Bangkok Mass Transit Authority

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority
Info
Owner Ministry of Transport
Locale Bangkok
Transit type Service metro bus in Bangkok and boundary province
Number of lines 118 Routes
Daily ridership 3 Million people per a day
Chief executive Mr.Opart Petchmunee
Headquarters 131 Thian Ruam Mitra Rd. Huay Kwang District Bangkok
Operation
Began operation October 1, 1976
Number of vehicles 3,526 Buses

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (Thai: องค์การขนส่งมวลชนกรุงเทพ), also known as BMTA (Thai: ขสมก.), is the main operator of public transit buses within Greater Bangkok area. It is the largest city bus system in Thailand. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority offers bus and van routes throughout the city and its suburban provinces.

The BMTA is a state enterprise that started operations on October 1, 1976 upon the purchase and combination of the transportation assets of private bus companies, most of which had faced crisis due to sharply rising oil price since 1973. The government, in 1975, solved the crisis by trying to set up a public-private joint venture called the Metropolitan Transit Company, Limited (Thai: บริษัทมหานครขนส่ง จำกัด), but the effort failed to materialize. It tried again in 1976 by setting up BMTA as a fully state-own enterprise under the control of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Since then, the organization has been the main operator of city buses. However, some private bus companies opted to continue their service on certain routes under joint service contracts with BMTA instead of selling their assets to the state. Despite government subsidy, BMTA has been suffering a loss of profits from day one, resulting in deteriorating quality of service.

Contents

About

The BMTA service area covers Bangkok Metropolis and its suburban areas in the adjacent provinces of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Sakhon. It serves approximately 3 million passengers per day. The service hours are 05.00-23.00 hrs, except 24-hr night-owl service on some routes. In September 2005, BMTA owns a fleet of 3,579 buses—comprising 1,674 ordinary buses and 1,905 air-conditioned buses. In addition to BMTA-owned buses, there are 3,485 private-own contract buses, 1,113 contract minibuses, 2,161 side-street songthaews, and 5,519 vans. In total, there are 15,857 buses and vans over 427 routes across 8 zones.

Bus Routes

Main article: List of bus routes in Bangkok

Fare collection

The BMTA allows riders to board a bus and pays with cash or coupons. In the near future, the government will implement the common ticketing system across all mass transit modes, allowing passengers to pay with a single smart card.

Paying with cash

Conductor on the bus walks back and forth to collect fare from passengers. The fare varies as distance traveled, type of buses, and type of services. Monks and postal workers on duty are exempt from paying fare. Fifty-percent discount is given to the blind, military and police officers in uniform, decorated veterans, and senior citizens. Students with pre-purchased passes also pay discount fare.

Paying with coupon

Passengers can purchase coupons with discount at BMTA headquarter and branch offices. These coupons can be used as fare payment at face value on the bus.

Bus fleet

BMTA operates air-conditioned and ordinary buses from various makers, most of which are Japanese. The air-conditioned bus fleet consists of buses from Hino, Isuzu, Daewoo, Mercedes-Benz (standard and articulated), MAN AG, and Ikarus Bus (articulated bus only). The ordinary bus fleet consists of buses from Hino, Isuzu, Daewoo, and Mitsubishi Fuso. However, the ordinary buses are being phased out. Most of the buses run on diesel, but they are being converted to cleaner and cheaper natural gas (NGV) engine. Recently, it operates new routes of NGV-powered air-conditioned vans, shuttling people between city center and suburban communities.

Type of buses

Ordinary buses (cream-red colour)

Brand Model Bodywork Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Seat Image
Hino AK176 Hino Motors Co., Ltd 1991 1, 3, 4, 5 540 + 4* Z-40001 to Z-40540 34
Isuzu MT111QB Cherdchai Industrial Factory Co., Ltd 1991 1, 6, 7, 8 540 + 2* Z-50001 to Z-50540 34
Mitsubishi Fuso RP118 Cherdchai Industrial Factory Co., Ltd 1991 2, 4, 8 510 + 3* Z-80001 to Z-80510 34

Notation + No.* mean No. of spare bus

Ordinary buses (white-green colour)

Brand Model Bodywork Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Seat Image
Mercedes-Benz OH360i Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 1997 5, 6 80 Z-30301 to Z-30380 32
Hino AK176 Hino Motors Co., Ltd 1991 5 41 Z-40001 to Z-40540 34

Air-conditioned buses (cream-blue colour)

Brand Model Bodywork Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Seat Image
Isuzu CQA650 A/T Cherdchai Industrial Factory Co., Ltd 1995 1,7, 8 100 Z-30XX 46
Hino HU3KKSKL Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 1995 2 80 + 1* 2-40XX 50
Mercedes-Benz OF1617 Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 1991 5, 6 200 Z-6XXX 50

Notation + No.* mean No. of spare bus

Air-conditioned buses (white-green-red colour) [articulated buses]

Brand Model Bodywork Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Seat Image
Mercedes-Benz O405G Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 1995 3 52 (Prepare to Retire) 3-90XX 90

Air-conditioned buses (white-green-blue colour) [NGV buses]

Brand Model Bodywork Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Seat Image
Mercedes-Benz O405 CNG Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 1993 1 38 1-1001 to 1-1038 46
MAN 16.230 HOCL/R - CNG Bangpong Bus Body Co., Ltd (Ratchaburi) 1993 (Rebodied in 2010) 1 44 (Only One Test Drive No. 2018) 1-2001 to 1-2044 44
SUNLONG SLK6111 UE6NA CNG Bestlin Group Co.,Ltd 2011 1 40 1-90001 to 1-90040 38
KINGLONG XMQ6106CNG - 2011 5 40 5-XXXX -

Air-conditioned buses (orange colour) [EuroII buses]

Brand Model Bodywork Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Seat Image
Hino RU1JSSL Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 1998 1, 3, 4 200 + 2* Z-44001 to Z-44200 35
Hino RU1JSSL Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 2002 1, 3, 4 125 + 1* Z-45001 to Z-45125 35
Isuzu LV223S Cherdchai Industrial Factory Co., Ltd 1998 1, 5, 7, 8 200 + 1* Z-55001 to Z-55200 35
Isuzu LV423R Cherdchai Industrial Factory Co., Ltd 2002 5, 6, 7, 8 125 Z-56001 to Z-56125 35
Mercedes-Benz OH1829/63 Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 1998 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 397 + 3* Z-66001 to Z-66397 35
Deawoo BH115 Thonburi Bus Body Co.,Ltd 2002 1, 5, 8 250 + 1* Z-67001 to Z-67250 35

Notation + No.* mean No. of spare bus

Air-conditioned buses (light green colour) [Ethanol bus]

Brand Model Bodywork Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Seat Image Notation
Scania K270UB Gemilang Bodywork Co., Ltd 2011 - 1 - 34 Trial Service Bus (Ethanol Fuel Bus) on route 21.

Retired Bus

Ordinary Buses (cream-blue colour)

Brand Model Registered De-Registered Zone used Bus amount Bus code Image Notation
HINO BT 1977 1992 1, 2, 4, 10 1,000 Z-1001 to Z-2000 -
ISUZU TX192 1977 1992 1, 5, 8, 9 500 Z-2001 to Z-2500 -
Mercedes Benz OF1611 1977 1989 3, 5, 6 800 Z-3001 to Z-3800 -
VOLVO Alisa B55-10 Mk I 1978 1978 - 1 - Trial Service Bus (Double Decker)
HINO BX320 1980 1997 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 500 Z-10101 to Z-10600 -
ISUZU JCR600YZNN 1980 1997 1, 5, 8, 9 500 Z-20101 to Z-20600 -
Mercedes-Benz - 1980 1992 5, 6 200 Z-30101 to Z-30300 -
Leyland Olympian B45 1987 1987 1 1 - Trial Service Bus (Double Decker)

Ordinary Buses (cream-red colour)

Brand Model Registed De-Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Image Notation
HINO BX321 1988 1999 1, 2, 4 ,10 250 Z-4001 to Z-4250 Used Fare Box for 6 Months in 1988
ISUZU MT111L 1988 1999 1, 5, 8, 9 250 Z-5001 to Z-5250 Used Fare Box for 6 Months in 1988
DAEWOO BF120DS 1988 1999 2, 3 ,4 , 5 ,6 400 Z-70101 to Z-70500 Used Fare Box for 6 Months in 1988
DAEWOO BF120S 1991 1999 5 ,6 450 Z-70501 to Z-70950 -

Air-conditioned Buses(cream-blue colour)

Brand Model Registed De-Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Image Notation
VOLVO B57-60 1977 1982 11 200 11-101 to 11-300 Use only front door
VOLVO B57-60 1981 1987 11 40 81-3001 to 81-3040
HINO - 1981 1989 11 180 82-4001 to 82-4180 Since 22 July 1985 SK.Tour and Service Co.,Ltd serviced route Air.4 Air.6 Air.7 Air.8 and Air.29
ISUZU BU35K 1981 1995 11 180 83-5001 to 83-5180 -
MAN - 1987 1987 11 1 - Trial Serviced Bus (Use CNG Fuel.)
VOLVO B57-60 1987 1991 11 180 11-101 to 11-280 -
Mercedes Benz - 1987 1991 11 100 11-6001 to 11-6100 -
Mercedes Benz OF1617 1991 2002 (500 Buses)

2010 (200 Buses)

 11 800 Z-6101 to Z-6900 250px -
Mercedes Benz 1114 1997 2004 4, 5 30 Z-9501 to Z-9530 Used Fare Box and Serviced route 42 47 76 Air.26(162)

Air-conditioned Buses (Articulated buses)

Brand Model Registed De-Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Image Notation
VOLVO B10M 1992 1992 1 1 - Trial Serviced Bus
IKARUS 283 1995 2008 2 50 2-8001 to 2-8050 -

Air-conditioned Buses (NGV buses)

Brand Model Registed De-Registed Zone used Bus amount Bus code Image Notation
DONGFENG HANGZHOU DHZ6111CF(CNG) 2006 2007 1 1 - Trial Serviced Bus
ISUZU LV486R 2007 2008 1 1 - Trial Serviced Bus

See also

External links