Rail providers to Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station will soon be no more, according to Thailand’s Transport Minister. Saksayam Chidchob says companies to the station will initially be decreased from 118 a day to 22, before being phased out fully. Hush-hush has been confirmed for the termination of all services, however an earlier proposal has it pencilled in for December 23. The move has Bangkok commuters up in arms, pissed off on the enhance in expenditure their daily commute will entail.
According to a Thai PBS World report, many commuters say they’ll now have to journey from the capital’s Bang Sue station by bus to find a way to attain work places in the city centre. Saksayam has acknowledged their frustration and says he’ll maintain talks with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority about operating a feeder bus service to transport folks from Bang Sue station to the centre of the city. The minister has also pledged to discuss reductions with BTS Skytrain and Metropolitan Rapid Transit to reduce fares for individuals disembarking at Bang Sue.
Meanwhile, the minister says the State Railway of Thailand has created the SRT Asset Company Limited, which will handle the SRT’s belongings so as to reduce its operational money owed, which are roughly 600 billion baht. Thai PBS World stories that the Hua Lamphong terminal is considered one of several property located on prime actual estate, along with Thonburi practice station, the Mae Nam railway station, and the Royal City Avenue land. The SRT is expected to make 5 billion baht in revenue from the event of its assets within the first year. This is anticipated to increase to 10 billion baht by yr 5 and to 800 billion baht in around 30 years.
The minister has acknowledged calls to preserve the Hua Lamphong terminal as a museum, quite than sacrifice it to business growth. However, he says the SRT’s important debt means he could should make an unpopular determination..