Slow start for Purple Line

The long awaited Purple Line, launched early this month, has under-performed, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has hinted that the operator needs to either cut ticket prices or make it be easier for users to connect to other routes, Government Spokesperson Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.
Such moves would make it is easier for people who want travel between Bangkok and areas in the city’s north via the Purple Line’s electric mass-transit trains.
The new line, which started operating on August 6, is not able to connect with the Blue Line at Bang Sue Station because it stops about a kilometre away at Tao Poon Station.
Only about 20,000 people have been using the Purple Line trains each day – less than a third of the 60,000 to 70,000 commuters expected.
Many reasons have been given for its lack of popularity, mostly high ticket prices and the inconvenience of the “missing link” between Tao Poon Station and Bang Sue Station on the Blue Line. Currently a free public bus service carries commuters between the two stations.
The Purple Line runs from Bang Yai to Tao Poon, with 16 stations along the 23km distance.
Ticket prices start at Bt14 and increase by Bt2 for each station. The maximum price is Bt42 for the whole route. That is more expensive than alternatives – buses and vans charge Bt25 for the same trip.
The trains are also slower than planned. The operator had promised 36 minutes for the entire route from Bang Yai to Tao Poon but it actually takes over 45 minutes to reach the other end. But the lack of links to other lines, notably the subway to take passengers into the inner city, could be the most serious deficiency.
It was initially planned that commuters on the Purple Line would be able to connect to the subway via the Blue Line at Tao Poon, but the track and signal system won’t be installed on the “missing link” until mid-2017.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand has sought to help Purple Line operator Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM)  by providing free daily buses from 6am to midnight, plus State Railway of Thailand trains during rush hours from Monday to Saturday.
The bus trip is supposed to take only five minutes from Tao Poon to Bang Sue subway station, but traffic sometimes causes delays.
Sansern said the prime minister commented that this was a normal thing as people were adjusting their travel plans. “It may take some time,” he said, citing the PM, adding that solutions were underway.
He said there had been progress after the prime minister invoked Article 44 of the charter in July to speed up the selection of an operator for two extensions of the Blue Line (from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae and Bang Sue to Tha Phra), as well as the connection between the rail lines.
“The board of the MRTA has completed a regulation on sharing revenue for the Blue Line extension and the 1km missing link to submit to the Transport Ministry for consideration,” he said. This was done after talks with the National Economic and Social Development Board, the State Enterprise Policy Office, and other agencies in accordance with the order.
The Selection Committee under Article 35 and a regulatory body for the Blue Line would jointly outline a timeframe for operating the route. Then, the committees would negotiate with BEM, which now operates the Blue Line from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong – to run the extended Blue Line routes. This process would be completed within 60 days.
Sansern said Gen Prayut wanted to speed up all processes in getting an operator for the Blue Line extensions and the 1km “missing link”. “The PM also reiterated that participants on all projects should learn from this lesson and make it an integrated plan before implementation.”