Thread: Phuket tram plan may be replaced with electric bus rapid transit

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Thursday reported on the progress of the mass transit system (tram) for Phuket province at the mobile Cabinet meeting in the province.


The pilot tram route was planned from Phuket International Airport to Ha Yaek Chalong, a distance of 41.7 kilometres, with a budget of approximately Bt35 billion. Initially, the ministry had given the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to consider adjusting the operating system to reduce construction costs due to the fact that large cities in foreign countries have adapted to use rubber-wheeled electric vehicles (EV) since they can save more than Bt10 billion in construction costs and cheaper fare.

However, the MRTA is still in the process of designing the project details. Therefore, the project can still be improved. The draft terms of reference do not specify that it must be developed into a train tram only. So, as time changes, It should be replaced by the traditional bus that is less expensive and worthwhile. According to the latest study, only about 39,000 passengers per day were found to be using the system.


In this regard, the adjustment of the bus system will take less time to consider suitable alternative transportation systems. The plan seems to have been changed to a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), but with electric vehicles (EVs) run on the centre of the road. It is expected to be proposed to the Cabinet for approval within this year and open for service in 2026.


"Using road medians should not be a problem. The MRTA has discussed with the Department of Highways to dismantle the road medians, rework the road surface and use the barrier between the lanes of the BRT bus and general cars," said Saksayam. He also said to use the road median area to develop the BRT bus route, the MRTA must study the opportunity to develop a commercial area or further adjustment.


The distance is approximately 42km and has 21 stations. In the future, there are plans for this project to connect with trains going to Phang Nga at Phuket Airport to facilitate travel for people and tourists travelling to Phang Nga province.



Phuket’s tram plan may be replaced with electric bus rapid transit

I Dont know about overseas but Brisbane has buit a bus system that in many places has its own roads but it's not a patch on Melbournes tram system.

Well that's Bt10 Billion less for them to skim off. They will be displeased, might have to cancel one of the Merc orders.

Of course, the rather quaint idea of actually operating a conventional pan-island municipal bus service with a network of routes meeting the needs of tourists and locals alike eradicating the current mafiosi transport sharks is a concept too complex to realise.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Of course, the rather quaint idea of actually operating a conventional pan-island municipal bus service with a network of routes meeting the needs of tourists and locals alike eradicating the current mafiosi transport sharks is a concept too complex to realise.

If I remember rightly, the rather quaint idea has been tried and the drivers were too scared to continue operating on account of being continually beaten up.

Complexity is not the issue.

The unhindered Phuket transport mafia is the issue.

No shit, Sherlock.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

No shit, Sherlock.

I wouldn't have bother stating the obvious if you hadn't indicated you didn't realise they'd already tried it, fucknuts.

the rather quaint idea of actually operating a conventional pan-island municipal bus service....is a concept too complex to realise.

You gormless dullard, I'm not referring to some free tourist gimmick coach shuttling about between airport, town and a beach. I mean an island wide municipal network of up to thirty routes serviced by fleets of omnibuses on regulated timetables through competitively tenders contracts implemented by national government in service of its citizens, just like everywhere else in the fucking world. The mafia baht bus cartels operate similarly in Chonburi for no other reason the clans outside Bangkok run their districts. To date no municipal bus services have been introduced in either Phuket or Pattay.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

You gormless dullard, I'm not referring to some free tourist gimmick coach shuttling about between airport, town and a beach. I mean an island wide municipal network of up to thirty routes serviced by fleets of omnibuses on regulated timetables through competitively tenders contracts implemented by national government in service of its citizens, just like everywhere else in the fucking world. The mafia baht bus cartels operate similarly in Chonburi for no other reason the clans outside Bangkok run their districts. To date no municipal bus services have been introduced in either Phuket or Pattay.

It doesn't matter what bus service they come up with, you blithering buffoon. Every attempt at it has ended in failure because even when they put police on the buses to protect the drivers, the horrible little cabal simply paid a friendly visit to their homes.

You seem dumb enough to think that trying to set up another one will "eradicate the current mafioso transport sharks".

Given that the revenue stream undoubtedly runs all the way to Bangkok, there is about as much chance of that happening as there is of you saying something sensible on the subject.