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More people riding Bangkok's Skytrain to get to places faster so business is profitable & more trains, more train lines to be added soon.

The first four-car train is scheduled to enter service in early October, and all 35 will be delivered by next July. The new cars will increase passenger handling capacity by more than 30,000 people an hour. (Source: Thiti Wannamontha). 

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Economics
TRANSPORT

Sukhumvit BTS line to get four-car trains in October

29/08/2012
Nareerat Wiriyapong

LAEM CHABANG : Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) is aiming for both passengers and revenue to increase by 15% next year with a new extension line and new trains in service.

The company received the first batch of 35 trailer cars manufactured by Germany's Siemens AG yesterday.

The trailer cars cost 2.1 billion baht and will lengthen the existing trains from three cars to four on the Sukhumvit line to accommodate more passengers during peak hours.

The first four-car train is scheduled to be in service in early October, and all 35 cars will be delivered by July 2013. The new cars increase passenger handling capacity by over 30,000 passengers per hour.

BTSC also purchased five Chinese-made four-car trains to serve higher volume on the Silom Line when the Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa extension is in operation.

The 5.3-kilometre extension will open the first two stations at the end of this year and the other two by mid-2013, said chairman and chief executive Keeree Kanjanapas.

After completion, the BTS Skytrain will run a total of 36.25 km, consisting of 34 stations and a fleet of 52 four-car trains totalling 208 cars.

At present, BTS services 600,000 passengers on average per day, with the number peaking at 715,000 in March.

Ridership is expected to hit 650,000 next year when the Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa section is operational.

In the first quarter of this fiscal year starting in April, ridership rose 15% from a year earlier, but revenue surged 20%. The company targets ridership increasing 12-15% over last year.

"We are aiming for another 15% growth next year for both ridership and revenue," said Mr Keeree.

Chief operating officer Surapong Laoha-unya said the company is considering a fare increase next year, which was agreed upon in the concession with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The 5.25-km On Nut-Bearing extension opened earlier this year added 120,000 to 130,000 passengers daily to the Sukhumvit line, exceeding the BMA's estimates of 100,000. The new extension to Bang Wa is expected to draw up to 80,000 passengers a day, said Mr Surapong.

(Source: Bangkok Post, Economics, TRANSPORT, Sukhumvit BTS line to get four-car trains in October, 29/08/2012, Nareerat Wiriyapong, link) 

 
Rapid Transit Vocabulary

BTS Skytrain - an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand consists of 32 stations along two lines: the Sukhumvit line running northeastwards and the Silom line running through Silom and Sathon Roads and the Central Business District of Bangkok, operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), also known as "Bangkok Mass Transit System" รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส (See Wikipedia and List of Stations)

line - a rail line, a section of rail track that a train runs along and provides service according to a schedule
Sukhumvit BTS line

extension - an increase in the power of effect of something ขยายขอบเขตออกไป
extension line - an addition to a rail line (adding track so that it goes further and services more people)

Silom Line - the part of BTS Skytrain running along Silom (See Wikipedia)
Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa extension (to the Silom line) -  (See Wikipedia)

rapid - fast
transit - moving people or things from one place to another place

rapid transit - moving quickly from place to place
rapid transit in Thailand - (See Wikipedia)

Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) - the company that operates the BTS Skytrain under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)
Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) - Same as above

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) - the name of the local city government of Bangkok (See Wikipedia)

scheduled - planned to happen at a particular time or day ตามตารางเวลา
scheduled to enter service in early October

delivered - bring something to the place (where people asked for it)
the trains will be delivered by next July

capacity - the greatest amount of work that can be done or handled (or traffic that can be handled) ความสามารถ (ความจุ) ในการจัดการ
handling - doing work, processing items of work
handling capacity - ability to do work, ability to do or "handle" a certain number of items or units per day

passenger handling capacity - the highest or "maximum" number of passengers that can be "handled" or process (in a period of time: hour, day, week, etc)

The first four-car train is scheduled to enter service in early October, and all 35 will be delivered by next July. The new cars will increase passenger handling capacity by more than 30,000 people an hour

aim for - make as a goal to be achieved (within a fixed period of time)
revenue - income from taxes or business activities รายได้
aiming for both passengers and revenue to increase by 15% next year

in service - being used to provide "service", operating, operational
new trains in service

in operation - Same as "in service"
operational - able to work normally ที่สามารถใช้งานได้

Sukhumvit BTS line to get four-car trains in October. Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) is aiming for both passengers and revenue to increase by 15% next year with a new extension line and new trains in service.

batch - a group of things or people dealt with at the same time or considered similar in type  พวก, ชุด, กลุ่ม
first batch
received the first batch of 35 trailer cars

peak - highest level; the time when something is at its highest or greatest level ช่วงเวลาที่พบมากที่สุด
peak hours - the hours of the day when greatest number of people using the service (riding on the trains)
peaking at - reaching the time during the day when with the most customers

accommodate - do things to meet or satisfy the needs of another; to prepare what is needed for something ปรับตัว to provide a place for someone ให้ที่พักพิง
accommodate more passengers during peak hours.

The company received the first batch of 35 trailer cars manufactured by Germany's Siemens AG yesterday. The trailer cars cost 2.1 billion baht and will lengthen the existing trains from three cars to four on the Sukhumvit line to accommodate more passengers during peak hours. The first four-car train is scheduled to be in service in early October, and all 35 cars will be delivered by July 2013. The new cars increase passenger handling capacity by over 30,000 passengers per hour.

volume - the quantity or amount of something
four-car trains to serve higher volume on the Silom Line

consist of ... - has as its parts ...
consisting of 34 stations

fleet - a group of ships, or all of the ships in a country's navy ขบวนเรือ
a fleet of 52 four-car trains totalling 208 cars

BTSC also purchased five Chinese-made four-car trains to serve higher volume on the Silom Line when the Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa extension is in operation. The 5.3-kilometre extension will open the first two stations at the end of this year and the other two by mid-2013, said chairman and chief executive Keeree Kanjanapas. After completion, the BTS Skytrain will run a total of 36.25 km, consisting of 34 stations and a fleet of 52 four-car trains totalling 208 cars. At present, BTS services 600,000 passengers on average per day, with the number peaking at 715,000 in March.

ridership - the people who ride the trains
expected - believe will happen คาดว่า (จะเกิดขึ้น)

ridership is expected to hit 650,000 next year
ridership rose 15% from a year earlier

fiscal - related to government spending; connected with the government budget, i.e., public money เกี่ยวกับงบประมาณ
fiscal year - the "fiscal" calendar used by companies or the government for budgeting spending and financial reporting

first quarter - the first three months of the fiscal calendar used by companies or the government for budgeting spending and financial reporting

in the first quarter of this fiscal year starting in April

surged - increased quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว More details from DPA the German news agency: The
revenue surged 20%

targets - goals or levels you plan to achieve

fare - the price of a train ride
fare increase

concession - official permission from the government to do a certain type of business สัมปทาน

Ridership is expected to hit 650,000 next year when the Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa section is operational. In the first quarter of this fiscal year starting in April, ridership rose 15% from a year earlier, but revenue surged 20%. The company targets ridership increasing 12-15% over last year. "We are aiming for another 15% growth next year for both ridership and revenue," said Mr Keeree. Chief operating officer Surapong Laoha-unya said the company is considering a fare increase next year, which was agreed upon in the concession with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

exceeding - passing a limit, going beyond
estimates - guesses of what the size, value, amount, cost, etc. of something might be การประมาณค่า
exceeding the BMA's estimates

The 5.25-km On Nut-Bearing extension opened earlier this year added 120,000 to 130,000 passengers daily to the Sukhumvit line, exceeding the BMA's estimates of 100,000. The new extension to Bang Wa is expected to draw up to 80,000 passengers a day, said Mr Surapong.

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