BTS Skytrain

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS)
Info
Owner	Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
Locale	Bangkok, Thailand
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	2
Number of stations	25
Daily ridership	Over 460,000
Operation
Began operation	5 December 1999
Operator(s)	Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited
Number of vehicles	35
Technical
System length	28.7 km (17.83 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge)
Average speed	35 km/h (21.75 mph)
Top speed	80 km/h (49.71 mph)
Route map    Mo Chit    Saphan Khwai    Sena Ruam    Ari    Sanam Pao    Victory Monument    Phaya Thai National Stadium   Ratchathewi    Siam Ratchadamri   Chit Lom Sala Daeng   Phloen Chit Chong Nonsi   Nana Sueksa Witthaya   Asok Surasak   Phrom Phong Saphan Taksin   Thong Lo    Ekkamai Krung Thonburi   Phra Khanong Wongwian Yai   On Nut Phothinimit   Bang Chak Ratchadaphisek   Punnawithi Wutthakat   Udom Suk Bang Wa   Bang Na    Bearing

The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain (Thai: รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส rot fai fa BTS), 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 Wongwian Yai. 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 (รถไฟฟ้าเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 6 รอบ พระชนมพรรษา).

History

Skytrain approaching Sala Daeng Station

Interior of a train.

Bangkok's first attempt at building an elevated rail network was the Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System, which was terminated in 1998 after only 10% had been completed.

The BTS system (the elevated metro system owned by BMA) 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 Silom line to Thon Buri, completed in April 2009. The supports at Phra Pok Klao bridge remain unused but may be utilised as part of the MRT's future Purple Line.

Shortly after 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 Rattanakosin 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 (SET: TYONG^[1], Thai: บริษัท ธนายง จำกัด (มหาชน)) 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 implemented a contactless ticketing system in 2007, and plans to allow both BTS and MRT passengers to use their RFID smart cards as single ticketing system early 2010.^[2]

Station layout

Exterior view of National Stadium Station

The upper platform at Siam interchange station, for north- and west-bound trains

All of the system's stations are elevated and constructed on three levels.^[3] The street level provides access to the station proper via stairs and often escalators. Supporting utility equipment (generators, water tanks, etc.) are usually located at this level on traffic islands.

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 interchange between the two lines. Additionally, many stations have ramps and elevators to allow passengers who use wheelchairs 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 under construction and not yet in operation.

Code	Station Name	Notes	coordinates
Sukhumvit Line
N8	Mo Chit	Bangkok Metro Blue Line: Chatuchak Park Terminal station For Chatuchak Park
N7	Saphan Khwai	For Saphan Khwai area
N6	Sena Ruam (Planned)
N5	Ari	For Soi Ari area
N4	Sanam Pao	For Channel 5 (Thailand)
N3	Victory Monument	BMTA bus lines Bangkok Metro Orange Line (proposed) For Victory Monument , Transport Center in Bangkok
N2	Phaya Thai	Suvarnabhumi Airport Link: Phaya Thai (under construction) For Phaya Thai area
N1	Ratchathewi	Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat (Saphan Hua Chang Pier) For Ratchathewi Intersection area
CEN	Siam	Interchange to Silom Line Tourist information office For Chulalongkorn University , Siam area
E1	Chit Lom	For Chit Lom area
E2	Phloen Chit	For Phloen Chit area
E3	Nana	Tourist information office For Nana area
E4	Asok	Bangkok Metro Blue Line: Sukhumvit For Srinakharinwirot University (Prasarnmit Campus) , Asok area
E5	Phrom Phong	For Phrom Phong area
E6	Thong Lo	For Thong Lo area
E7	Ekkamai	Eastern Bus Terminal, Bangkok Planetarium
E8	Phra Khanong	For Phra Khanong area , Transport Zone To East Bangkok
E9	On Nut	Terminal station , For On Nut area
E10	Bang Chak (End of 2011)
E11	Punnawithi (End of 2011)
E12	Udom Suk (End of 2011)
E13	Bang Na (End of 2011)
E14	Bearing (End of 2011)	End Line Of Bangkok area
Silom Line
W1	National Stadium	Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat (Saphan Hua Chang Pier) Terminal station
CEN	Siam	Interchange to Sukhumvit Line For Chulalongkorn University , Siam area
S1	Ratchadamri
S2	Sala Daeng	Bangkok Metro Blue Line: Si Lom For Lumphini Park and Silom area
S3	Chong Nonsi	BRT Sathorn Station
S4	Sueksa Witthaya (Planned)
S5	Surasak
S6	Saphan Taksin	Chao Phraya Express Boat (Sathon Central Pier) Tourist information office
S7	Krung Thonburi
S8	Wongwian Yai	Bangkok Metro Purple Line (Planned) Current terminal station For King Taksin Monument (Wongwian Yai)
S9	Phothinimit (End of 2011)
S10	Ratchada-Thaphra (End of 2011)
S11	Wutthakat (End of 2011)
S12	Bang Wa (End of 2011)	Bangkok Metro Blue Line: Bang Wa (Proposed)

Route extension

Political problems coupled with favoritism and nepotism stalled several expansion projects over the years. The government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was accused of stalling the Skytrain extensions in order to punish the BMA, which was controlled by the opposition Democrat Party, in an attempt to prevent the Democrats from gaining popularity among Bangkok residents.

In 2002 the cabinet amended a law in order to allow a private firm to finance the cost of operating the train system, while the government would take care of all the civil engineering work. On October 18, 2005, with no approval from the central government forthcoming, the BMA decided 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 repeatedly pushed back the schedule, with the extension finally opening on 15 May 2009. However, Saphan Taksin (originally designed to be only a temporary station) has only one track, which has caused repeated delays during rush hour.^[4]

A second extension from On Nut east towards Bearing started construction in 2007, for completion in early 2011.^[5]

Further extensions have been proposed from Mo Chit north to Saphan Mai, from Bearing to east Samut Prakan, from Wongwian Yai west to Bang Wa and from National Stadium west to Phran Nok. The viaduct from Wongwian Yai to Bang Wa is already built, while the other two haven't started with construction yet. The Bangkok government plans to allocate 55.6 billion baht to complete the first two by 2012.^[6]

The extension plan for the BTS can be summarized as follows:

Phase I

• On Nut – Bearing (terminating at Sukhumvit 107, the border pole of BMA) – 5.2 km. Under construction, to open in late 2011.^[7]
• Saphan Taksin – Wong Wian Yai (terminating at Th. Somdet Chao Phraya) – 2.2 km. Completed, opened on 15 May 2009.^[8]
• Mo Chit – Saphan Mai – 11.4 km. Planned.

Phase II

• Bearing – Samut Prakan – 10.6 km. Planned.
• Wong Wian Yai – Bang Wa (terminating at Th. Phetchakasem) – 5.25 km. Planned for early 2011
• National Stadium – Phran Nok (terminating at Th. Charan Sanit Wong) – 6.8 km. Planned.

Rolling stock

The BTS Skytrain uses two variations of Electric Multiple Unit rolling stock. All operate on 1435 mm rail gauge (standard gauge). All trains have 4 doors on each side per car, an air-conditioning unit, and LCD monitors for public announcement and advertising. The power supply for all trains is at 750 V DC from the third rail.

Siemens Train

The rolling stock of BTS Skytrain, in use since the opening of the line in 1999, consist of 35 Siemens Modular Metro trains from Siemens AG. All trains have 3 cars, 2 motor cars and 1 trailer on center. The Sukhumvit line employs 20 trains, and the Silom Line has 15.

The Silom Line cars have been modified to support a signaling system from Bombardier Transportation since the extension from Saphan Taksin to Wong Wian Yai.

Future Bombardier - Changchun trains

The BTSC ordered new 12 trains (12 sets 4 cars) from Changchun Railway Vehicles Co. Ltd. based on Bombardier MOVIA, though their design will be based on the existing BTS's Siemens Modular Metro. The new trains are to be delivered in June 2010 ^[2] to serve on the Silom Line, which cannot increase train frequency because of a single track bottleneck at Saphan Taksin bridge, though the number of passengers increased after the Wong Wian Yai and Krung Thonburi stations were opened. These trains consist of 2 motor cars and 2 trailer cars and will feature LCD TVs for public announcements and advertising. An advanced digital voice announcement (DVA) and passenger information systems will be installed.

See also

• Keeree Kanjanapas
• List of rapid transit systems
• Bangkok Metro
• BRT (Bangkok)
• SRT Lines
• Suvarnabhumi Airport Link

References

External links

• BTS official web site
• 2Bangkok.com Skytrain site
  • the System Map of Bangkok Rail Transit Network in PDF format
  • the Master Plan of Bangkok Transport Network in PDF format
• UrbanRail.net: Bangkok
• Bangkok Post; BTS should record first profit in 2009