead pedestrian walkways) to neighbouring buildings and public amenities.

Consumption of food or drinks is forbidden past the ticketing gate or on the Skytrain.

Ticketing

For single-trip and stored-value ticket holders fares are calculated according to distance, but adult / student / tourist passes for limited / unlimited train rides are also available. Next to the magnetic fare cards, which require replacement once every two years, the Skytrain has adopted near-field contactless technology in its ticketing system, with the intent of becoming compatible with the system presently used in the MRT.

Stations

In the table below, an italicized name indicates that the station is a planned extension to the current line and not yet in operation.

Code	Station Name	Notes
Sukhumvit Line
N20	Saphan Mai (2010-2012)
N19	Sai Yut (Phahonyothin 57) (2010-2012)
N18	Lak Si Monument (Phahonyothin 50) (2010-2012)
N17	Wat Prasri Mathadhat (2010-2012)
N16	the 11th Infantry Regiment (2010-2012)
N15	Bang Bua (2010-2012)
N14	Royal Forestry Department (2010-2012)
N13	Kasetsart University (2010-2012)
N12	Sena Nikhom (2010-2012)
N11	Ratchayothin (2010-2012)
N10	Phahonyothin 24 (Satree Warranat) (2010-2012)
N9	Lat Phrao Intersection (2010-2012)
Vibhavadee (Planned, 2010-2012)
N8	Mo Chit	MRT Blue Line: Chatuchak Park Station Terminal station
N7	Saphan Khwai
N6	Sena Ruam (Planned)
N5	Ari
N4	Sanam Pao
N3	Victory Monument	BMTA bus lines
N2	Phaya Thai Skytrain StationPhaya Thai	Suvarnabhumi Airport Link: Phaya Thai Station (2009)
N1	Ratchathewi
CS	Siam	Interchange to Silom Line Tourist information office
E1	Chit Lom
E2	Phloen Chit
E3	Nana	Tourist information office
E4	Asok	MRT Blue Line: Sukhumvit Station
E5	Phrom Phong
E6	Thong Lo
E7	Ekkamai	Eastern Bus Terminal
E8	Phra Khanong
E9	On Nut	Terminal station
E10	Bangchak (End of 2010)
E11	Punnawithi (End of 2010)
E12	Udom Suk (End of 2010)
E13	Bang Na (End of 2010)
E14	Bearing (End of 2010)
E15	Samrong (further extension to Samut Prakan Province)
Silom Line
W6	Prannok (planned ?)	MRT Blue Line (future extension)
W5	Bangkok Noi (planned ?)
W4	Sanam Luang (planned ?)
W3	Phanfa Lilat (planned ?)	MRT Purple Line (future extension)
W2	Kasat Sueg (planned ?)
W1	National Stadium	Terminal station
CS	Siam	Interchange to Sukhumvit Line
S1	Ratchadamri
S2	Sala Daeng	MRT Blue Line: Si Lom Station
S3	Chong Nonsi	BRT: Chong Nonsi Skytrain Station (planned)
S4	Sueksa Witthaya (Planned)
S5	Surasak
S6	Saphan Taksin	Chao Phraya Express Boat (Sathon Central Pier) Tourist information office Terminal station
S7	Krung Thonburi (April 2009)
S8	Wongwian Yai (April 2009)	MRT Purple Line (future extension)
S9	Po Nimit (2011?)
S10	South Ratchadaphisek (2011?)
S11	Wutthakat (2011?)
S12	Bang Wa (2011?)	MRT Blue Line (future extension)
S13	Wat Pra Du (2011?)

Route extension

No Skytrain extensions have opened since the opening of the original system. There are many political problems in Thailand with favoritism and nepotism regarding the contracts for expansions from the government, until recently 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.

In 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. On October 18, 2005, with no approval from the central government forthcoming, the BMA decided to seek to complete the 2.2 km Silom Line route extension (S7 Charoen Nakhon & S8 Wongwian Yai) using its own budget. Construction began on December 13, 2005 with completion originally expected within a year, but problems with tendering for the signalling system have repeatedly pushed back the schedule, with the opening now planned for early 2009, first scheduled to open September 2002.

Phase I

Phase II

It is estimated that most of the extension plans above will be completed by 2010 or 2012 at the latest, though political bickering has got in the way in the past.

BTS Skytrain

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