New BTS Extension in Bangkok!

[Rider]

Recent completion of the latest extension has meant the BTS eastern line has unlocked new areas

Took a ride and took a look



Apologies for the 'grill' effect.
The sun-shield effect means focusing is a bit tricky

It's free travel around the new areas until mid January. So take a look now before the charges take effect...

They only need to get more carriages added now, as it is the overcrowding is insane, compared to a few years back...

[hhfarang]

Do they have fly screens on the windows of the coaches?

[Nereus]

They only need to get more carriages added now, as it is the overcrowding is insane, compared to a few years back...

Just another example of the incompetent dithering that goes on with some of the people that are supposed to be in charge.

I do not have any figures for the number of people that now have access to the BTS with this extension, but it must be several hundred thousand, maybe closer to a million. With this extension the train is very nearly full by the time it arrives at On Nut, which was the previous terminal station, and I am talking about off peak times, not rush hours. And then it just gets worse if you are "inbound". Even outbound off peak it is jammed packed from Chidlom.

I believe that the BTS have additional carriages in reserve, but their reason for not using them is they are for use on the new Purple and Light Red lines under construction. They will wait until the completed system becomes bogged down before even considering placing orders for more rolling stock.

[hhfarang]

Or maybe they'll do like the Japanese do and have a guy with a long pole just push the people in the door so that they are packed like sardines in a can.

[Pleng]

Anybody have a link to a service map that includes the new areas?

[Nereus]

Anybody have a link to a service map that includes the new areas?

This may help:

http://www.bts.co.th/index_CoverPage.html

[Pleng]

Thanks

[Terry]

..............I believe that the BTS have additional carriages in reserve, but their reason for not using them is they are for use on the new Purple and Light Red lines under construction. They will wait until the completed system becomes bogged down before even considering placing orders for more rolling stock.

Not quite so..........

a) The BTS fleet is not interchangeable with the proposed Purple Line and Red Line (Which have yet to decide on a supplier anyway)

b) BTS DO HAVE a new fleet of 4 car trains to be introduced on the Silom (DARK GREEN) Line. These were made in China and have bogies provided by the original European supplier (To match depot facilities for wheel / bogie maintenance).

c) A new CBTC (Communications Based Train Control) train control system has been introduced over the existing and extended network - you can see the radio masts along the guideway together with the yellow balises within the tracks to achieve this.

d) The plan is to use the 'spare' existing cars to 'stretch' the trains on the Sukhumvit line when the new 4 car sets are introduced on the Silom Line

I do not know what is holding up phase d) above - it's been a few years since I worked on the project

[Nereus]

I do not know what is holding up phase d) above - it's been a few years since I worked on the project

There`s the answer right there!

[wpcoe]

I read on that other Thailand forum that with the current train system on the Sukhumvit Line, it is not possible to insert a fourth (or fifth) car in the train. The only option is to put two three-car trains together for a six-car extravaganza. So, either a three-car train or a six-car train, nothing in between.

I did notice the new four-car trains on the Silom Line and wondered why they chose *that* line for the four-car trains, rather than the longer, more crowded Sukhumvit Line. But, I'm sure there's a good reason.

[Terry]

I read on that other Thailand forum that with the current train system on the Sukhumvit Line, it is not possible to insert a fourth (or fifth) car in the train. The only option is to put two three-car trains together for a six-car extravaganza. So, either a three-car train or a six-car train, nothing in between.

I did notice the new four-car trains on the Silom Line and wondered why they chose *that* line for the four-car trains, rather than the longer, more crowded Sukhumvit Line. But, I'm sure there's a good reason.

If you notice, ALL stations on the BTS have platforms capable of taking 6 car trains - i.e. long enough. They were built for that purpose.

'Double' train sets (i.e. 6 cars) have been used on trials.

Like any modern metro system, all trainsets are designed to be expandable as the ridership grows. BTS was designed also in this manner.

Inserting an extra 3 cars is easy, providing that the motor configuration and control systems are modified accordingling - and herein lies the (Political) problem.

Since the providers of the original fleet are not the providers of the current control system and since this is Thailand - it may take some time.

The theory was that the spare cars left over from the Silom Line demobilisation, would be more than enough to expand the Sukhumvit Line fleet and the new 4 car sets would be capable for the demand expected on the Silom Line.