New routes to revitalise Bangkok bus network begin test run next week
NEWLY PAINTED buses will go on trial on eight new routes in Greater Bangkok from next Tuesday.
They will be displaying a new numbering system too, including at least one English-language character.
The new routes are: G21 (Rangsit - Rama V Pier), G59E (Min Buri - Si Phraya Pier via expressway), R3 (Rama IX Park - National Stadium), R41 (Tok Road - Happyland), Y59 (Taling Chan Train Station - Krathum Ban), Y61 (Settakij Village - Chatuchak Bus Terminal), B44 (Rama IX - Suttisarn) and B45 (Ua Arthon Beung Kum - Memorial Bridge).
Land Transport Department director-general Sanith Phromwong said G stands for green, R for red, Y for yellow and B for blue.
The B area covers inner suburbs of Greater Bangkok and some of its northern parts, G is for eastern and northeastern parts, R for southern and southeastern parts, and Y for southern and western parts.
“E stands for expressway,” Sanith said.
He also explained that the coloured lines on the side of the bus reflected the service area and route of the bus.
“We will also display the old bus route numbers so that it is easier for people to understand,” Sanith said.
“We will communicate with the public about the new numbering system via land transport officials, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority [BMTA] officials and PR materials.”
According to Sanith, the eight new bus routes would operate on a trial basis from 6.30am to 6.30pm between August 15 and September 15.
“The fares are the same as BMTA bus fares,” he said.
People are welcome to express their opinions about the new bus services via http://www.facebook.com/BusRerouteBKK/.
“We will analyse feedback to improve services,” Sanith said.
The move is a part of the plan to revamp bus services in Greater Bangkok, which refers to the capital and its adjacent provinces, according to authorities.
The revamp started after the Cabinet passed a resolution on September 27 last year that the BMTA would no longer be the sole operator of bus services in Greater Bangkok.
BMTA’s accumulated losses have been over Bt100 billion.
“We have now planned 269 bus routes for Greater Bangkok. These routes are in response to the new mass-transportation systems [MRTA and BTS] that have been going up in the zone,” Sanith said.
According to him, the 269 new bus routes would together cover a distance of 7,833 kilometres, a greater coverage area than current bus routes.
“The average distance of each route will also reduce by three kilometres from 31 kilometres to 28 kilometres,” he added.
Assoc Prof Dr Agachai Sumalee, the director of Smart Cities Research Center (SCRC), the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, said commuters made about 1.7 million trips a day via buses in Greater Bangkok.
“It has dropped from more than 2 million,” he said.