Bangkok's BTS skytrain is asking commuters to stay put if occasional service disruption occurs this weekend after the installation of new equipment.
BTS Group Holdings Plc said the operations of the Silom and Sukhumvit lines went smoothly on Saturday morning after the switching of frequency spectrum and installation of new transceivers on Friday night.
However, it warned service disruptions might occur after the introduction of the new equipment, while TOT Plc was set to switch on again 10 of its 2,300-MHz base stations along the skytrain routes at 2pm Saturday, according to the operator.
Service teams were on stand-by to assess train operations and address problems that might arise to ensure the service proceeds without any glitches tomorrow.
In the case of disruption, passengers can leave the skytrain without charge. If they have a top-up card, the remaining value will not be deducted. For passengers using single-trip tickets, these can be kept for use within 14 days, the company said.
TOT temporarily shut down 10 of its 2,300-MHz base stations along the skytrain routes after the BTS service was disrupted, causing extensive delays from Monday to Wednesday, even though the 2,300-MHz spectrum was called an unlikely cause of frequency interference.
After several rounds of discussions with relevant parties, the mass transit operator promised to complete switching to a new frequency spectrum near the 2,500MHz mark and to install transceivers by Friday night to avoid signal interference.
BTS Group Holdings Plc also said the commuters affected by the service disruption would not see the fares deducted.
Sarawut Songsiwilai, the Transport Ministry's spokesman, said the Silom and Sukhumvit lines have been running without any signal interference glitches so far.