Winston_Churchill
01-28-2008, 10:51 PM
Bangkok's elevated train and subway operators plan to integrate their ticketing system this year and then cut fares to encourage more commuters to use the service.
Executives of Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTS), which operates the elevated railway, and Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL), which runs the subway, signed an agreement yesterday to integrate their ticketing systems.
According to BTS chief adviser Anat Arbhabhirama, the companies will make their old tickets compatible with each other's systems in the next six months.
In the next two years, they will introduce a common ticketing system that can later expand to cover other modes of transport, including expressways, passenger buses, boats and shops.
TO VIEW COMPLETE ARTICLE: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Jan2008_news02.php
A couple of interesting points here. One major one is the lack of any mention of the combined ticketing system being extended to include the new Airport line due to open later in 2008 (maybe)
At current prices I see some trains packed tight at peak times on the short central runs e.g. Siam to Saladang. It must be getting to be time to add more carriages to the trains.
In all great cities one of the problems is that land in the centers becomes gradually prohibitively expensive for the workers who are forced to move out to cheaper areas. The center needs the workers and all cities seem to be obliged to, eventually, provide subsidized transport. Currently the proposed price rises will make travel for a couple rather more expensive than a taxi albeit often faster.
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from 2Bangkok.com
Subway to profit by 2011
Passenger numbers still well below target
NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG, Bangkok Post, 21st January 2008
The SET-listed subway operator Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL) expects to break even by 2011, even though this year it would likely fall well short of its original target of 300,000 daily passengers. Managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana said the delay in extending Bangkok's rail network stemmed from lower-than-expected passenger growth over the past three years.
The subway, which runs from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue with a total distance of 20 kilometres, currently carries 195,000 passengers daily. BMCL hopes for 210,000 daily passengers by the end of the year. ''Despite the high oil prices, which started since last year, we have yet to see the phenomenon of a big number of Bangkok commuters switching from road to rail transport,'' Mr Sombat said.
''That's mainly because the current network is limited and there are not enough to take them from one place to another for their journey. If we have enough coverage of the network, they will absolutely opt to use the rail lines no matter whether petrol prices are cheap or high.''
If it reaches 210,000 daily passengers this year, Mr Sombat said BMCL would be able to generate enough revenue to cover operating costs but not the interest on its outstanding 11-billion-baht debt. After three years of operation, the company he accumulated losses of several billion baht, Mr Sombat said.
He declined to offer details.
''It's not until we reach 300,000 daily passengers, which will hopefully happen in the next two to three years, that we would be able to make a profit from the operations,'' he said. BMCL and Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), which operates two Skytrain elevated rail lines, can carry a combined 600,000 passengers a day.
With an investment of 150 billion baht, the government plans to add five more rail routes in the capital to take cars off Bangkok's congested streets, improve air quality and cut oil import bills.
Following years of delay, at least two of the five routes are targeted to start construction this year: the Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae and the Purple Line from Bang Sue to Tha Phra.
BMCL, with a 25-year concession on the subway, is favoured by transport officials to operate the new routes, possibly through a joint venture with the state-owned Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA).
Mr Sombat said BMCL was ready for any option for the new lines. He said the company already had facilities, including depots and control rooms for the subway, that could save investment cots for developing new routes.
BMCL also has prepared 1.5 billion baht to buy new trains to accommodate more passengers from existing routes and possible new lines. ''The extended routes would bring more passengers to the existing network, enabling us to achieve our ridership target more easily,'' he said. ''The projects are feasible in terms of economic benefits. Investors would be ready to take part and it would not be difficult to mobilise funds.'' Mr Sombat said BMCL and BTS already signed a memorandum of understanding for a joint-ticketing system for the elevated and underground trains to lure more passengers. Under the plan, a joint venture would handle ticket management, financial clearing and promotions.
The single ticket is expected to be launched within this year. In the future it would cover other public transport systems, including the Airport Rail Link, he said.
To generate more revenue, Mr Sombat said BMCL planned to utilise more commercial areas at its 18 subway stations.
So far, only the Sukhumvit and Phahon Yothin stations use commercial space out of nine stations with a combined space of 20,000 square metres, he said.The Chatuchak station would be opened for retailers this month, he added. Retail sales now account for only 5% of BMCL's total revenue, which was approximately one billion baht in 2006.
Executives of Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTS), which operates the elevated railway, and Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL), which runs the subway, signed an agreement yesterday to integrate their ticketing systems.
According to BTS chief adviser Anat Arbhabhirama, the companies will make their old tickets compatible with each other's systems in the next six months.
In the next two years, they will introduce a common ticketing system that can later expand to cover other modes of transport, including expressways, passenger buses, boats and shops.
TO VIEW COMPLETE ARTICLE: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Jan2008_news02.php
A couple of interesting points here. One major one is the lack of any mention of the combined ticketing system being extended to include the new Airport line due to open later in 2008 (maybe)
At current prices I see some trains packed tight at peak times on the short central runs e.g. Siam to Saladang. It must be getting to be time to add more carriages to the trains.
In all great cities one of the problems is that land in the centers becomes gradually prohibitively expensive for the workers who are forced to move out to cheaper areas. The center needs the workers and all cities seem to be obliged to, eventually, provide subsidized transport. Currently the proposed price rises will make travel for a couple rather more expensive than a taxi albeit often faster.
=========================
from 2Bangkok.com
Subway to profit by 2011
Passenger numbers still well below target
NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG, Bangkok Post, 21st January 2008
The SET-listed subway operator Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL) expects to break even by 2011, even though this year it would likely fall well short of its original target of 300,000 daily passengers. Managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana said the delay in extending Bangkok's rail network stemmed from lower-than-expected passenger growth over the past three years.
The subway, which runs from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue with a total distance of 20 kilometres, currently carries 195,000 passengers daily. BMCL hopes for 210,000 daily passengers by the end of the year. ''Despite the high oil prices, which started since last year, we have yet to see the phenomenon of a big number of Bangkok commuters switching from road to rail transport,'' Mr Sombat said.
''That's mainly because the current network is limited and there are not enough to take them from one place to another for their journey. If we have enough coverage of the network, they will absolutely opt to use the rail lines no matter whether petrol prices are cheap or high.''
If it reaches 210,000 daily passengers this year, Mr Sombat said BMCL would be able to generate enough revenue to cover operating costs but not the interest on its outstanding 11-billion-baht debt. After three years of operation, the company he accumulated losses of several billion baht, Mr Sombat said.
He declined to offer details.
''It's not until we reach 300,000 daily passengers, which will hopefully happen in the next two to three years, that we would be able to make a profit from the operations,'' he said. BMCL and Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), which operates two Skytrain elevated rail lines, can carry a combined 600,000 passengers a day.
With an investment of 150 billion baht, the government plans to add five more rail routes in the capital to take cars off Bangkok's congested streets, improve air quality and cut oil import bills.
Following years of delay, at least two of the five routes are targeted to start construction this year: the Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae and the Purple Line from Bang Sue to Tha Phra.
BMCL, with a 25-year concession on the subway, is favoured by transport officials to operate the new routes, possibly through a joint venture with the state-owned Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA).
Mr Sombat said BMCL was ready for any option for the new lines. He said the company already had facilities, including depots and control rooms for the subway, that could save investment cots for developing new routes.
BMCL also has prepared 1.5 billion baht to buy new trains to accommodate more passengers from existing routes and possible new lines. ''The extended routes would bring more passengers to the existing network, enabling us to achieve our ridership target more easily,'' he said. ''The projects are feasible in terms of economic benefits. Investors would be ready to take part and it would not be difficult to mobilise funds.'' Mr Sombat said BMCL and BTS already signed a memorandum of understanding for a joint-ticketing system for the elevated and underground trains to lure more passengers. Under the plan, a joint venture would handle ticket management, financial clearing and promotions.
The single ticket is expected to be launched within this year. In the future it would cover other public transport systems, including the Airport Rail Link, he said.
To generate more revenue, Mr Sombat said BMCL planned to utilise more commercial areas at its 18 subway stations.
So far, only the Sukhumvit and Phahon Yothin stations use commercial space out of nine stations with a combined space of 20,000 square metres, he said.The Chatuchak station would be opened for retailers this month, he added. Retail sales now account for only 5% of BMCL's total revenue, which was approximately one billion baht in 2006.