image source, State Railway of Thailand
Changing the Bang Sue Central Station signboard to the royally bestowed name “Bangkok Apiwat Central Station”, worth more than 33 million baht, has caused criticism about the appropriateness of the use of public tax money by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). This is the latest case at Bang Sue Central Station. Before the official opening ceremony schedule in 2023
One of the satirical pictures shared by social media users online is the picture of the Bang Sue Grand Station sign that requires a budget of over 33 million, and the picture of an old Thai train. Parked next to the Malaysian train in a modern and newer shape at the Padang Besar Railway Station in Malaysia is one of the opinions of Thai people on this matter.
Bang Sue Central Station It is the largest station in Southeast Asia. The total area around 2,325 rai supports a variety of train systems. Including a maintenance shop, a locomotive garage, a train preparation area, a train storage area and an area for future commercial development.
Bang Sue Central Station Trial opening for service with the Red Line suburban train in August 2021 before being fully opened since 29 November 2021. For long-distance trains And ordinary trains that the SRT hopes to move the origin and destination stations to the central station has not yet happened. Due to objections and availability of various systems of stations and trains
It has been operating for more than a year, helping to connect the journey from the suburbs to the city at Bang Sue. The Red Line train has more than 4.5 million passengers from the opening date (Nov. 2021-Nov. 2022), the highest total passenger volume since the commercial opening, namely Krungthep Apiwat Station. (Bang Sue Central Station) with more than 1.6 million passengers.
However, in the midst of the gradual opening of the suburban electric train but also counted as Bang Sue Central Station Since opening for business, many problems have been encountered. both in terms of quality connection between interior spaces Including unsuitable commercial development areas.
BBC Thai explores the problems of Bang Sue Central Station, the “Flag” project of the State Railway of Thailand. with a construction budget of over 34,000 million baht
Water leakage during trial run
August, during the start of the service trial Social media users have posted messages, pictures and clips about pavement and granite floors in the passenger concourse floor inside Bang Sue Grand Station at the entrance and exit. and inside the restroom that found a problem with water seeping in the floor
The SRT clarified that the humidity was caused by rainwater outside the building that could not be drained. causing a blockage of the drainage chute installed in front of the entrance-exit door This causes rainwater to flow into the building and seep under the granite slabs. The area inside the toilet Caused by water leakage that the sanitary ware seeps into under the floor slab. While the pavement in front of the building is caused by the collapse of the sand layer under the floor.
The SRT stated that it had ordered the contractor to urgently fix it. All of which are still under structural insurance for 2 years.
Bang Sue Food Center Gate 4 with stations costing tens of millions
It has been open for service for about a month. A lifestyle Facebook page called LivingPop has taken a tour of Bang Sue Food Center Gate 4 or “CANTEEN GADGET 4” located on the 1st floor (ticket floor) of Bang Sue Central Station.
Pepsi table atmosphere blue plastic chair causing different social media to express opinions Why can’t the venue be set up as the largest station in ASEAN? Causing the next day, SRT came out to clarify the picture of the food center Inside Bang Sue Central Station It’s just a food court that is temporarily set up to accommodate vaccinated people. Ready to listen to opinions from all sectors in order to improve the service further.
The next day, the tables and chairs inside the food court were replaced with higher level chairs. And without the famous brand of soft drinks that had been set up the day before
Physical stations do not pass for people with disabilities.
After 2 months of operation, the Sub-Committee on Quality Assessment of Sub-Committee Train Stations (Red Line) and Bang Sue Grand Station and the Pattern of Train Access to Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong), a committee of agencies in the Ministry of Transport. Assess the quality of Bang Sue Central Station. with an average score of 3.3, passing the minimum criteria for providing services to the public But there are many issues that need to be improved.
Starting from the facilities and physical conditions to support everyone’s use. at Bang Sue Central Station when it was a vaccination center Found problems with wheelchairs for people with disabilities, such as drainage grilles Ramp stops are found to be few and far between. Including a single-point toilet, sanitary equipment of the handicapped bathroom that is broken. lighting system, etc.
image source, All public transport network partners must be able to ride (T4A).
The grate covers the ditch in front of the entrance to Bang Sue Grand Station. Pictures taken in Jan. 2022
Sawang Srisom, Project Manager and Project Manager of the Mass Transit Network All Must Ride (T4A), who surveyed Bang Sue Grand Station more than a year ago. told BBC Thai that Access of passengers Inside the building may look good. But the connection from one area to another for people with disabilities needs to be improved. as well as the way up and down Water grids that hinder wheelchairs which has not yet been notified by the SRT whether there have been further improvements or not
“The way to travel between the old Bang Sue station is inconvenient at some points. as if going down forward have to push very far to find a ramp Be careful of the front wheel falling off the steel grille. if tripping occurs Might fall off the wheelchair.”
All project managers and planners of the mass transit network must be able to ride. Mention of Taling Chan Red Line Station and Bang Bamru that connects to the central station as well There is a problem with passenger elevators that are not conducive to the use of disabled people.
“He has an elevator. But I don’t know what the designers thought. Because before reaching the elevator, there are stairs and he hasn’t solved it until now.
System of signs, signs, directions and sound announcements
Station Quality Assessment Subcommittee Also assessed for Bang Sue Grand Station to improve. provide a signposting system permanent sign and use symbols that are standard and uniform throughout the system
It also recommends a signpost to the platform indicating the route to the destination. so that passengers can use the service without confusion and provide announcements within the stations and platform levels to inform service information to passengers. along with the repair and maintenance of the original Directory label to be in a ready-to-use condition and provide additional Directory signs within the station and platforms of all stations
Change the label to “Bangkok Apiwat Central Station” averages 2.9 hundred thousand baht per character.
The big issue at the end of the year that continues into the new year, drawing criticism from both politicians and social media users, is the price for the Bang Sue Central Station Nameplate Renovation Project when Unique Engineering and Construction Company Public Company Limited made a letter to notify the news of the signing of a contract for the construction of a project to improve the nameplate of Bang Sue Grand Station to be Krungthep Apiwat Grand Station. and the emblem of the State Railway of Thailand To the directors and managers of the Stock Exchange of Thailand dated 29 December 2022
such a book Specify that the project value including VAT is 33,169,726.39 baht with documents from the page operation watchdog that it is a specific method of hiring
The State Railway Enterprise Workers Union of Thailand (SRUT) has submitted a letter to the Governor of the State Railway of Thailand. to ask to review the private hiring process Because he saw that it was not an urgent need to use a method of hiring a private person in a specific way. which will make the railway Wasting budget on hiring overpriced nameplate refurbishments
The SRT side came out to inform that The reason why procurement must be opened in a specific way Because the name plate project is in accordance with the regulations of the Comptroller General’s Department. And there is urgency, therefore, it must be completed as soon as possible.
At present, Bang Sue Grand Station sign and the English name Bang Sue Grand Station was installed on both sides of the station. or written in English as Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal His Majesty the King Bestowed in September 2021 after the SRT requested a royal name for the railway route. Red Line suburban railway system project and Bang Sue Central Station Through the Secretariat of the Cabinet
State Railway of Thailand also clarified that Station name change It is necessary to replace the existing glass wall with a new glass wall that needs to be cast specially. Because the original sign was installed with a steel frame holding the letters on the back. The steel frame is attached to the column to support the weight in the building. And drill through the glass wall to hold each letter. The glass wall is glass that is thicker than 10 millimeters, so new holes cannot be drilled.
“In particular, the demolition of the (old) Bang Sue Grand Station sign, including the demolition of the glass wall (old) and the installation of the (new) Krungthep Aphiwat Central Station sign, including the glass wall installation (new) are also carried out. Installation of an electric cable car (hanging sling) with a length of 6 meters, including moving the working point in the amount of 4 baskets (set), the height of the sign is about 28 meters above the ground level, the height is equivalent to a 9-storey building, the weight that must be lifted to install More than 7 tons is a difficult job and requires special care.”