Suriya asking
for a further reduction of subway ticket prices to
10-15 baht - translated and
summarized from Manager Daily,
December 30, 2004
Even though BMCL has cut ticket prices to 12-18 baht
during non rush hour (12 baht for the first 7 stations
and 18 baht for the rest), Minister Suriya said he
was really not satisfied with BMCL. Minister Suriya
wants 10 baht for the first 3 stations and 15 baht
for the rest so as to boost the number of passengers
to 180,000 a day while MRTA will have the revenue
of 2.3 million baht a day--a loss of revenue by 0.4
million baht a day.
Currently, there are 135,000 Subway passengers a day
on weekdays and 110,000-120,000 passengers a day on
weekends with a daily revenue of 2.7 billion baht.
Only during shows at Queen Sirikit National Convention
Center boosts the number of passengers to 160,000
a day (3.2 million baht revenue a day).
Minister Suriya will ask the cabinet to approve his
plan on Jan 4, 2005 which is likely to be approved
as the way to gain more votes from Bangkokians ....
However, it may not work if the poor feeder bus services
have not been rectified. Same can be said about the
poor patronage of Bangsue Park and Ride which has
no convenient connections to the main roads such as
Ratchadaphisek, Prachachuen, Kamphanegphet 2, Kamphaengphet
3, etc. They just make a rush to construct the park
and ride to show that they have done something without
making serious thought to make them a convenient.
Same thing can be said to the plan to implement the
Pink Monorail along Highway 304 and Yellow LRT.
Subway update: commercial deal delays
sows seeds of discontent between BMCL and MRTA
- translated and summarized from
Manager Daily, December 17, 2004
BMCL has complained to MRTA that they have not been
granted permission for the commercial development
around the stations since the MRTA board has not approved
their new plan yet. It has already caused a 100 million
baht loss to BMCL since they cannot post ads and get
revenue from ATM machines.
BMCL said they will buy five more rolling stock sets
from Siemens, but are still negotiating the price.
It will offer IPO in 2005 for more cars.
The daily number of passengers: 140,000-150,000 passengers
during weekdays and 100,000 passengers a day on weekends
Average revenue: 2.5 million baht a day--to become
4 million baht a day when the number of passenger
reaches 200,000-210,000 a day
BMCL has ordered 150,000 additional smart cards since
the existing 200,000 smart cards cannot cope with
the increasing demand.
BMCL also talks with BTS to implement a jointed ticket
system without meddling from the government since
they know too well that they have to synergize their
ticket system for their own survival. BMCL's Smart
card is the model for the new BTS Smart card system.
BMCL is also going offer a 1-day pass (120 baht) and
3-day pass (300 baht) which the passengers can use
without worrying about the rush hour/non rush hour
period discount or even the distance after they have
seen the successful implementation of BTS's 1-day
pass and 3-day pass. The 1-day pass and 3-day pass
will be introduced on December 20.
10,000 more student passengers on the Subway
- translated and summarized from
Manager Daily, December 16, 2004
BMCL said they have 10,000 more students as passengers
of the Subway (7%) after the introduction of student
discount on smart card systems. Therefore, BMCL will
have to introduce permanent student discounts after
the discount period has expired.
However, there is no significant change even after
the introduction of non-rush hour discount, so they
may have to discontinue it after March 2005.
Nevertheless, BMCL will introduce a 24 hour service
during new years eve after they have seen the busy
Skytrain which runs around the clock during the new
year period (December 31-January 1).
BMCL agreeing to pay 7% of revenue
to MRTA - translated and
summarized from Thai Post,
November 9, 2004
MRTA agrees to accept 7% revenue sharing from BMCL.
MRTA is asking BMCL to share 7% of profit after offering
an IPO.
BMCL said the subsidiary will give 25% of revenue
to BMCL from year 1 to 5 and 35% from year 6 to 10
and BMCL will give 7% of revenue to MRTA. The estimated
of revenue of the subsidiaries will be 200 million
baht each while the estimated revenue in the second
5 year will be 300 million baht each. If both subsidiaries
gain more profits, BMCL will have to give 7% of dividends
to MRTA. BMCL will also have to give MRTA 7% of profit
after offering an IPO.
Complete details
of 2 new subway lines and 2 new extensions
- translated and summarized from Thaipost, November 11, 2004
and Prachachart Thurakij, November 15, 2004
Subway commercial deals
MRTA says the two new lines and two extensions of
the subway with total distance of 71 km would not
have new commercial development because of safety
concerns. For the telecom deals, all the telecom providers
must pay 7% of rent to MRTA. However there are some
disputes since MRTA and BMCL could not agree on the
definition of a 'telecom deal.' BMCL said it means
'services' while MRTA says 'leasing space."
For the How
Come deal, revenue will gradually increase in
the following fashion:
| Raw revenue of How Come |
BMCL |
MRTA |
| First 100 million baht |
10% |
7% |
| second 100 million baht |
15% |
7% |
| Third 100 million baht |
20% |
7% |
| Forth 100 million baht |
25% |
7% |
| More than 400 million baht |
35% |
7% |
The contract with How Come will last for 10 years.
For the case of MetroMall and advertising by Traid networks,
there will be a committee to handle this matter before
the December meeting and MRTA will receive 7% of revenue.
Subway investment plan
The investment plan for MRTA which is pending for approval
by the cabinet this December. MRTA needs to invest 217.4
billion baht for two new lines and two extensions of
the blue lines to be done by the end of 2009. The first
source is a domestic loan to prevent FOREX fluctuations,
but it needs assistance from MOF to find the source.
MRTA has to increase the payment for the consultant
on detailed designs from 300 million baht to 600 million
baht to speed up the projects.
The details on the 217.412 billion baht investment on
71-km of subway lines can be described in details as
follows:
1) Domestic loan is the first source which have to be
done by the end of 2005 to ensure that all will be finished
by the end of 2010. The investment form will be in the
same way as the Bangsue-Bang Yai section.
2) The elevated section (Blue Ring, the elevated section
of Southern Blue Line, Orange Line and Purple line)
will be 'detailed design' while the underground section
(through Rattanakosin Island) will be design and build.
3) No commercial development is allowed to prevent terrorist
attacks. The stations would not be as deep as the initial
phase of the Blue Line (not more than three underground
floors) to cut costs and for safety. [No commercial
development means less clutter in the stations, fewer
people hanging around, and better security. Previous
commercial deals in the subway were penned before 9/11.]
Three new subway lines
1) Blue Line - 2 sections 27 km
1.1) Hua Lamphong - Bang Khae (14 km - 5 underground
and 9 elevated)
10 stations which pass through Charoen Krung, Wang Boorapha,
Sala Chaloem Krung, Wat Po, Pakklong Talad, Bangkok
Yai, Phetkasem - Bang Khae
| Investment: 48.453 billion baht |
System Installation: 9.314 billion
baht |
| Land Expropriation: 4.233 billion
baht |
Consultant fee: 0.550 billion baht |
| Construction: 32.981 billion baht |
Contractor Managing: 1.375 billion
baht |
| Opened: September 2010 |
1.2) Bangsue - Charansanitwongse - Tha Phra (13 km -
all elevated)
7 stations from Bangsue to Bangpho, Charansanitwongse,
Tha Phra
| Investment: 24.063 billion baht |
System Installation: 9.477 billion
baht |
| Land Expropriation: 0.437 billion
baht |
Consultant fee: 0.119 billion baht |
| Construction: 13.697 billion baht |
Contractor Managing: 0.297 billion
baht |
| Opened: September 2009 |
2) Orange Line Bang Kapi - Bang Bumru (24 km
- 21 underground, 3 km elevated)
17 stations - The line will pass Bang Kapi, Ram Khamhaeng
Dindaeng, Victory Monument, Dusit Zoo, Sanghee Bridge,
and Bang Bumru
| Investment: 80.915 billion baht |
System Installation: 17.615 billion
baht |
| Land Expropriation: 5.357 billion
baht |
Consultant fee: 4.458 billion baht |
| Construction: 56.339 billion baht |
Contractor Managing: 1.146 billion
baht |
| Opened: September 2010 |
3) Purple Line - Bangsue - Rat Boorana (20 km
- 2nd section of purple line - 14 km underground, 6
km elevated)
This section will pass Tao Poon, Kiakkai, Sri Yan, Samsen,
National Library, Bang Lumphoo. Phan Fah, Wang Boorapha,
Memorial Bridge, Wongwian Yai, Sam Reh, Mahaisawan,
and Ratboorana
| Investment: 63.381 billion baht |
System Installation: 14.836 billion
baht |
| Land Expropriation: 3.450 billion
baht |
Consultant: 0.366 billion baht |
| Construction: 43.815 billion baht |
Contractor Managing: 0.914 billion
baht |
| Opened: September 2010 |
The schedule will be as follows:
| Period |
Task |
| 2005 |
Consultant submitting the
final study results in detail (MRTA has to pay
consultants 600 million baht to speed up the study--300
million baht from the budget and 300 million baht
from loans.) |
| March 2005 - April 2007 |
Land expropriation |
| November 2005 - June 2006 |
Hiring the contractors |
| February 2006 - August 2010 |
Construction |
The financial benefit from the lines is not much:
Blue Line: 3.67%
Orange Line: 0.07%
Purple Line: 0.43%
Economic benefit is 20.56%
The payment scheme will be as follows:
| Year |
Amount of expenditure
(billion baht) |
| 2005 |
0.516 |
| 2006 |
35.835 |
| 2007 |
59.201 |
| 2008 |
69.923 |
| 2009 |
42.663 |
| 2010 |
9.274 |
|
