BANGKOK, Nov 8 – Bangkok’s subway, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) remains operational and all stations remain open, despite some stations being threatened by flooding, said Chartchai Praditpong, corporate relations director of the Bangkok Metro Company Limited (BMCL), the subway operator.
On a system extending from Bang Sue to Hualamphong, four out of a total 18 stations –Lat Phrao, Chatuchak, Phaholyothin and Kamphaengphet – are at risk.
Since yesterday, the floodwater outside the four stations has remained at some 0.30 metres from the walkways, reaching the first step of the stairs leading to entrances of the stations. This level is not considered a crisis level.
The stable water level may be caused by the spreading of floodwater to other roads and the installation of so-called big bags, huge sandbags weighing about 2.5 tonnes each, in the north of Bangkok, which may help reduce flows of water, he said.
He said subway commuters has dropped to 160,000 per day from about 220,000-240,000 because it is a school break period and some people have move to stay in other provinces due to flooding in the capital. As a result, there is no need to increase frequency of the underground service.
He added that trains, running every three minutes, is the system’s maximum capacity.
