BTS Skytrain

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 32 stations along two lines: the Sukhumvit line running northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and Bearing 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).

Besides the BTS, Bangkok's metro system also comprises the underground railway line MRT, and the elevated Suvarnabhumi Airport Link (SARL), serving several stations in the city before reaching the airport.

1 History
2 Station layout
3 Ticketing
4 Stations
5 Route extension
6 Connectivity to other rail transit systems
7 Rolling stock
- 7.1 Siemens Train
- 7.2 Bombardier – Changchun trains
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

History

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 later by the press.

Originally, the Skytrain depot was to be built underneath 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 5 December 1999 by 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 9 December 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 named 'BTS SmartPass', and plans to allow both BTS and Suvarnabhumi Airport Link passengers to use their RFID smart cards as single ticketing system not before 2014. ^[2]

5 Dec 1999: Sukhumvit Line Mo Chit-On Nut, Silom Line National Stadium - Saphan Taksin
15 May 2009: Silom Line Saphan Taksin-Wong Wian Yai
12 Aug 2011: Sukhumvit Line On Nut-Bearing

Station layout

Bangkok Rapid Transit System
Primary lines
	BTS Sukhumvit Line (extension planned)
	BTS Silom Line (extension under construction)
	MRT Blue Line (extension under construction)
	SRT Airport Rail Link
	MRT Purple Line (under construction)
	SRT Light Red Line (under construction)
	SRT Dark Red Line (planned)
	MRT Orange Line (planned)
	MRT Yellow Line (planned)
Secondary lines
	Chula-Siam Monorail (planned)
	Grand Square Monorail (planned)
	Ramkhamhaeng-Thonglor Monorail (planned)
	MRT Pink Line (planned)
	BTS Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi (planned)
Cancelled projects
	MRT Brown Line (merged with orange line)
	MRT Grey Line (cancelled)
	MRT Light Blue Line (cancelled)
	Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System (cancelled)
	Lavalin Skytrain (cancelled)

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 or four cars are in operation. Security personnel are stationed at every platform and ticketing hall. For safety reasons, there are often signs at the escalators: "Please stand on the right of the escalator and hold the handrail".

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
Mo Chit-Saphan Mai Extension (construction to start 4Q 2011^[4])
N20	Saphan Mai	For Ying Charoen Market area
N19	Sai Yut
N18	Lak Si	MRT Pink Line Lak Si Station (planned)
N17	Wat Prasi Mahathat Worawihan
N16	11th Infantry Regiment
N15	Bang Bua	For Sripatum University
N14	Krom Pa Mai	For Royal Forest Department
N13	Kasetsart	For Kasetsart University
N12	Sena Nikhom	For Mayo Hospital
N11	Ratchayothin	For Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, Ratchayothin intersection area
N10	Satri Woranat
N9	Lat Phrao	Bangkok Metro Blue Line: Phahon Yothin For Central Plaza Lardprao, Union Mall
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 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 Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery
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 , Asok area
E5	Phrom Phong	For Phrom Phong area, The Emporium
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	For On Nut area
E10	Bang Chak
E11	Punnawithi
E12	Udom Suk
E13	Bang Na	For Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre
E14	Bearing	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 , Bangkok City tour Shuttle Bus
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	Pho Nimit (5 December 2012)
S10	Ratchada-Ratchaphruek (5 December 2012)
S11	Wutthakat (5 December 2012)
S12	Bang Wa (5 December 2012)	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 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (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 18 October 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 13 December 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), and the river crossing itself, has only one track, which has caused repeated delays during rush hour.^[5]

A second extension from On Nut east towards Bearing started construction in 2007, and was opened on 12 August 2011.

Further extensions have been proposed from Mo Chit north to Saphan Mai, from Bearing to east Samut Prakan, from Wongwian Yai 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 have not started with construction yet. BMA plans to allocate 55.6 billion baht to complete the first two by 2012.^[6]

Further extension for the BTS can be summarized as follows:

Under construction:
- Wong Wian Yai – Pho Nimit – Ratchada-Ratchaphruek – Wutthakat – Bang Wa (terminating at Phetkasem Road) – 5.25 km. Under Construction, to open on 5 December 2012.^[7]
- Bearing – Samut Prakan – 10.6 km Signed with Cho Kanchang, Construction start Q4 2011, to open on 2014.
Planned:
- Mo Chit – Saphan Mai – 11.4 km.
- National Stadium – Yot Se (terminating at Bamrungmueang Road) – 6.8 km.
- Samut Prakan (Bang Ping) – Bang Pu.
- Bang Na – Suvarnabhumi Airport (terminating at future South Passenger Terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport, light rail train).
- Saphan Mai – Khlong 6.

Connectivity to other rail transit systems

Bangkok rail transit system map (showing State Railway, BTS, MRT and SARL lines)

Legend

( State Railway Northern & Northeastern Lines )

( State Railway Southern Line )

Bang Sue Junction / Bang Sue MRT

Kamphaeng Phet

Pradiphat

Mo Chit / Chatuchak Park

Samsen

Saphan Khwai / Phahon Yothin

Chitralada Palace (not in service)

Sena Ruam (planned) / Lat Phrao

Yommarat

Ari / Ratchadaphisek

Sanam Pao / Sutthisan

Victory Monument / Huai Khwang

( State Railway Eastern Line )

Phaya Thai BTS / Phaya Thai SARL / Thailand Cultural Centre

Bangkok (Hua Lamphong) / National Stadium

Ratchathewi / Ratchaprarop / Phra Ram 9

Hua Lamphong / Siam

Makkasan / Phetchaburi

Sam Yan / Ratchadamri

Ramkhamhaeng

Sala Daeng / Si Lom

Chit Lom / Hua Mak

Chong Nonsi / Lumphini

Phloen Chit / Ban Thap Chang

Sueksa Witthaya (planned) / Khlong Toei

Nana / Lat Krabang

Surasak / QSNCC

Asok / Sukhumvit

Sathon Pier Saphan Taksin

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. To increase capacity, in October 2010, Siemens agreed to provide an extra car for each train, making them up to four cars.^[8]

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.

Bombardier – Changchun trains

The BTSC ordered 12 new trains (12 sets of 4 cars) from Changchun Railway Vehicles Co. Ltd. based on the Bombardier MOVIA, though their design will be modified to the existing BTS's Siemens Modular Metro. The new trains were 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 station, 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.

References

^ "Tanayong Company Profile". Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=jc7&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.set.or.th%2Fset%2Fcompanyprofile.do%3Fsymbol%3DTYONG&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=.
^ ^a ^b http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/telecom/29341/bts-dear-oil-driving-traffic.php
^ BTSC. "Station Structure". BTS official web site. Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited. http://www.bts.co.th/en/btstrain_02.asp. Retrieved 3 November 2008
^ 3 years of traffic hell, and then Bangkok will be 'a better place'
^ "BTSC Admitting the Signal Glitch that caused the Delay on the line across Chao Phraya.", Thairath, 5 June 2009.
^ Prasomsap, Jeerawan (25 February 2009). "Skytrain green lines ready by 2012: BMA". The Nation (Thailand) (Bangkok). http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/25/national/national_30096546.php.
^ "Taksin-Phetchakasem skyrain extension to be ready on Dec 5 ". The Nation (Thailand) (Bangkok). 28 June 2011. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Taksin-Phetchakasem-skyrain-extension-to-be-ready--30158920.html. url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/243632/skytrain-trial-run-on-onnuch-bearng-route
^ "Bangkok’s Skytrain increases train fleet – International Railway Journal". 12 October 2010. http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/bangkok-s-skytrain-increases-train-fleet.html. Retrieved 12 October 2010.