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Bangkok Skytrain
BANGKOK SKYTRAIN
Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) or Skytrain is the elevated metro system in Bangkok, Thailand, operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
The Skytrain with 23 stations along 2 lines, was opened on December 5, 1999 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The Sukhumvit line runs northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and On Nut respectively; the Silom line plies Silom and Sathon, the Central Business District of Bangkok, terminating at the National Stadium and the Taksin Bridge. The lines interchange at Siam station and have a combined route distance of 23 km. The Skytrain is formally known as the Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday because it was opened to the public on HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 72nd birthday.
Bangkok also has a subway system called the MRT or unofficially the Metro.
 HISTORY OF THE BANGKOK SKYTRAIN
The 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 project 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.
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 late 2006. The support at Phra Pokklao bridge remain unused but may be utilised as part of the MRT's future Purple Line.
Shortly after the cancellation of Lavalin Skytrain, then-governvor Major-General Chamlong Srimuang revived the project with a slightly different route and Siemens technology. The 'Skytrain' name was kept even though the portion of system through the historic Rattana Kosin island will be below grade.
Originally, the Skytrain depot was to be built below Lumphini Park, but due to widespread objections from Bangkok residents it was constructed on a parcel of land located along Phahon Yothin 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 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 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
All the stations to the skytrain are elevated. The platforms are built to accommodate trains of 6 cars, but trains of only 3 cars are in operation.
The first elevated level of the stations is accessed with stairs and often escalators, and contain 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. Siam station is unique in the way that it is the only BTS station utilizing an island platform to facilitate transfer between lines.
All of the other stations are built with side platforms. Additionally, many stations are equipped with ramps and elevators which allow wheelchair-bound passengers to access the ticketing hall and platform from the street level. The distance between doors is 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. For security and safety, security personnel are stationed at every platform and all ticketing halls.
Three Skytrain stations, Sala Daeng, Asok and Mo Chit, serve as interchanges with the MRT. Saphan Taksin station is connected to the adjacent Sathon pier where the all Chao Phraya Express river boat services call. Many stations are linked by 'Skybridges' (overhead pedestrian walkways) to neighbouring buildings and public amenities.
Consumption of food or drink is forbidden.
TICKETING
For single-trip and store-value ticket holders fares are calculated according to distance, but adult / student / tourist passes for limited / unlimited train rides are also available. Although it currently uses magnetic farecards, which require replacement once every 2 years, the Skytrain will be adopting RFID contactless technology in its ticketing system, similar to those presently being used in the MRT.
Retrieved from Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia
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Bangkok Skytrain, Bangkok, Thailand
The upper platform at Siam interchange station, for trains heading towards National Stadium on the Silom Line and Mo Chit on the Sukhumvit Line
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