gwmss15
21-02-08, 09:27 PM
A week ago I went into inner Bangkok to photograph the currently operating modern rail based mass transport systems and vehicles. The modern mass transit system consists of a 2 line elevated metro called BTS (Bangkok Skytrain System) and a single underground line called MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) or Subway by locals. The BTS system opened on the 5th December 1999 and the Subway opened on the 3rd July 2004.
The BTS Sukhumvit line operates from Mochit to Onnut. The BTS Silom line operates from Saphan Taksin to National Stadium. The MRT subway operates between Bang Sue SRT station in the north and Hualamphong SRT station in the south. The BTS takes 27 minutes to travel from Mochit to Onnut. The MRT takes about 30 minutes to complete its route. The BTS and MRT systems operate from 6 am to 12 am 7 days a week.
The subway was delayed greatly during construction due to the 1997 economic crash. Both systems use a 1435 mm rail gauge and 3rd rail power supply system. The trains used on both systems are almost identical. The trains are produced and imported to Bangkok by Siemens. There have been a number of plans and ideas over the last few years to expand the BTS and MRT subway system. However the only new metro line extensions under construction are on the BTS system. 1. Wong Wien Yai to Saphan Taksin and 2. Onnut to Samrong (City of Samut Prakan). The next planned MRT line is likely to be Bang Sue to Bang Yai (City of Nonthaburi). An express rail link to the new Bangkok airport is also under construction at the moment.
This metro system really only covers the inner city areas of Bangkok. In the future it will extend into Thonburi and the middle and outer suburbs of Bangkok. These extensions are very overdue and very much needed now. Bangkok’s Mass transit beyond the inner city is mostly buses and a few low frequency diesel SRT trains.
The mass transit system map of Bangkok
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/Bangkok_Sytrain_Route_Map.jpg
Source: Wikipedia
Note: Currently the system covers only the inner city areas of Bangkok.
1. This is a view of Surasak BTS station on Sathorn road taken from the footbridge. Although the BTS elevated viaduct tends to blend into the background. The stations are quite large and tend to stick out.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000863a.jpg
2. This is a view of the ticket office and ticket barriers at Surasak BTS station. Taken from the western end of the station. The small blue objects on top of the ticket barriers are the smart card readers.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000864a.jpg
3. This is an image of a typical ticket vending machine at Surasak BTS station. The fares are based on the number of stations traveled (Distance based fare system) the minimum fare is 15 baht and the maximum fare is 40 baht a trip. The ticket machines only take 5 and 10 baht coins and issue a credit card sized magnetic ticket.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000865a.jpg
4. To exit from the train platforms you must use the stairs. There are no down escalators unlike on the MRT subway. Taken at National Stadium station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000895a.jpg
5. To climb up to access the stations and platforms stairs and escalators are both available. Taken at National Stadium station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000900a.jpg
6. This is an alternative view of the ticket barriers at National Stadium station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000898a.jpg
7. This is an alternative view of the ticket office at National Stadium station. Note the ticket machines in the background. Every station has security guards at the ticket barriers to control the flow of people and to check for terrorist activity such as bombs. The small table is used to inspect passenger’s bags at times.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000897a.jpg
8. This is a typical BTS station platform all stations are in this style except for Saphan Taksin and Siam stations. Taken at Surasak BTS station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000867a.jpg
10. This is a shot of 2 BTS trains passing each other at the eastern end of Surasak BTS station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000873a.jpg
11. This is a short movie showing what it is like to ride on a BTS train. Filmed between Saphan Taksin and Surasuk BTS stations. Note the layout of the train and the gentle smooth ride of the train.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMJU69TdpbU
39. This is a movie showing the MRT station at Sukhumvit (Asoke) and the platform screen doors in use plus boarding of the train and a short ride towards to Hualamphong station.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Oo9oZXqK00
40. This is a short movie showing what its is like to ride on a MRT subway train. Filmed between Petchaburi and Rama 9 stations. Note the train announcements and the opening and closing of doors etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRAroL5SwdE
If you would like to see the other 40 images related to the BTS and MRT please VISIT: http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/ OR http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/2008/02/modern-rail-based-mass-transit-of.html
I hope you find the pictures and vehicles shown to be of interest if you view this please post some comments and feelings about the pictures.
The BTS Sukhumvit line operates from Mochit to Onnut. The BTS Silom line operates from Saphan Taksin to National Stadium. The MRT subway operates between Bang Sue SRT station in the north and Hualamphong SRT station in the south. The BTS takes 27 minutes to travel from Mochit to Onnut. The MRT takes about 30 minutes to complete its route. The BTS and MRT systems operate from 6 am to 12 am 7 days a week.
The subway was delayed greatly during construction due to the 1997 economic crash. Both systems use a 1435 mm rail gauge and 3rd rail power supply system. The trains used on both systems are almost identical. The trains are produced and imported to Bangkok by Siemens. There have been a number of plans and ideas over the last few years to expand the BTS and MRT subway system. However the only new metro line extensions under construction are on the BTS system. 1. Wong Wien Yai to Saphan Taksin and 2. Onnut to Samrong (City of Samut Prakan). The next planned MRT line is likely to be Bang Sue to Bang Yai (City of Nonthaburi). An express rail link to the new Bangkok airport is also under construction at the moment.
This metro system really only covers the inner city areas of Bangkok. In the future it will extend into Thonburi and the middle and outer suburbs of Bangkok. These extensions are very overdue and very much needed now. Bangkok’s Mass transit beyond the inner city is mostly buses and a few low frequency diesel SRT trains.
The mass transit system map of Bangkok
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/Bangkok_Sytrain_Route_Map.jpg
Source: Wikipedia
Note: Currently the system covers only the inner city areas of Bangkok.
1. This is a view of Surasak BTS station on Sathorn road taken from the footbridge. Although the BTS elevated viaduct tends to blend into the background. The stations are quite large and tend to stick out.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000863a.jpg
2. This is a view of the ticket office and ticket barriers at Surasak BTS station. Taken from the western end of the station. The small blue objects on top of the ticket barriers are the smart card readers.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000864a.jpg
3. This is an image of a typical ticket vending machine at Surasak BTS station. The fares are based on the number of stations traveled (Distance based fare system) the minimum fare is 15 baht and the maximum fare is 40 baht a trip. The ticket machines only take 5 and 10 baht coins and issue a credit card sized magnetic ticket.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000865a.jpg
4. To exit from the train platforms you must use the stairs. There are no down escalators unlike on the MRT subway. Taken at National Stadium station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000895a.jpg
5. To climb up to access the stations and platforms stairs and escalators are both available. Taken at National Stadium station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000900a.jpg
6. This is an alternative view of the ticket barriers at National Stadium station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000898a.jpg
7. This is an alternative view of the ticket office at National Stadium station. Note the ticket machines in the background. Every station has security guards at the ticket barriers to control the flow of people and to check for terrorist activity such as bombs. The small table is used to inspect passenger’s bags at times.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000897a.jpg
8. This is a typical BTS station platform all stations are in this style except for Saphan Taksin and Siam stations. Taken at Surasak BTS station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000867a.jpg
10. This is a shot of 2 BTS trains passing each other at the eastern end of Surasak BTS station.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l74/Thaitransit/Modern%20Mass%20transit%20rail/P1000873a.jpg
11. This is a short movie showing what it is like to ride on a BTS train. Filmed between Saphan Taksin and Surasuk BTS stations. Note the layout of the train and the gentle smooth ride of the train.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMJU69TdpbU
39. This is a movie showing the MRT station at Sukhumvit (Asoke) and the platform screen doors in use plus boarding of the train and a short ride towards to Hualamphong station.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Oo9oZXqK00
40. This is a short movie showing what its is like to ride on a MRT subway train. Filmed between Petchaburi and Rama 9 stations. Note the train announcements and the opening and closing of doors etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRAroL5SwdE
If you would like to see the other 40 images related to the BTS and MRT please VISIT: http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/ OR http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/2008/02/modern-rail-based-mass-transit-of.html
I hope you find the pictures and vehicles shown to be of interest if you view this please post some comments and feelings about the pictures.