Mishaps & Glitches: falling for rail?

[sabaisabai]

I remember seeing that before the skytrain first opened corrosion from reinforcements was appearing on the pillars. Workers were going from pillar to pillar grinding and perhaps treating the pillars so that they at least appeared to be okay. I don't get to Bangkok very much, but last time noticed with alarm that several portions of the concrete edging were missing, presumedly having fallen off.

The main concern isn't that the structure will collapse, but that the usable lifetime of the lines will be very limited. It is such a drawn out and diffult process to build such a system in Bangkok and it would be a shame if the effort was wasted on a short-lived system.

I'm not an engineer, and would like to hear from anybody who can comment on the quality of the construction, and concrete, the future maintenance issues, etc. Is this in fact an issue? Has it been raised in the press?

[forumadmin]

>several portions of the concrete edging were missing, presumedly having fallen off.

Where did you see this? On what station? Other than water stains on the concrete, I have seen no damage to the structure.

Rumors like this circulate from time to time, but have always turned out to be false. Here's an earlier one (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Sky...ts02.shtml#28a) where Skytrain COO Paul M. Anderson responds to rumors about the Skytrain.

[sabaisabai]

I've followed the rumours and response to the skytrain problems, and agree that in my experience the ride and quality has been nothing short of excellent.

A friend pointed out the missing parts of the structure on the north side of the Sukumvit line near the Ambassador beer garden, at Soi 13 I think. I can't describe the 'missing bits', but if you take a look you'll see. They're not part of the integral structure, edgings perhaps, but it's not a good sign all the same.

[sabaisabai]

That picture at Pantip looks quite alarming. I couldn't make out much from the Thai. Can somebody please provide more background to the story? Namely what's in the caption and where the photo was taken?

What's the consensus on the quality of the concrete structures and their expected lifespan? I noticed that before the official opening, that the pillars had to be scrubbed of orange corrosion stains. A quick survey of my engineering friends (okay, one friend) yielded the comment 'not too good'. I'd be interested in hearing some more informed opinions on this.

[Wisarut]

Nope, that cract is ACTUALLY a termite route ....

[sabaisabai]

So there's no crack then? What's a termite route?

[ncr]

Why is it that when the train approaches Saphan Taksin Station, the lights always go out for 5-6 seconds and then go on again? Is there any deeper sense to this? (Or a technical reason for it?)

BTW.... today I noticed that the digital display on the Skytrain spelt it "Thaksin" instead of "Taksin" Bridge....... have they renamed it in honour of our beloved PM (instead of the historical king)? Or is BTS trying to suck up to him so he grants them permission for the extension?

(If you didn't notice it, this was meant purely ironically.)

[Wisarut]

Khun NCR,

Such kinds of phenomina are NOT a surprise at all since the Skytrian driver have switch off the power before reaching
Saphan Taksin station.

Yeah ... probably the typo error or the way to cajol Premier Thaksin to have the same status as King Taksin the Great.

[ncr]

Originally posted by Wisarut
Khun NCR,

Such kinds of phenomina are NOT a surprise at all since the Skytrian driver have switch off the power before reaching
Saphan Taksin station.

Yes, it seems like the whole power is switched off and on. Interesting... and why they have to do that? I think it's not required at any other terminal stations?

[Wisarut]

Khun NCR,

Sghould should have already known that Saphan Taksin terminal have the different formation than other terminals ... single track terminal ...., thus special safety measures have to be applied or the rollign strokc will be derailed and dived into the river ....

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by Wisarut
Yeah ... the way to cajol Premier Thaksin to have the same status as King Taksin the Great.

Was King Taksin The Great deposed by the first King of the Chakri dynasty?


The Enforcer!

[Yappofloyd]

Not a good year thus far for rail urban transit in BKK…..must be something to do with those roosters....

The report by TNA of this mornings 'minor' accident on MCOT is quite interesting. Firstly, it says that 5 staff were injured but to what extent is unknown. Most likely 'minor' as it was a 'minor' accident? What I really like in the TNA release is the inherent contradiction in the following;

“Initial investigation results suggest the accident was caused by human error,” Mr. Anat said.

The driver of the maintenance car failed to stopped at the agreed point ordered by the control room and caused the minor accident, he added.

The accident was not the fault of the BTS which has a computer-run safety system to prevent error.

Obviously the computer-run safety system DIDN'T prevent an accident and funny that BTS does not consider a BTS driver to be part of BTS! Training!!!

[Yappofloyd]

^ Yet another incident of disruption to one of the two networks suggesting that this is the year of gremlins, laxness and power supply glitches.

Passengers evacuated as skytrain comes to halt - BKK Post 09/04/05

The BTS skytrain en route to Mor Chit station ground to a halt near the Siam station, prompting a transfer of 100 passengers to another train.

The cause of the glitches, which took place about 9pm, was not immediately known although there appeared to be power failure in the train which stopped.

Chusak Chomchinda, BTS public relations director, said the problem stemmed from the train's own system to which electricity was supplied normally.
The company said the cause of the incident is being investigated.

[GWR]

Tucked away in the Business Section. Is this a straight-forward move, or has it been precipitated by some problem?:

Mass transit :Lloyd's Register Rail appointed by BTS for Skytrain safety management audit

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) recently appointed Lloyd's Register Rail (Thailand) to conduct a review and audit of BTS's Safety Management System, in accordance with Lloyd's Register Rail's "Best Practice Model" standards.

The audit involves an assessment of both the adequacy and effectiveness of the company's Safety Management System, compared with the requirements of international best practice.

BTS has now successfully implemented all recommendations to the recognised standard to achieve certification, the company said in a press release last Thursday.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...s_30031433.php

[GWR]

A sky train breaks down, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at many stations
Hundreds of commuters are now being stranded at many sky train staions on Wednesday morning after a train with about 300 passengers broke down near Ploenchit station.

Sky train mechanics rushed to the scene to fix the train.

Earlier report said the brake system of the train got stuck.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30050300