A bumpy ride

A benchmark of a developed city is when everyone, and not just the poor, take public transport. Bangkok still has a lot to do even though 2016 has seen several developments in the continual effort to improve our public transport. We have new GPS in buses and sparkling new canal boats and trains. Meanwhile, a trial run of water transportation in Klong Padung Krung Kasem has been launched.

And yet we have seen the Purple Line electric train and its "missing link", boat accidents were still reported, and the NGV bus procurement scandal is the latest glitch in the system. Here we look back on the highlights and lowlights of the year for mass transit.

Buses

In 2016, we've seen how technology has played a part in the bus system. The contract to install GPS on 2,600 public buses was signed, with the first phase of the project including 500 buses while more are scheduled by mid-2017.

With GPS, the co-ordinates of buses and driving speed can be tracked. This means the possibility of predicting arrival times at each stop -- something Thai buses sorely lack -- and also a safer ride for commuters.

It will take some more time before full implementation. Meantime, we now have a website to track buses in 35 routes called cityglide.com by Plan B Media, a company that has also offered Wi-Fi on board Bangkok buses since the end of last year. Commuters can access the site to search and receive estimated times of arrival from transit services, and it's fairly accurate. We finally have some idea how long we will have to wait for our bus.

This year, Bangkok was also supposed to acquire 489 new NGV buses procured from Bestlin Group. But after the first batch of 100 arrived earlier this month, they were impounded by customs authorities at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri for alleged customs tax evasion. As of Dec 22, the outcome of the scandal remains uncertain. So whether or not the buses are worth the money is probably a question that will have to wait until 2017 for an answer.

There was no major change on bus routes except that Bangkok Mass Transit Authority has allocated some buses to offer special free shuttle services, transporting passengers from outskirt areas to Sanam Luang for accommodating the public who head to the Grand Palace to pay homage to the late King Bhumibol as only public buses are allowed in the area. This is actually an interesting public transportation experiment that shows how buses can carry a large flow of people across town.

A big worry, however, is when the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority floats an idea to scrap the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service that links Silom with Tha Phra to save 200 million baht in annual contract costs.

The reasons given are that there are more effective ways to get commuters to their destination on the Thon Buri side faster and the BRT lanes are occupied by other vehicles. However, the solution to this problem can also be done the other way round -- for example, by banning cars entering the lanes.

CITY TRAINS

After six years of construction, the Purple Line electric railway finally opened in August. But it quickly turned out to be a major debacle; first the number of passengers fell far lower than the target of 70,000 a day, a disappointing figure that troubled the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand; second, there was the "missing link" between the Purple Line and the Blue Line, which doubles the severity of the first problem.

There are several factors. The price (over 70 baht per trip from Klong Bang Phai to Hua Lamphong station for passengers travelling with no MRT Plus card) makes it expensive to commute to the city when alternatives such as a van ride can be cheaper and could also be faster.

But the most controversial issue is the 1km missing link between the Blue Line's Bang Sue station and the Purple Line's Tao Poon. Without the connection between the two stations due to operating contract problems, passengers have to seek alternative ways to travel between them. The authorities have provided a provisional solution by allocating a free shuttle bus that takes approximately 15 minutes to travel between these two stations.

The problem has been constantly discussed, and one of the two operators in charge of the two lines needs to take action on this (MRT for the Purple Line, or Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc for the Blue Line). As of mid-December, the agreement hasn't been finalised yet. Again, we have to keep waiting into 2017.

Apart from the Purple Line, the construction of other electric train lines has shown progress. For example, in the first phase of the Red Line from Rangsit to Bang Sue, many stations are nearly complete.

And yet Bangkok's train system had a publicity boost with the first photos of Sanam Chai station of the Blue Line extension. The elaborate Thai-style architecture of the underground station has caught public enthusiasm. However, the service will not begin until 2019.

Boats

It's been an active year for boat services because when traffic on land doesn't seem to improve that quickly, water transport gains the spotlight.

BMA launched a boat service in Klong Phadung Krung Kasem to promote tourism and tackle traffic problems. The service operating from Hua Lamphong to Thewes runs daily from 6-9am and 4pm until later in the evening.

The hottest boat issue is the Klong Saen Saeb services, the busiest canal which has served commuters travelling from eastern Bangkok to the centre. A safety concern has been raised after a boat explosion caused by an accumulation of gas ignited by the heat of the vessel's exhaust pipe in March. In November a man was found dead after falling into the water when disembarking the boat.

Family Transport Co, which runs the service on Sean Saeb Canal, made a quick move this time. They launched a renovated Saen Saeb boat with a claim of improved safety. Steps were installed to narrow the gangway to embark and disembark from the boat. Wood and plastic barriers have been installed around the boat to prevent passengers standing on the side. The improved boat is scheduled to operate at the end of this year. Whether or not it will solve the problem, we have to wait and see.

The most hi-tech boat service of the year goes to the 8km route in Klong Phasi Charoen, running from Taksin-Petch Kasem Pier to Taling Chan floating market. Launched in April, the spaceship-like boat claims to have a minimal effect on the people who reside on the river banks, causing limited pollution, and is controlled by a GPS system. Wi-Fi is also provided on-board. The fare is charged only through a Rabbit card.

Trains

Passengers have longed for faster and more punctual services. Another year has passed and the high-speed train talk remains just that -- talk.

The big change we have this year, however, are the sparkling new trains, Chinese-made, that run on four routes: Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, Bangkok-Nong Khai and Bangkok-Had Yai.

The new trains, which excited travellers after their launch, offer improved convenience and safety. They come with a vacuum toilet system, personal TV for first class, special compartments for people with disabilities and CCTV cameras.

Also one man's trash is another man's treasure. The saying seems valid to the country's authorities who were delighted to receive 24 second-hand trains from Japan. These trains were given for free but the transportation costs, restoring costs and modification costs were not covered. Ten trains from Japan arrived in Thailand earlier this month. The authorities are now evaluating the modification costs, and work will begin early next year. These Japanese trains are scheduled to be in service by mid-2017.

This also raises questions on whether or not investing money for the adjustment and transportation of the trains was cost effective, or getting brand new trains would have been a better choice.

Just a few days ago, there was also another update on trains -- the renovated third-class carriages aged over 60 were released. The project is an urgent priority as the government aims to give train renovation as a new year gift. All the trains that are set to be renovated are expected to be finished by next year.

Inter-provincial vans relocated to the city's three bus terminals. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya

Vans 

The most important issue related to vans is station relocation for inter-provincial services. Victory Monument was once a centre for this mode of mass transit. But the new stations are at the city's bus terminals: Mor Chit 2, for northern and northeastern routes, Sai Tai Mai, for southern routes, and Ekamai, for eastern routes.

Relocation is part of government efforts to alleviate traffic congestion and cope with rising passenger numbers. However, it has caused some dissatisfaction as many find it inconvenient to get to the new stations and there is, to get there, an additional cost to pay.

The provinces

Other big regional cities have also made an effort to improve public transport. Chiang Mai launched a few bus routes last year. But the most successful city may be Khon Kaen, now that there is Khon Kaen City Bus running around the clock which just kicked off at the beginning of this year. The feedback seems to be positive. The bus co-ordinates can be tracked through an application. Wi-Fi is available on-board. The fare is collected through a machine or through an rfid card.

The idea of a light rail system has also been discussed in some cities such as Chiang Mai, Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima in the past few years. But not much tangible progress has been shown this year.