BANGKOK, 11 May 2012 – Skytrain operator Bangkok Transit System Co (BTSC) has revealed that it recorded 176 million passengers in the past year, an increase of 21% from the year earlier. To accommodate the spike in passenger traffic, the BTSC is set to procure additional train compartments.
BTSC chairman and chief executive officer Keeree Kanjanapas, said that last year the skytrain saw 21 percent more passenger journeys than the previous year, estimated at 480,000 trips per day.
He elaborated that the increase in the passenger number is due to the opening of an extension line on the Sukhumvit route. The company has forecasted a revenue growth of 20% this year and a passenger growth of 12-15%.
Mr Keeree said that thanks to a growing number of commuters, the company is working on upgrading their service, by importing 35 additional train compartments from Siemens of Germany, scheduled to be delivered by August. Another batch of 20 more compartments from China is expected to reach Thailand by next year, to serve on an extended line between Wong Wien Yai and Bang Wa. Two stations on the extended line will be open late this year.
Mr Keeree also confirmed that a BTS fare rise is not on the cards for the moment despite the higher operation cost. He said besides that the operator is proposing a discounted fare for senior passengers aged 60 and over to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). According to the scheme, expected to begin next month, the elderly will receive a 50 percent discount from the normal fare.
