The Bangkok BRT is a bus rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. Out of the five routes that were originally planned, only one line has been in operation since 2010, with all the other routes cancelled. At the end of April 2017, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced the whole system might be cancelled due to low ridership and financial losses, however a subsequent opinion survey carried out by the BMA found there was a demand for the service to be retained.[1][2] In March 2017 the Governor of Bangkok announced the service would continue, with increased ticket prices[3] and changed operator to Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited.
| Bangkok BRT | |
|---|---|
 BRT | |
_Bangkok_Mass_Transit_System_Company_08_14-9741_Bangkok_BRT_2024-02-12.jpg) A Sunlong SLK6125CNG at the Ratchaphruek terminus in February 2024 | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | Bangkok Metropolitan Administration |
| Locale | Bangkok |
| Transit type | Bus rapid transit |
| Number of lines | 1 |
| Number of stations | 12 |
| Daily ridership | 25,000/day |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 29 May 2010 |
| Operator(s) | Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited |
| Number of vehicles | 25 |
| Technical | |
| System length | 16.5 km (10.3 mi) |
| Average speed | 30 km/h |
| Top speed | 60 km/h |
The 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) route has twelve stations in the centre of the road that give at grade access to the right hand side of the buses. Both termini connect to the Silom Line of the BTS Skytrain; at Chong Nonsi (S3) and Talat Phlu (S10). The entire fleet consists of Sunlong SLK6125CNG buses. The fare is currently on hold(free for 3 months till 30 November 2023) for reconsideration of the effectiveness of the project.[4]
Background edit
It is owned by Krungthep Thanakom PCL, the holdings enterprise of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), and operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL (BTSC), the operator of the BTS Skytrain.
Plans for a bus rapid transit system in Bangkok were made in 2004 by the BMA and the Ministry of Transport's Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning. In 2005, the BMA settled on a master plan consisting of fourteen BRT routes. Construction on the first route, Sathon–Ratchaphruek, began in 2007. The route opened for trial runs on 29 May 2010, and officially opened on 14 February 2011.[5][6]
The system's island platforms are accessed by elevated enclosed station facilities, and it shares the ticketing system of the BTS Skytrain. The buses run on dedicated bus lanes blocked to the main traffic, which is why the system has been criticised by motorists as losing one lane to the BRT has worsened the traffic in the area.[7]
Originally, five BRT routes were planned to be open by 2013. The additional four routes were: Mo Chit – Government Complex – Nonthaburi, Sathorn – Suk Sawat, Don Mueang – Min Buri–Suvarnabhumi, and Min Buri – Srinagarindra – Samrong. However, it was announced in September 2010 that The Mo Chit – Government Complex route was cancelled, and the other planned routes were expected to be abandoned as well.[8]
Sathorn–Ratchaphruek route edit
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The first route from Sathorn to Ratchaphruek via Naradhiwas Ratchanagarindra and Rama III roads, opened to the public on 29 May 2010. This was later than 12 August 2008 as originally planned. The service ran as a free trial until the end of August 2010, followed by a flat fare of THB10 from September 2010. That flat fare was decreased to THB5 in January 2011, and later increase to THB15 in May 2017. On 31 August, BMA announced that The fare will be free for 3 months till 30 November 2023 for reconsideration of the effectiveness of the project.[9][10][11]
Part of the route is physically separated from the remaining carriageway by way of surface-mounted dividers, while other parts of the route are high-occupancy vehicle lanes with a minimum occupancy level of three occupants (T3). At some intersections, the bus shares space with other vehicles, disrupting an efficient exploitation. The vehicles have a guide system, which is only used at the stations to ensure a minimum gap between the station and the bus. The stations are all located in the centre of the road, which means that the BRT lanes are located against the road median, and the doors are on the right hand side of the buses (Thailand drives on the left). Access from the stations to the vehicles is leveled. Wheelchair accessibility was improved following the introduction of stair lifts.
Buses operate between 06:00-24:00 at 7-10 minute intervals during off-peak hours and weekends and 5 minute intervals at peak hours. An additional service between Sathorn and Nararam III is in operation during peak hours.
Stations edit
| Station Code | Station Name (English) | Station Name (Thai) |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | Sathorn | สาทร |
| B2 | Akhan Songkhro | อาคารสงเคราะห์ |
| B3 | Technic Krungthep | เทคนิคกรุงเทพ |
| B4 | Thanon Chan | ถนนจันทน์ |
| B5 | Nararam III | นราราม 3 |
| B6 | Wat Dan | วัดด่าน |
| B7 | Wat Pariwat | วัดปริวาส |
| B8 | Wat Dokmai | วัดดอกไม้ |
| B9 | Rama IX Bridge | สะพานพระรามเก้า |
| B10 | Charoenrat | เจริญราษฎร์ |
| B11 | Rama III Bridge | สะพานพระรามสาม |
| B12 | Ratchapruek | ราชพฤกษ์ |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Bye Bye BRT: Bus service to stop at end of April". Coconuts Bangkok. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
- ^ "Improve BRT, don't scrap it". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
- ^ Asaree Thaitrakulpanich (2017-03-27). "It's Official: Bangkok BRT Won't be Shut Down". Khaosod English. Archived from the original on 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
- ^ https://thestandard.co/use-brt-free-3-months1-sep-30-nov/
- ^ BRT สาทร - ราชพฤกษ์ รถโดยสารด่วนพิเศษสายแรกของประเทศไทย (BRT commemorative booklet) (PDF). Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
- ^ "First rapid bus line opens for free trial". Bangkok Post. 30 May 2010.
- ^ Bangkok Post. Available from http://www.bangkokpost.com/print/355200/
- ^ "BRT project stalls, private firm at helm". Bangkok Post. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ https://thestandard.co/use-brt-free-3-months1-sep-30-nov/
- ^ Bangkok BRT official Facebook page
- ^ "BRT ปรับค่าโดยสาร 15 บาท ตลอดสาย เริ่ม 29 พ.ค. นี้ - แถลงข่าว | thinkofliving.com". thinkofliving.com (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-07-11.
External links edit
