PUBLISHED: 17 Jun 2024 at 04: 30
Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc ( BTSC), the BTS Skytrain operator, is racing against time to supply Bangkok’s Bus Rapid Transit ( BRT ) electric buses and have them up and running by the Sept 1 deadline.
On April 30th, BTSC signed a contract with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) to supply the 23 EV buses for the BRT and run them for five years at a cost of 478 million baht.
After being purchased, the cars must pass a one-month trial period, which raised fears that the automobiles might not be ready for launch.
Surapong Laoha- Unya, CEO of BTSC, stated that the company is purchasing framework from China and that the cars will then be assembled in Thailand.
He acknowledged that the company was concerned about missing the deadline because of the month’s trial and a sophisticated production process. He added that the Chinese manufacturer had promised to deliver the vehicle on-time.
The BTSC will pay the BMA a contractual fine if the EV buses do n’t return to service by the deadline, according to Mr. Surapong. The BTSC is accelerating the operation and pulling every last glimmer to ensure that everything is ready by September 1. Additionally, the fare will no longer get pre-paid at the place but rather on the vehicle.
Sitthiporn Somkitsan, assistant chairman- general of the BMA’s Traffic and Transport Department, said the 24- seater, lower- floor buses will remain fueled by a 150 kWh lithium- ion- phosphate battery.
Universal design tools will be put in place to accommodate travellers.
Wisanu Subsompon, the lieutenant governor of Bangkok, stated that the BRT activity would be made more flexible. The BRT cars will make stops outside of their BRT-exclusive lanes to hold more commuters.
For people to exchange with the MRT Blue Line at Lumpini Station, the road, which is 15.7 kilometers long, will also be extended by 2 miles between Sathon Road and Rama IV Road.
Mr. Wisanu stated that the BRT may have windows on both sides, with one opening for regular bus starts on the straight and the other for BRT stations on the left.