Over 10,000 cyclists gathered in the centre of the Hungarian capital on Tuesday evening to push for a better deal for the city's cyclists.
The annual event organised by the cycling pressure group Critical Mass to mark World Car-free Day had a political edge this year.
Riders encircled the town hall to protest the cancellation of one of two planned cycle lanes to be laid out as part of the renovation of a major bridge across the Danube river.
Police warnings that motorists should steer clear of the city centre in the evening proved wise as cyclists, from families with young children to the odd pensioner,filled the roads in one colourful, tooting and bell-tinkling mass.
Earlier in the day, government officials cycled from the Hungarian parliament building to the city centre to announce a 1.3-billion-forint (238.5 million baht)city bicycle programme. Almost threequarters of the funding will come from government and European Union sources, the prime minister's chief of staff Csaba Molnar said.
Mr Molnar said that more than 1,000 bikes will be made available for free public use, to be picked up and dropped off at any of 73 planned bicycle stations around the city.
Gabor Bihari, a spokesman for Critical Mass Hungary, the local arm of the global cycling movement, welcomed the news.
He said that he believed it was no coincidence that the government announcement came on the day of a high-profile demonstration.
"We very much look forward to all promises being delivered," he said.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
MRTA backs rail arbitration
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority is asking the cabinet to accept arbitration in disputes involving its Purple Line electric railway project, to help secure financing.
The creditor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), wants recourse to arbitration in the event of a dispute.
But in a July 28 decision, the cabinet decided to exclude the arbitration option.
MRTA chairman Supoj Saplorm met Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum yesterday to discuss the cabinet's decision to exclude the option of an arbitration committee to resolve any dispute involving the Purple Line which will link Bang Sue and Bang Yai.
Mr Supoj asked the minister to try to convince the cabinet next Tuesday to restore the arbitration condition in the 50 billion baht electric railway project,because without the condition Jica would not finance the work.
An arbitration committee would consist of a representative of the government,a representative of its contractor and a third member acceptable to the government and the contractor.
Mr Sohpon said arbitration was an internationally recognised mechanism to speed up the process of dispute resolution which otherwise could become bogged down in court.
However, the cabinet decided to exclude arbitration from governmentprivate projects because the mechanism had failed in the past to benefit the state.
"Arbitration is an international principle," the minister said.
"It is applied overseas without a problem but it always causes problems in our country and the government is at a disadvantage.
"I know well what is going on but cannot elaborate. The problems rest with the people who implement it. As there are problems, the government resolved to exclude it and ordered compliance with Thai law in the event of a dispute."
MRTA deputy governor Chukiat Photayanuwat said Jica believed the contracts for the Purple Line project were international agreements and should include the arbitration option.
MRTA chairman Supoj said with the arbitration issue unsettled, work on the Purple Line could not start even though the MRTA had signed one of three contracts for the project.
The creditor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), wants recourse to arbitration in the event of a dispute.
But in a July 28 decision, the cabinet decided to exclude the arbitration option.
MRTA chairman Supoj Saplorm met Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum yesterday to discuss the cabinet's decision to exclude the option of an arbitration committee to resolve any dispute involving the Purple Line which will link Bang Sue and Bang Yai.
Mr Supoj asked the minister to try to convince the cabinet next Tuesday to restore the arbitration condition in the 50 billion baht electric railway project,because without the condition Jica would not finance the work.
An arbitration committee would consist of a representative of the government,a representative of its contractor and a third member acceptable to the government and the contractor.
Mr Sohpon said arbitration was an internationally recognised mechanism to speed up the process of dispute resolution which otherwise could become bogged down in court.
However, the cabinet decided to exclude arbitration from governmentprivate projects because the mechanism had failed in the past to benefit the state.
"Arbitration is an international principle," the minister said.
"It is applied overseas without a problem but it always causes problems in our country and the government is at a disadvantage.
"I know well what is going on but cannot elaborate. The problems rest with the people who implement it. As there are problems, the government resolved to exclude it and ordered compliance with Thai law in the event of a dispute."
MRTA deputy governor Chukiat Photayanuwat said Jica believed the contracts for the Purple Line project were international agreements and should include the arbitration option.
MRTA chairman Supoj said with the arbitration issue unsettled, work on the Purple Line could not start even though the MRTA had signed one of three contracts for the project.
CHINA PUTS FEASIBILITY TALKS ON HOLD
China has decided to put on hold talks regarding the rail line that would link the main-land to Thailand. According to the Transport Ministry, the 300-kilometre double-track line will link Den Chai to Chiang Khong, before it links up with a line to Kunming, in China's Yunnan province.
Chula Sukmanop, deputy director-general of the Office of Transport, Traffic Policy and Planning, confirmed yesterday that the Chinese government had postponed discussions about the project's feasibility with its Thai counterparts.
The idea of getting China to invest in the railway line was brought up during Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's visit to Beijing from June 24 to 27.
"The Chinese government has postponed the ministerial-level discussion and has not yet informed us when it will be ready to open talks. However, Thailand has been ready for negotiations since July," Chula said, adding that due to this delay, the project could not be concluded on a government-to-government policy level in terms of setting an investment model.
He said the route proposed by the Transport Ministry would link Den Chai in Phrae province to Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai. Since there are no such links at present, it would be easy to garner investment in forms of both public-private partnership and concessions.
"According to initial evaluations, the 300-kilometre route should cost around Bt30 billion," Chula said.
The route will come under the supervision of the State Railway of Thailand, especially in terms of land expropriation and concession. A source at the Transport Ministry added that this route would be of added interest to China because not only would it link up to Thailand's nationwide railway system, it would also allow easy access to the soon to be set up Pak Bara port in Satun province.
"The rail route will allow goods to be easily moved from China via Thailand before they are loaded onto ships at the port on the Andaman coast," the source said, adding that this transportation route would be much quicker than the one currently used via Melaka in Malaysia.
The route will also boost trade between Asean countries, including China and India.
A source said Bt85 million had been earmarked for the design of the double-track Den Chai-Chiang Khong rail line, which should be completed in a year.
The source added that the negotiations had probably been delayed because China wanted to wait for its leader to announce the country's planned financial aid for Asean countries during the grouping's summit in Cha-am next month. China is expected to set up two funds: the US10-billion (Bt336 billion) China Asean Fund to be used for infrastructure and logistics-related development-especially in terms of the China-Singapore rail-way project-as well as the $15-billion China Asean Loan.
Chula Sukmanop, deputy director-general of the Office of Transport, Traffic Policy and Planning, confirmed yesterday that the Chinese government had postponed discussions about the project's feasibility with its Thai counterparts.
The idea of getting China to invest in the railway line was brought up during Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's visit to Beijing from June 24 to 27.
"The Chinese government has postponed the ministerial-level discussion and has not yet informed us when it will be ready to open talks. However, Thailand has been ready for negotiations since July," Chula said, adding that due to this delay, the project could not be concluded on a government-to-government policy level in terms of setting an investment model.
He said the route proposed by the Transport Ministry would link Den Chai in Phrae province to Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai. Since there are no such links at present, it would be easy to garner investment in forms of both public-private partnership and concessions.
"According to initial evaluations, the 300-kilometre route should cost around Bt30 billion," Chula said.
The route will come under the supervision of the State Railway of Thailand, especially in terms of land expropriation and concession. A source at the Transport Ministry added that this route would be of added interest to China because not only would it link up to Thailand's nationwide railway system, it would also allow easy access to the soon to be set up Pak Bara port in Satun province.
"The rail route will allow goods to be easily moved from China via Thailand before they are loaded onto ships at the port on the Andaman coast," the source said, adding that this transportation route would be much quicker than the one currently used via Melaka in Malaysia.
The route will also boost trade between Asean countries, including China and India.
A source said Bt85 million had been earmarked for the design of the double-track Den Chai-Chiang Khong rail line, which should be completed in a year.
The source added that the negotiations had probably been delayed because China wanted to wait for its leader to announce the country's planned financial aid for Asean countries during the grouping's summit in Cha-am next month. China is expected to set up two funds: the US10-billion (Bt336 billion) China Asean Fund to be used for infrastructure and logistics-related development-especially in terms of the China-Singapore rail-way project-as well as the $15-billion China Asean Loan.
US transit systems terror alert
Counterterrorism officials are warning US mass transit systems around the nation to step up patrols because of fears an Afghanistan-born immigrant under arrest in Colorado may have been plotting with others to detonate backpack bombs aboard New York City trains.
Investigators say Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old shuttle van driver at the Denver airport, played a direct role in a terror plot that unravelled during a trip to New York City around the anniversary of the Sept 11,2001 attacks. He made his first court appearance on Monday and remained behind bars.
Mr Zazi and two other defendants have not been charged with any terrorism counts, only the relatively minor offence of lying to the government. But the case could grow to include more serious charges as the investigation proceeds.
Mr Zazi has publicly denied being involved in a terror plot, and defence lawyer Arthur Folsom dismissed as "rumour" any notion that his client played a crucial role.
The investigation into Mr Zazi's role and how many others may be involved was ongoing. Two law enforcement officials said late on Monday that more than a half-dozen individuals were being scrutinised in the alleged plot.
The FBI said in a statement that "several individuals in the United States,Pakistan and elsewhere" were being investigated.
Backpacks and cellphones were seized last week from apartments in Queens where Mr Zazi visited.
In a bulletin issued on Friday, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warned that improvised explosive devices are the most common tactic to blow up railways and other mass transit systems overseas. And they noted incidents in which bombs were made with peroxide.
In the bulletin, officials recommended that transit systems conduct random sweeps at terminals and stations and that law enforcement make random patrols and board some trains and buses.
The effects of the warning were not immediately clear on Monday. New York's transit agency said it was in touch with an FBI-NYPD (New York Police Department) task force but wouldn't comment further.
The task force feared Mr Zazi may have been involved in a potential plot involving hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, according to two law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Investigators said they found notes on bomb-making instructions that appear to match Mr Zazi's handwriting,and discovered his fingerprints on materials - batteries and a scale that could be used to make explosives.He also made a trip to Pakistan last year in which he received al-Qaeda explosives and weapons training.
A strange sequence of events began to unfold nearly two weeks ago when Mr Zazi, a legal resident of the US who immigrated in 1999, rented a car in Colorado and made a 2,560km trek across the heartland to New York. He said he went to New York to resolve an issue with a coffee cart he owned.
He was briefly stopped entering the city as part of what was believed to be a routine drug check, and proceeded to his friend's place in Queens. Once there, his car was towed and authorities confiscated his computer. He was told by an NYPD informant that detectives were asking about him, and decided to cut the trip short and fly back to Colorado, authorities said.
Officials speeded up the investigation and launched raids on several Queens apartments in a search for evidence of explosives.
Since 2001, counterterrorism officials have shifted their approach and made the disruption of plots in their early stages a top priority.
Investigators say Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old shuttle van driver at the Denver airport, played a direct role in a terror plot that unravelled during a trip to New York City around the anniversary of the Sept 11,2001 attacks. He made his first court appearance on Monday and remained behind bars.
Mr Zazi and two other defendants have not been charged with any terrorism counts, only the relatively minor offence of lying to the government. But the case could grow to include more serious charges as the investigation proceeds.
Mr Zazi has publicly denied being involved in a terror plot, and defence lawyer Arthur Folsom dismissed as "rumour" any notion that his client played a crucial role.
The investigation into Mr Zazi's role and how many others may be involved was ongoing. Two law enforcement officials said late on Monday that more than a half-dozen individuals were being scrutinised in the alleged plot.
The FBI said in a statement that "several individuals in the United States,Pakistan and elsewhere" were being investigated.
Backpacks and cellphones were seized last week from apartments in Queens where Mr Zazi visited.
In a bulletin issued on Friday, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warned that improvised explosive devices are the most common tactic to blow up railways and other mass transit systems overseas. And they noted incidents in which bombs were made with peroxide.
In the bulletin, officials recommended that transit systems conduct random sweeps at terminals and stations and that law enforcement make random patrols and board some trains and buses.
The effects of the warning were not immediately clear on Monday. New York's transit agency said it was in touch with an FBI-NYPD (New York Police Department) task force but wouldn't comment further.
The task force feared Mr Zazi may have been involved in a potential plot involving hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, according to two law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Investigators said they found notes on bomb-making instructions that appear to match Mr Zazi's handwriting,and discovered his fingerprints on materials - batteries and a scale that could be used to make explosives.He also made a trip to Pakistan last year in which he received al-Qaeda explosives and weapons training.
A strange sequence of events began to unfold nearly two weeks ago when Mr Zazi, a legal resident of the US who immigrated in 1999, rented a car in Colorado and made a 2,560km trek across the heartland to New York. He said he went to New York to resolve an issue with a coffee cart he owned.
He was briefly stopped entering the city as part of what was believed to be a routine drug check, and proceeded to his friend's place in Queens. Once there, his car was towed and authorities confiscated his computer. He was told by an NYPD informant that detectives were asking about him, and decided to cut the trip short and fly back to Colorado, authorities said.
Officials speeded up the investigation and launched raids on several Queens apartments in a search for evidence of explosives.
Since 2001, counterterrorism officials have shifted their approach and made the disruption of plots in their early stages a top priority.
BMA cleared of negligence in BTS dispute
The Administrative Court has cleared the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and three other defendants of any responsibility in not providing suitable facilities for disabled people at skytrain stations.
The case went to court in September 2007 when Suporntham Mongkolsawat,the secretary-general of the Council of Disabled People of Thailand, and two others filed a lawsuit naming the BMA,the Bangkok governor, the chief of the Civil Service Commission which comes under the BMA and Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc as defendants.
The four were accused of neglecting their duty by not setting up proper facilities for disabled people, such as lifts and ramps, and providing other facilities.
The BMA granted the concession to run the skytrain to BTS.
Hundreds of disabled people attended the court yesterday to hear the verdict.
The court ruled that although the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act was enacted in 1991, a year before construction work began on the skytrain, there was no regulation at the time demanding that special facilities be installed for disabled people in buildings, public places and the transport sector.
The Interior Ministry issued the appropriate regulation after the con-struction of the skytrain had begun.
The court said the BMA fulfilled its duty later by installing elevators for disabled people at five of the most crowded stations -Asok, Onnuj,Chong Nonsi, Mor Chit and Siam Square - in 1999.
This showed the BMA was not neglecting its duty, the court said.
Mr Suporntham said he would lodge an appeal against the Administrative Court ruling with the Supreme Administrative Court on behalf of all networks for disabled people.
The fight was to ensure equality for disabled people and to encourage government agencies and the private sector to pay more attention to the problems of the underprivileged, the elderly,children and pregnant women, he said.
Mr Suporntham said even though there were many programmes to help disabled people, they were of no use if disabled people were unable to venture out of their homes because of poor facilities.
All networks of disabled people would be asked to conduct a survey and circulate pictures of public places lacking in suitable facilities, he said.
"All humans are born free but the disabled are being deprived of their freedom by a disabled-unfriendly environment," he said."To use the BTS is more difficult than taking a plane and flying overseas these days."
Udomchok Churut, president of the Independent Living Pilot Project in Thailand, a non-governmental organisation supporting disabled people, said five disabled-friendly stations were not enough to help disabled people use the entire skytrain network.
The case went to court in September 2007 when Suporntham Mongkolsawat,the secretary-general of the Council of Disabled People of Thailand, and two others filed a lawsuit naming the BMA,the Bangkok governor, the chief of the Civil Service Commission which comes under the BMA and Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc as defendants.
The four were accused of neglecting their duty by not setting up proper facilities for disabled people, such as lifts and ramps, and providing other facilities.
The BMA granted the concession to run the skytrain to BTS.
Hundreds of disabled people attended the court yesterday to hear the verdict.
The court ruled that although the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act was enacted in 1991, a year before construction work began on the skytrain, there was no regulation at the time demanding that special facilities be installed for disabled people in buildings, public places and the transport sector.
The Interior Ministry issued the appropriate regulation after the con-struction of the skytrain had begun.
The court said the BMA fulfilled its duty later by installing elevators for disabled people at five of the most crowded stations -Asok, Onnuj,Chong Nonsi, Mor Chit and Siam Square - in 1999.
This showed the BMA was not neglecting its duty, the court said.
Mr Suporntham said he would lodge an appeal against the Administrative Court ruling with the Supreme Administrative Court on behalf of all networks for disabled people.
The fight was to ensure equality for disabled people and to encourage government agencies and the private sector to pay more attention to the problems of the underprivileged, the elderly,children and pregnant women, he said.
Mr Suporntham said even though there were many programmes to help disabled people, they were of no use if disabled people were unable to venture out of their homes because of poor facilities.
All networks of disabled people would be asked to conduct a survey and circulate pictures of public places lacking in suitable facilities, he said.
"All humans are born free but the disabled are being deprived of their freedom by a disabled-unfriendly environment," he said."To use the BTS is more difficult than taking a plane and flying overseas these days."
Udomchok Churut, president of the Independent Living Pilot Project in Thailand, a non-governmental organisation supporting disabled people, said five disabled-friendly stations were not enough to help disabled people use the entire skytrain network.
GRIDLOCK IN BANGKOK AFTER BIG STORM
Heavy rain deluged many parts of Bangkok yesterday evening, paralysing traffic across the city.
Traffic moved at a snail's pace on Lat Phrao Road, which was partly flooded.
Gridlock was reported on main roads like Suksawad, Bang Na-Trat and Srinakarin.
After standing still since 5pm, traffic from Bang Na to Suhumvit started to ease around 9pm.
At press time, many company employees were still staying put inside their offices to avoid heavy rain and the traffic nightmare.
The worst traffic congestion was at Sri-Udom intersection, where a tunnel-construction project was in progress and police were hard stretched trying to direct the traffic flow.
Hail was reported in the Udomsuk area, and on the Srinakarin Road the rainstorm uprooted trees.
Meanwhile, three villages in Tambon Nasao in Nan's Mueang district were hit with flash floods early yesterday.
Water and mud swept through 80 houses leaving residents'belongings underwater and sweeping away livestock and chickens. Paddies were inundated and road surfaces damaged.
A villager, Thawat Kongchoom said drinking water was in short supply after sources were contaminated with mud.
Traffic moved at a snail's pace on Lat Phrao Road, which was partly flooded.
Gridlock was reported on main roads like Suksawad, Bang Na-Trat and Srinakarin.
After standing still since 5pm, traffic from Bang Na to Suhumvit started to ease around 9pm.
At press time, many company employees were still staying put inside their offices to avoid heavy rain and the traffic nightmare.
The worst traffic congestion was at Sri-Udom intersection, where a tunnel-construction project was in progress and police were hard stretched trying to direct the traffic flow.
Hail was reported in the Udomsuk area, and on the Srinakarin Road the rainstorm uprooted trees.
Meanwhile, three villages in Tambon Nasao in Nan's Mueang district were hit with flash floods early yesterday.
Water and mud swept through 80 houses leaving residents'belongings underwater and sweeping away livestock and chickens. Paddies were inundated and road surfaces damaged.
A villager, Thawat Kongchoom said drinking water was in short supply after sources were contaminated with mud.
RAIL-LINK LAUNCH NOT DELAYED BY PHEU THAI COMPLAINTS, SAYS SRT
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is insisting the launch of the airport-link service will not be delayed by the opposition Pheu Thai Party's complaints about the premier and the interior minister allowing conflicts of interest in the project.
Suphoth Sublom, an SRT board director, said yesterday the project had made a lot of progress and the civil construction work was complete. The SRT is expected to officially start testing the system on December 5, which will run for three months. The service will be officially launched in April.
On Monday, a Pheu Thai MP filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission saying that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul had allowed conflicts of interest in the project because Chaovarat's family members held shares in a construction company.
Pheu Thai's Lamphun MP Sanguan Pongmanee and the party's spokesman Prompong Nopparit claimed that Chaovarat's wife and children held shares in Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, which won the Bt408-million project contract for adding more trimmings to the rail link. The Cabinet had approved the budget on March 10.
Chaovarat, also leader of Bhum Jai Thai Party, argued he had already declared his assets and has had nothing to do with the company for a long time now.
Moreover, he said, since Sino-Thai was a public company, anybody could buy its shares and as his children were all adults, they could do what they wanted with their money.
On March 10, the Cabinet approved the Transport Ministry's request for an additional Bt115 million to hire a consultant to supervise the construction of elevated paths linking the Phya Thai Skytrain station and the Petchaburi subway station to the airport-rail link at Makkasan. This is part of the connection between airport-rail link and the SRT transportation system in the city.
It also approved Bt11 million and Bt87 million for the construction of the paths from Phya Thai station and Petchaburi subway station respectively.
The government will cover the cost of the construction, which should be completed in 15 months.
The Cabinet also approved the expenditure of Bt195 million for the services of an independent safety and system certification engineer for three years. The government will be responsible for this cost as well.
The Cabinet has acknowledged the relocation of public facilities near the airport-rail link, which would cost Bt140 million. The Metropolitan Water Works Authority and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority each will be responsible for relocation costs of Bt83 million and Bt57 million, respectively.
Suphoth Sublom, an SRT board director, said yesterday the project had made a lot of progress and the civil construction work was complete. The SRT is expected to officially start testing the system on December 5, which will run for three months. The service will be officially launched in April.
On Monday, a Pheu Thai MP filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission saying that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul had allowed conflicts of interest in the project because Chaovarat's family members held shares in a construction company.
Pheu Thai's Lamphun MP Sanguan Pongmanee and the party's spokesman Prompong Nopparit claimed that Chaovarat's wife and children held shares in Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, which won the Bt408-million project contract for adding more trimmings to the rail link. The Cabinet had approved the budget on March 10.
Chaovarat, also leader of Bhum Jai Thai Party, argued he had already declared his assets and has had nothing to do with the company for a long time now.
Moreover, he said, since Sino-Thai was a public company, anybody could buy its shares and as his children were all adults, they could do what they wanted with their money.
On March 10, the Cabinet approved the Transport Ministry's request for an additional Bt115 million to hire a consultant to supervise the construction of elevated paths linking the Phya Thai Skytrain station and the Petchaburi subway station to the airport-rail link at Makkasan. This is part of the connection between airport-rail link and the SRT transportation system in the city.
It also approved Bt11 million and Bt87 million for the construction of the paths from Phya Thai station and Petchaburi subway station respectively.
The government will cover the cost of the construction, which should be completed in 15 months.
The Cabinet also approved the expenditure of Bt195 million for the services of an independent safety and system certification engineer for three years. The government will be responsible for this cost as well.
The Cabinet has acknowledged the relocation of public facilities near the airport-rail link, which would cost Bt140 million. The Metropolitan Water Works Authority and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority each will be responsible for relocation costs of Bt83 million and Bt57 million, respectively.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
LAND-PRICE TUMBLE SLOWING IN JAPAN
Land prices in Japan have fallen their most in five years as the recession has discouraged buyers and tighter credit markets have choked off funding to developers.
Average prices declined 4.4 per cent in the 12 months to the end of June. It was the 18th consecutive annual decline, said the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. Values fell in all but three of the 22,435 locations surveyed.
Land value are now about half of what they were at the hight of Japan's bubble economy of the 1980s. However, the decline may slow as the nation emerges from its deepest postwar recession. An 18-month climb in Tokyo office vacancies ended last month and the number of unsold condominiums on the market is down 43 per cent since last December.
"There are signs the deline in land prices in Tokyo and other big cities is coming to a halt," said Mizuho Financial Group real-estate analyst Takashi Ishizawa, in Tokyo.
"It's possible Tokyo prices could even rise next year, but the regional districts will continue to see declimes."
Price declines in Japan have been less severe than those in other markets that have rallied in recent years.
The value of ocmmercial property in Japan dropped 5.9 per cent year on year in the 12 months to the end of June. In the United States, commercial real-estate values fell 27 per cent in the same period.
Prices in residential and commercial districts fell in all of Japan's 47 prefectures for the first time since the ministry began compiling the data in 1975.
Values in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, the three major metropolitan areas, declined 6.1 per cent, breaking a three-year gaining streak. Prices in rural districts dropped 3.8 per cent.
Property developers and managers accounted for eight of the 10 biggest bankruptcies of listed Japanese companies this year, stoking consumer concern about job security and deterring banks from refinancing loans to the industry.
KK daVinci Holdings, which manages property assets worth more than Yen1 trillion (Bt365 billion), said last week it might not be able to reach and agreement with creditors to extend a loan secured by its Pacific Century Place building in central Tokyo because of the market slump.
The most expensive piece of commercial property remains Tokyo's Ginza shopping district, where land can cost as much as Yen25 million a square metre. The value has declined 17 per cent year on year.
The capital's Chiyoda ward, where the Imperial Palace is located, has the most expensive residential land, even after values have fallen 11 per cent to about Yen3 million a square metre.
Average prices in Tokyo's commercial districts dropped 8.9 per cent, reversing a4-per-cent gain the previous year, as companies relocated or negotiated lower rents.
The ministry said in June that commercial property prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area were still at the same level they were 35 years ago, after the collapse of the real estate bubble of the 1980s erased what had been a four-fold increase.
Office vacancy rates rose for 18 straight months to the end of July, said office-brokerage company Miki Shoji. The rate was unchanged at 7.57 per cent last month.
Average prices declined 4.4 per cent in the 12 months to the end of June. It was the 18th consecutive annual decline, said the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. Values fell in all but three of the 22,435 locations surveyed.
Land value are now about half of what they were at the hight of Japan's bubble economy of the 1980s. However, the decline may slow as the nation emerges from its deepest postwar recession. An 18-month climb in Tokyo office vacancies ended last month and the number of unsold condominiums on the market is down 43 per cent since last December.
"There are signs the deline in land prices in Tokyo and other big cities is coming to a halt," said Mizuho Financial Group real-estate analyst Takashi Ishizawa, in Tokyo.
"It's possible Tokyo prices could even rise next year, but the regional districts will continue to see declimes."
Price declines in Japan have been less severe than those in other markets that have rallied in recent years.
The value of ocmmercial property in Japan dropped 5.9 per cent year on year in the 12 months to the end of June. In the United States, commercial real-estate values fell 27 per cent in the same period.
Prices in residential and commercial districts fell in all of Japan's 47 prefectures for the first time since the ministry began compiling the data in 1975.
Values in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, the three major metropolitan areas, declined 6.1 per cent, breaking a three-year gaining streak. Prices in rural districts dropped 3.8 per cent.
Property developers and managers accounted for eight of the 10 biggest bankruptcies of listed Japanese companies this year, stoking consumer concern about job security and deterring banks from refinancing loans to the industry.
KK daVinci Holdings, which manages property assets worth more than Yen1 trillion (Bt365 billion), said last week it might not be able to reach and agreement with creditors to extend a loan secured by its Pacific Century Place building in central Tokyo because of the market slump.
The most expensive piece of commercial property remains Tokyo's Ginza shopping district, where land can cost as much as Yen25 million a square metre. The value has declined 17 per cent year on year.
The capital's Chiyoda ward, where the Imperial Palace is located, has the most expensive residential land, even after values have fallen 11 per cent to about Yen3 million a square metre.
Average prices in Tokyo's commercial districts dropped 8.9 per cent, reversing a4-per-cent gain the previous year, as companies relocated or negotiated lower rents.
The ministry said in June that commercial property prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area were still at the same level they were 35 years ago, after the collapse of the real estate bubble of the 1980s erased what had been a four-fold increase.
Office vacancy rates rose for 18 straight months to the end of July, said office-brokerage company Miki Shoji. The rate was unchanged at 7.57 per cent last month.
AIRPORT RAIL LINK CREATES NEW CONDOMINIUM CLUSTER
The route of the Airport Rail Link, between Makkasan and Suvarnabhumi, is rapidly becoming a focal area for the development of new residential projects in Bangkok.
A survey by The Nation last week found projects worth nearly Bt10 billion under construction or on drawing boards. Popular locations include Asoke, Phetchaburi, Rajprarop and Makkasan, at the city end of the link.
Property developers began launching residential projects around the Airport Link when its construction began two years ago. Among the early projects were The Complete Rajprarop by Prinsiri, which is worth Bt1 billion and offers 547 units; Ideo Verb Rajprarop by Ananda Development, which offers 447 units and has a market value of Bt1.5 billion; and Chiwathai Rajprarop, which has 329 units and a value of Bt1.3 billion.
The Fragrant Property Group launched a condominium project, The Circle, last year. With a market value of Bt4 billion, 90 per cent of its 901 units have already been sold.
Last year's starters also included My Resort by Equity Residential, offering more than 200 units on Phetchaburi Road, and a 400-unit condominium called True Thonglor, developed by Pool Asset.
Meanwhile, test runs are expected to start on the completed Airport Link in December. As the rail link builds up to full services, two more major projects worth a combined Bt6.3 billion will be gaining momentum.
Asian Property Development introduced its latest luxury condominium, the Address Asoke-Phetchaburi, last week. With a market value of Bt3.3 billion, it offers 574 units at a starting price of Bt5.23 million per unit.
TCC Capital Land, a joint venture between Singaporean-based CapitaLand and TCC Land, which is owned by beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, will launch Villa Asoke, with a market value of Bt3 billion, this weekend. It will offer 525 units at a starting price of Bt2.99 million per unit.
Alan Lin, CEO of real-estate firm Harrison, said the area around the Airport Rail Link was a new focal destination for property developers because of the convenient transportation offered by the rail service.
The company is currently negotiating management deals with developers who own four land plots near the Airport Link and plan to launch residential projects worth nearly Bt5 billion next year, he said.
"We believe that this location will continue to be popular through 2010. More than five projects are currently being planned that will offer a total of 4,400 units between now and 2011," he said.
Condominium units in the area have starting prices between Bt75,000 and Bt150,000 a square metre.
Asian Property Development's managing director Pichet Vipavasuphakorn said his company had launched The Address Asoke-Phetchaburi because the location would become a new destination for home-buyers when the Airport Link was complete and there was easy transportation in the area.
Land prices in the area also remain lower than those in the Sukhumvit, Sathorn and Silom areas. Home-buyers around the Airport Link will be offered new condominium units at lower prices than those in the inner central business district, although the inner CBD will be within easy reach, he said.
Bookings for The Address Asoke-Phetchaburi have now reached about 60 per cent of its units, following the opening of presales last week, Pichet said.
TCC Capital Land chief executive Soammaphat Traisorat said that after introducing Villa Asoke to the market earlier this month, a number of customers had shown enough interest to visit the project. As a result, the company believes that when bookings open this weekend, there will be positive feedback from customers.
"We believe that this area will be the new destination for residential development after the Airport Link starts operations," he said.
Agency For Real Estate Affairs managing director Wasan Kongchan said demand for residences around mass transit systems continued to grow despite the economic downturn. The behaviour of many home-buyers has changed away from single detached houses to condominiums because of last year's spike in fuel prices.
The popular Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn areas now have less land available for residential development, and some projects are demanding prices above Bt100,000 per square metre. Property developers have therefore moved to new locations, especially around the Airport Link because it is close to a new mass-transit system and land prices continue to be lower than those in the central business district, he said.
"We believe this is a good time to buy a residence around the Airport Rail Link, before land and condominium prices in the area begin to rise," he said.
Wasan said when the Airport Rail Link began full operations, nearby land and residential prices would rise 10-20 per cent, depending on supply in the market.
A survey by The Nation last week found projects worth nearly Bt10 billion under construction or on drawing boards. Popular locations include Asoke, Phetchaburi, Rajprarop and Makkasan, at the city end of the link.
Property developers began launching residential projects around the Airport Link when its construction began two years ago. Among the early projects were The Complete Rajprarop by Prinsiri, which is worth Bt1 billion and offers 547 units; Ideo Verb Rajprarop by Ananda Development, which offers 447 units and has a market value of Bt1.5 billion; and Chiwathai Rajprarop, which has 329 units and a value of Bt1.3 billion.
The Fragrant Property Group launched a condominium project, The Circle, last year. With a market value of Bt4 billion, 90 per cent of its 901 units have already been sold.
Last year's starters also included My Resort by Equity Residential, offering more than 200 units on Phetchaburi Road, and a 400-unit condominium called True Thonglor, developed by Pool Asset.
Meanwhile, test runs are expected to start on the completed Airport Link in December. As the rail link builds up to full services, two more major projects worth a combined Bt6.3 billion will be gaining momentum.
Asian Property Development introduced its latest luxury condominium, the Address Asoke-Phetchaburi, last week. With a market value of Bt3.3 billion, it offers 574 units at a starting price of Bt5.23 million per unit.
TCC Capital Land, a joint venture between Singaporean-based CapitaLand and TCC Land, which is owned by beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, will launch Villa Asoke, with a market value of Bt3 billion, this weekend. It will offer 525 units at a starting price of Bt2.99 million per unit.
Alan Lin, CEO of real-estate firm Harrison, said the area around the Airport Rail Link was a new focal destination for property developers because of the convenient transportation offered by the rail service.
The company is currently negotiating management deals with developers who own four land plots near the Airport Link and plan to launch residential projects worth nearly Bt5 billion next year, he said.
"We believe that this location will continue to be popular through 2010. More than five projects are currently being planned that will offer a total of 4,400 units between now and 2011," he said.
Condominium units in the area have starting prices between Bt75,000 and Bt150,000 a square metre.
Asian Property Development's managing director Pichet Vipavasuphakorn said his company had launched The Address Asoke-Phetchaburi because the location would become a new destination for home-buyers when the Airport Link was complete and there was easy transportation in the area.
Land prices in the area also remain lower than those in the Sukhumvit, Sathorn and Silom areas. Home-buyers around the Airport Link will be offered new condominium units at lower prices than those in the inner central business district, although the inner CBD will be within easy reach, he said.
Bookings for The Address Asoke-Phetchaburi have now reached about 60 per cent of its units, following the opening of presales last week, Pichet said.
TCC Capital Land chief executive Soammaphat Traisorat said that after introducing Villa Asoke to the market earlier this month, a number of customers had shown enough interest to visit the project. As a result, the company believes that when bookings open this weekend, there will be positive feedback from customers.
"We believe that this area will be the new destination for residential development after the Airport Link starts operations," he said.
Agency For Real Estate Affairs managing director Wasan Kongchan said demand for residences around mass transit systems continued to grow despite the economic downturn. The behaviour of many home-buyers has changed away from single detached houses to condominiums because of last year's spike in fuel prices.
The popular Sukhumvit, Silom and Sathorn areas now have less land available for residential development, and some projects are demanding prices above Bt100,000 per square metre. Property developers have therefore moved to new locations, especially around the Airport Link because it is close to a new mass-transit system and land prices continue to be lower than those in the central business district, he said.
"We believe this is a good time to buy a residence around the Airport Rail Link, before land and condominium prices in the area begin to rise," he said.
Wasan said when the Airport Rail Link began full operations, nearby land and residential prices would rise 10-20 per cent, depending on supply in the market.
SRT to seek bigger budget for double-track project
The State Railway of Thailand plans to seek more funds soon for the double-track Kaeng Koi-Klong 19-Chachoengsao project.
"The SRT will propose to the transport minister to consider the increased budget first before seeking Cabinet approval," SRT Governor Yuthana Thapcharoen said yesterday.
The 106-kilometre route is part of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning's three-part development stretegy and 20 projects worth Bt350 billion designed to improve rail transport eficiency.
The SRT has increased the estimated construction cost for the route from Bt7.65 billion to Bt10 billion after completing its feasibility study.
The route would be extended to avoid passing near the Phra Phutthachai Temple located in Kaeng Koi.
After the Kaeng Koi-Khlong 19-Chachoengsao route is expanded from single track to paralkel tracks, freight capacity is expected to more than double from 28 trains daily to 60 daily or from 250,000 tonnes of freight per year to 570,000 tonnes of freight per year.
The SRT would seek approval for Bt5 billion in working capital loans from the Cabinet meeting today.
Previously, the authority received approval for loans with the same liquidity purpose of a total of more than Bt5 billion.
For the double-track Chachoengsao-Sri Racha-Laem Chabang route, construction has been delayed more than 40 per cent as expected.
However, the SRT has assigned agencies to speed up the contractor, TSC Joint Venture, to complete the construction by the due date.
The route is 78 kilometres long with a construction budget of Bt3.93 billion, he added.
"The SRT will propose to the transport minister to consider the increased budget first before seeking Cabinet approval," SRT Governor Yuthana Thapcharoen said yesterday.
The 106-kilometre route is part of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning's three-part development stretegy and 20 projects worth Bt350 billion designed to improve rail transport eficiency.
The SRT has increased the estimated construction cost for the route from Bt7.65 billion to Bt10 billion after completing its feasibility study.
The route would be extended to avoid passing near the Phra Phutthachai Temple located in Kaeng Koi.
After the Kaeng Koi-Khlong 19-Chachoengsao route is expanded from single track to paralkel tracks, freight capacity is expected to more than double from 28 trains daily to 60 daily or from 250,000 tonnes of freight per year to 570,000 tonnes of freight per year.
The SRT would seek approval for Bt5 billion in working capital loans from the Cabinet meeting today.
Previously, the authority received approval for loans with the same liquidity purpose of a total of more than Bt5 billion.
For the double-track Chachoengsao-Sri Racha-Laem Chabang route, construction has been delayed more than 40 per cent as expected.
However, the SRT has assigned agencies to speed up the contractor, TSC Joint Venture, to complete the construction by the due date.
The route is 78 kilometres long with a construction budget of Bt3.93 billion, he added.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Forget the car, get on your bikes
The whole point of World Carfree Day is to remind us all that Homo sapiens really do not need cars to get from point A to point B, and that alternative low or zero-emission means _ like walking, cycling or taking public transport _ should be used instead whenever possible.
GREEN COMMUTERS: Drive a car or ride a bike—it’s your choice, but I hope you opt for the cleaner option.
Some may think it's sloth _ one of Christianity's seven deadly sins _ or just plain laziness that people so easily become addicted to the painless mobility of driving or riding in a car.
As ever, most activities for Carfree Day in most countries revolve around a cycle rally where cyclists roam from one side of town to the other in the hope of garnering attention from the general public and car drivers.
And the message does get across if members of the public learn that all those cyclists took the effort to swap their cars for a noiseless, pollution-free mode of transport and were still able to get to work as usual.
The Thai Carfree Day is, however, a bit of a sloth, since the activities are held on the Sunday closest to Sept 22, and this year, that's today.
I almost joined them last year when I weakened after interviewing a spokesperson for one of the Carfree Day event organisers.
PORTABLE: Easy to use folding bikes make car-free commuting more practical.
But my conscience stopped me when I was searching through the picture archive to find accompanying pictures for last year's Carfree Day story.
I came across several of photos of the Bangkok governor riding a women's bike, all smiles, promoting cycling in the city with a bunch of civil servants and politicians. What a load of fakes!
They gave a speech, cut a ribbon, said a few nice things about why we should ride and not drive to work, rode a couple of kilometres and finished.
And how did the governor get to the event? By car.
And how did the governor go home after the event? By car. And the other 364 days a year they still drive their cars to work _ what a load of hypocrites!
Most of the cyclists you see in public parks drive there, so how does that help?
The point of Carfree Day is not to drive at all, not to show off on a bicycle at a public gathering.
Sure, there are cyclists who do ride from home to the park at weekends, and I sincerely respect them for taking the effort, but their numbers are likely to be very low.
That's why I won't join in such a hypocritical activity just for the sake of indulging my ego or for publicity.
POCKET-SIZE: If we all drove small, zeroemission cars, that would be a good start.
Some people criticised Khun Heart (the TV celebrity and former pop singer) for pretending to be environmentally conscious by showing off his folding bike on the Skytrain.
Let's be fair, if he was a nobody, would he still have been accused of showing off?
It's fine that people look in to using their car less for the betterment of the environment and their personal health.
But next year, can we please have some more productive and meaningful Carfree Day activities _ such as having it on Sept 22 for a start, no driving to bike rides and no governor or celebrities acting pretentiously?
Better yet, don't wait for Carfree Day to pretend to do something good for your health and the environment. Do it whenever you can for the cause and not just to make a statement.
GREEN COMMUTERS: Drive a car or ride a bike—it’s your choice, but I hope you opt for the cleaner option.
Some may think it's sloth _ one of Christianity's seven deadly sins _ or just plain laziness that people so easily become addicted to the painless mobility of driving or riding in a car.
As ever, most activities for Carfree Day in most countries revolve around a cycle rally where cyclists roam from one side of town to the other in the hope of garnering attention from the general public and car drivers.
And the message does get across if members of the public learn that all those cyclists took the effort to swap their cars for a noiseless, pollution-free mode of transport and were still able to get to work as usual.
The Thai Carfree Day is, however, a bit of a sloth, since the activities are held on the Sunday closest to Sept 22, and this year, that's today.
I almost joined them last year when I weakened after interviewing a spokesperson for one of the Carfree Day event organisers.
PORTABLE: Easy to use folding bikes make car-free commuting more practical.
But my conscience stopped me when I was searching through the picture archive to find accompanying pictures for last year's Carfree Day story.
I came across several of photos of the Bangkok governor riding a women's bike, all smiles, promoting cycling in the city with a bunch of civil servants and politicians. What a load of fakes!
They gave a speech, cut a ribbon, said a few nice things about why we should ride and not drive to work, rode a couple of kilometres and finished.
And how did the governor get to the event? By car.
And how did the governor go home after the event? By car. And the other 364 days a year they still drive their cars to work _ what a load of hypocrites!
Most of the cyclists you see in public parks drive there, so how does that help?
The point of Carfree Day is not to drive at all, not to show off on a bicycle at a public gathering.
Sure, there are cyclists who do ride from home to the park at weekends, and I sincerely respect them for taking the effort, but their numbers are likely to be very low.
That's why I won't join in such a hypocritical activity just for the sake of indulging my ego or for publicity.
POCKET-SIZE: If we all drove small, zeroemission cars, that would be a good start.
Some people criticised Khun Heart (the TV celebrity and former pop singer) for pretending to be environmentally conscious by showing off his folding bike on the Skytrain.
Let's be fair, if he was a nobody, would he still have been accused of showing off?
It's fine that people look in to using their car less for the betterment of the environment and their personal health.
But next year, can we please have some more productive and meaningful Carfree Day activities _ such as having it on Sept 22 for a start, no driving to bike rides and no governor or celebrities acting pretentiously?
Better yet, don't wait for Carfree Day to pretend to do something good for your health and the environment. Do it whenever you can for the cause and not just to make a statement.
STREET LEGAL, AT LONG LAST
Life Lesson number three: Good things come in small denominations. How many life experiences can one learn in one day? Surely two is already one too many, but little do I know I'm about to learn a third.
‘‘ It does make you wonder just how many drivers out there put a purple note into the short fat man’s hand to earn their right to speed, kill, maim and drink-drive on the streets of Bangkok.
I didn't come here to learn truisms about my very existence. I just want to drive on the damned roads with my new company car. Instead, the whole fiasco is turning into a dreary chapter out of Zen and the Art of Motorcar Maintenance.
"Do you need a hand?" a short fat man asks me, jolting me out of my daydreams as I approached the testing centre.
"Sorry?"
"Do you need some help in passing the driving test? 500 baht ensures you will pass," he says softly yet earnestly.
The implication of his words goes right over my head. "Thank you but no. I've already been driving for nearly 10 years. I know how to drive."
The short fat man disappears as quickly as he manifested himself. I continue on my merry path to the driving test area towards the back of the grounds.
And what's this? A temple fair? It's as if the testing centre has been thrown a challenge: Construct a cute little road far removed from the reality of Bangkok streets as you possibly can. Not 200 metres away, the cacophony of Sukhumvit Road roars and turns itself inside out with the clanging and charging of maniacs zipping in and out between lanes at breakneck speeds. I'd assumed I'd be joining that madhouse on wheels as part of my driving test.
Not so. Here out the back is a gorgeous little road with a mini stop sign, a cute little bridge and all sorts of other replicas of things that would not seem out of place on the set of the Teletubbies. The city with the world's worst traffic jams makes you do your driving test on a carriageway I fully expect to see adorned with chocolate trees and flowers made out of cupcakes topped with hundreds and thousands, while nursery rhymes seep out of gaily-coloured loudspeakers.
If this is all I have to do, then the driving test is a piece of cake.
There is a wizened old driving instructor sitting at an equally wizened old wooden table in a cement office. He is an unhappy looking fellow, and he scowls as he takes my application form. "Get your car and bring it around to the start of the road," he says in Thai. English translation: "I hate farangs."
Another official explains that I have to drive around at a very slow speed, stop at a stop sign, cross the bridge, and then park no more than two metres from the kerb. I could have done the whole thing with a blindfold, and within minutes I am happily chugging through the course singing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to myself.
It's all over in five minutes. I'm filled with elation that finally my dream of having a Thai driving license is becoming a reality; that soon I would be joining the ranks of legalised madmen raping and pillaging every road rule known to mankind on the streets of Bangkok. I stride confidently to the wizened old driving instructor.
"You failed," he says in Thai. English translation: "And I really hate bald ones."
With a flushed face, shocked and angry, I leave the driving centre with an appointment to return for my second try the following week.
It's a very long seven days between driving tests, although the seven nights were good as I dreamed of various methods to slowly torture wizened old driving instructors. The movie Se7en starring Brad Pitt came out the year after and it reminded me of all the fantasies I'd had in that week. The official reason I'd failed was I had parked too far away from the kerb, but my Thai co-workers were unanimous in their judgement: If only I'd paid the short fat man 500 baht.
You have to understand I had only been in Thailand five years, and I was young and foolish and still possessing the western mentality that bribery was bad. Fifteen years have passed since that day, and no doubt if it was today I'd have gladly passed him 500 baht - maybe even 600 baht - if he could guarantee I'd have my license in an hour.
But back then I was determined not to pay, and on the morning of my new driving test I had a brainwave.
Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.
I arrived with the same bright smile I put on the week before. I waved away the short fat man who attempted to approach me as I walked confidently towards Khun Wizened.
Confidently, because other than my official papers and my car, I was also carrying something else. My office photographer.
As I started the car and drove around the course, my photographer was conspicuous in his click-click-clicks. He clicked me at the stop sign. He clicked me at the bridge.
The wizened instructor was not happy.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" he barked.
"I work for a news magazine with Khun Andrew," my photographer replied. "I'm taking some pictures ... for a story."
As I approached the kerb to park not more than two metres away, my photographer went in for the kill, standing right by the car and clicking away as if every second was yet another Kodak moment, which it wasn't, which was just as well because there was no film in the camera.
But there was really no need. Even before I'd crossed the cute little bridge I'd passed, with a hurried angry signature of the wizened instructor on my documents.
It took a lot of sweat, patience, confusion and wasted energy to get my license all those years ago. In all fairness, the system has changed a lot since then. Gone is the motorcycle taxi driver doubling as a doctor. The test papers have been cleaned up and translated into readable English. The wizened media-shy instructor is long-since retired, and one can only hope the short fat man learned about Jenny Craig and found a nice pair of pumps.
Instead is a far more streamlined clean process in place, as I witnessed earlier this month when I went back to renew my license.
And while it would have been nice to buy my license for 500 baht, it does make you wonder just how many drivers out there put a purple note into the short fat man's hand to earn their right to speed, kill, maim and drink-drive on the streets of Bangkok with as little effort as possible.
Oh no. I guess that constitutes Life Lesson Number four. Way too much for one day! No more preaching - enjoy your Sunday.
‘‘ It does make you wonder just how many drivers out there put a purple note into the short fat man’s hand to earn their right to speed, kill, maim and drink-drive on the streets of Bangkok.
I didn't come here to learn truisms about my very existence. I just want to drive on the damned roads with my new company car. Instead, the whole fiasco is turning into a dreary chapter out of Zen and the Art of Motorcar Maintenance.
"Do you need a hand?" a short fat man asks me, jolting me out of my daydreams as I approached the testing centre.
"Sorry?"
"Do you need some help in passing the driving test? 500 baht ensures you will pass," he says softly yet earnestly.
The implication of his words goes right over my head. "Thank you but no. I've already been driving for nearly 10 years. I know how to drive."
The short fat man disappears as quickly as he manifested himself. I continue on my merry path to the driving test area towards the back of the grounds.
And what's this? A temple fair? It's as if the testing centre has been thrown a challenge: Construct a cute little road far removed from the reality of Bangkok streets as you possibly can. Not 200 metres away, the cacophony of Sukhumvit Road roars and turns itself inside out with the clanging and charging of maniacs zipping in and out between lanes at breakneck speeds. I'd assumed I'd be joining that madhouse on wheels as part of my driving test.
Not so. Here out the back is a gorgeous little road with a mini stop sign, a cute little bridge and all sorts of other replicas of things that would not seem out of place on the set of the Teletubbies. The city with the world's worst traffic jams makes you do your driving test on a carriageway I fully expect to see adorned with chocolate trees and flowers made out of cupcakes topped with hundreds and thousands, while nursery rhymes seep out of gaily-coloured loudspeakers.
If this is all I have to do, then the driving test is a piece of cake.
There is a wizened old driving instructor sitting at an equally wizened old wooden table in a cement office. He is an unhappy looking fellow, and he scowls as he takes my application form. "Get your car and bring it around to the start of the road," he says in Thai. English translation: "I hate farangs."
Another official explains that I have to drive around at a very slow speed, stop at a stop sign, cross the bridge, and then park no more than two metres from the kerb. I could have done the whole thing with a blindfold, and within minutes I am happily chugging through the course singing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to myself.
It's all over in five minutes. I'm filled with elation that finally my dream of having a Thai driving license is becoming a reality; that soon I would be joining the ranks of legalised madmen raping and pillaging every road rule known to mankind on the streets of Bangkok. I stride confidently to the wizened old driving instructor.
"You failed," he says in Thai. English translation: "And I really hate bald ones."
With a flushed face, shocked and angry, I leave the driving centre with an appointment to return for my second try the following week.
It's a very long seven days between driving tests, although the seven nights were good as I dreamed of various methods to slowly torture wizened old driving instructors. The movie Se7en starring Brad Pitt came out the year after and it reminded me of all the fantasies I'd had in that week. The official reason I'd failed was I had parked too far away from the kerb, but my Thai co-workers were unanimous in their judgement: If only I'd paid the short fat man 500 baht.
You have to understand I had only been in Thailand five years, and I was young and foolish and still possessing the western mentality that bribery was bad. Fifteen years have passed since that day, and no doubt if it was today I'd have gladly passed him 500 baht - maybe even 600 baht - if he could guarantee I'd have my license in an hour.
But back then I was determined not to pay, and on the morning of my new driving test I had a brainwave.
Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.
I arrived with the same bright smile I put on the week before. I waved away the short fat man who attempted to approach me as I walked confidently towards Khun Wizened.
Confidently, because other than my official papers and my car, I was also carrying something else. My office photographer.
As I started the car and drove around the course, my photographer was conspicuous in his click-click-clicks. He clicked me at the stop sign. He clicked me at the bridge.
The wizened instructor was not happy.
"Who are you? What are you doing?" he barked.
"I work for a news magazine with Khun Andrew," my photographer replied. "I'm taking some pictures ... for a story."
As I approached the kerb to park not more than two metres away, my photographer went in for the kill, standing right by the car and clicking away as if every second was yet another Kodak moment, which it wasn't, which was just as well because there was no film in the camera.
But there was really no need. Even before I'd crossed the cute little bridge I'd passed, with a hurried angry signature of the wizened instructor on my documents.
It took a lot of sweat, patience, confusion and wasted energy to get my license all those years ago. In all fairness, the system has changed a lot since then. Gone is the motorcycle taxi driver doubling as a doctor. The test papers have been cleaned up and translated into readable English. The wizened media-shy instructor is long-since retired, and one can only hope the short fat man learned about Jenny Craig and found a nice pair of pumps.
Instead is a far more streamlined clean process in place, as I witnessed earlier this month when I went back to renew my license.
And while it would have been nice to buy my license for 500 baht, it does make you wonder just how many drivers out there put a purple note into the short fat man's hand to earn their right to speed, kill, maim and drink-drive on the streets of Bangkok with as little effort as possible.
Oh no. I guess that constitutes Life Lesson Number four. Way too much for one day! No more preaching - enjoy your Sunday.
PPP model planned for Purple Line
The government will use a public-private partnership (PPP) model for train operations and signalling systems used with the new Purple mass-transit rail line in Bangkok.
Talks have already been opened with four or five Japanese trading conglomerates about investing in the 50-billion-baht Purple Line, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director of the public infrastructure financing bureau of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).
The PDMO plans to use the PPP model for two phases of the Purple line, covering train operations and investments in the signalling system, which combined are projected to cost 13 billion baht.
Mr Theeraj said the PDMO would sound out potential investors worldwide about participating in the programme later this year.
Under a PPP, the private sector enters into a contract with a public authority to provide a service or project in return for set compensation. The contract typically stipulates minimum service quality that the private operator is obliged to provide over the term of the agreement.
Mr Theeraj said that while the process of opening bids for a contractor for Purple Line currently was under way, the PPP guidelines for the two elements of the project must be done in advance, as it may take at least 12 to 15 months before completion before going before the cabinet.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority has already awarded a 14-billion-baht construction contract for the Purple Line to CKTC, a joint venture between Ch.Karnchang and Tokyo Construction.Sino-Thai Engineering won a second contract worth 13 billion baht, with Power Line Engineering willing a third contract worth 5 billion.
Two of the contracts have yet to be signed, and are awaiting final approval from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the lender for the project.
Mr Theeraj said potential bidders for the PPP projects had already expressed the view that the Thai government may have to offer guarantees on revenues and ridership to attract interest.
Ultimately, the government may have to offer subsidies to operators to help keep fares low to encourage public use,while at the same time giving a fair rate of return to the private operator.
Talks have already been opened with four or five Japanese trading conglomerates about investing in the 50-billion-baht Purple Line, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director of the public infrastructure financing bureau of the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).
The PDMO plans to use the PPP model for two phases of the Purple line, covering train operations and investments in the signalling system, which combined are projected to cost 13 billion baht.
Mr Theeraj said the PDMO would sound out potential investors worldwide about participating in the programme later this year.
Under a PPP, the private sector enters into a contract with a public authority to provide a service or project in return for set compensation. The contract typically stipulates minimum service quality that the private operator is obliged to provide over the term of the agreement.
Mr Theeraj said that while the process of opening bids for a contractor for Purple Line currently was under way, the PPP guidelines for the two elements of the project must be done in advance, as it may take at least 12 to 15 months before completion before going before the cabinet.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority has already awarded a 14-billion-baht construction contract for the Purple Line to CKTC, a joint venture between Ch.Karnchang and Tokyo Construction.Sino-Thai Engineering won a second contract worth 13 billion baht, with Power Line Engineering willing a third contract worth 5 billion.
Two of the contracts have yet to be signed, and are awaiting final approval from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the lender for the project.
Mr Theeraj said potential bidders for the PPP projects had already expressed the view that the Thai government may have to offer guarantees on revenues and ridership to attract interest.
Ultimately, the government may have to offer subsidies to operators to help keep fares low to encourage public use,while at the same time giving a fair rate of return to the private operator.
Skytrain link tests delayed
Testing on the BTS Sukhumvit line extension will probably be pushed back until late 2011 due to delays in the procurement of signalling and electrical systems, says deputy Bangkok governor Teerachon Manomaipibul.
Procurement should have taken place nine months ago if the original December 2010 deadline for the test run was to be met. But purchasing of the operating systems for the 5km extension from Onnuj to Soi Baring, or Sukhumvit Soi 107, has not been approved yet, said Mr Teerachon, who is responsible for mass transit projects.
The senior City Hall official responsible for making the purchase has apparently stalled the scheme over fears of being investigated if something went wrong with the purchase, he said.
The official in question is due to retire and does not want to take risks despite being told the scheme is strictly in line with regulations, said Mr Teerachon.
Former city clerk Khunying Nathanon Thavisin was accused of irregularities over the purchase of fire trucks and boats by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
City Hall retroactively fired her from the post this week.
Mr Teerachon said he cannot be sure the test run can take place by mid-2011 as the consulting and bidding process normally takes about seven months.
Construction of the superstructure and stations by contractor Italian-Thai Development Plc is about 95% complete.
Procurement should have taken place nine months ago if the original December 2010 deadline for the test run was to be met. But purchasing of the operating systems for the 5km extension from Onnuj to Soi Baring, or Sukhumvit Soi 107, has not been approved yet, said Mr Teerachon, who is responsible for mass transit projects.
The senior City Hall official responsible for making the purchase has apparently stalled the scheme over fears of being investigated if something went wrong with the purchase, he said.
The official in question is due to retire and does not want to take risks despite being told the scheme is strictly in line with regulations, said Mr Teerachon.
Former city clerk Khunying Nathanon Thavisin was accused of irregularities over the purchase of fire trucks and boats by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
City Hall retroactively fired her from the post this week.
Mr Teerachon said he cannot be sure the test run can take place by mid-2011 as the consulting and bidding process normally takes about seven months.
Construction of the superstructure and stations by contractor Italian-Thai Development Plc is about 95% complete.
FASHION SHOPS PLANNED FOR SKYTRAIN
ICC International, the trading and manufacturing arm of Saha Group, is interested in opening permanent shops for branded fashion products at Skytrain stations.
"Similar to the Japanese, Bangkokians today have a rushed lifestyle and always require greater convenience," executive director Nonglak Techabunanek said yesterday.
It would be the first time for ICC to tap the new sales channel of mass rapid transit, which carries heavy traffic of potential shoppers. The Skytrain retail outlets would cater very well to their changing urban lifestyle, she said.
About 80-90 per cent of the company's sales are from department stores, and 10 per cent from other modern retail channels such as hypermarkets.
The company also started a TV-shopping channel at the beginning of this year, but the sales contribution is still small.
Community centres are another potential retail channel of interest to the company.
"Our sales in the first eight months are flat compared to the same period last year. We also expect our full-year sales to be flat or enjoy slight growth to about Bt10.05 billion this year," she said.
Surapong Laoha-unya, director and chief operating officer of Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), the operator of the Skytrain, said the transit system now attracts 400,000-500,000 passengers a day on average, which is up from about 380,000 last year.
"Our passengers have increased significantly by 5-7 per cent year on year in the first eight months of this year. We expect our sales to reach nearly Bt4 billion this year, of which over 90 per cent will be from passenger tickets and the rest from the lease of retail and advertising space to vendors," he said.
ICC International, in cooperation with BTS and VGI Global Media, will organise the "ICC Sky Shopping Rally" at three major stations - Siam, National Stadium and Ploenchit - from September 28-October 4.
All major fashion brands manufactured and distributed by ICC - including BSC, Wacoal, Arrow, Guy Laroche, Getaway, Elle, Naturalizer, Speedo, Absorba and Enfant - will be available at the stations for the first time at a huge discount of 30-60 per cent.
Marut Arthakaivalvatee, CEO of VGI Global Media (Thailand), said the company had been appointed by BTS to manage the marketing, shop areas and advertisements at its stations.
Specialising in transit and in-store media, VGI Global Media expects its overall sales to grow 15-20 per cent this year to about Bt1.2 billion.
"Our direction is to focus on our specialised format of digital-based semi-outdoor media," he said.
"Similar to the Japanese, Bangkokians today have a rushed lifestyle and always require greater convenience," executive director Nonglak Techabunanek said yesterday.
It would be the first time for ICC to tap the new sales channel of mass rapid transit, which carries heavy traffic of potential shoppers. The Skytrain retail outlets would cater very well to their changing urban lifestyle, she said.
About 80-90 per cent of the company's sales are from department stores, and 10 per cent from other modern retail channels such as hypermarkets.
The company also started a TV-shopping channel at the beginning of this year, but the sales contribution is still small.
Community centres are another potential retail channel of interest to the company.
"Our sales in the first eight months are flat compared to the same period last year. We also expect our full-year sales to be flat or enjoy slight growth to about Bt10.05 billion this year," she said.
Surapong Laoha-unya, director and chief operating officer of Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), the operator of the Skytrain, said the transit system now attracts 400,000-500,000 passengers a day on average, which is up from about 380,000 last year.
"Our passengers have increased significantly by 5-7 per cent year on year in the first eight months of this year. We expect our sales to reach nearly Bt4 billion this year, of which over 90 per cent will be from passenger tickets and the rest from the lease of retail and advertising space to vendors," he said.
ICC International, in cooperation with BTS and VGI Global Media, will organise the "ICC Sky Shopping Rally" at three major stations - Siam, National Stadium and Ploenchit - from September 28-October 4.
All major fashion brands manufactured and distributed by ICC - including BSC, Wacoal, Arrow, Guy Laroche, Getaway, Elle, Naturalizer, Speedo, Absorba and Enfant - will be available at the stations for the first time at a huge discount of 30-60 per cent.
Marut Arthakaivalvatee, CEO of VGI Global Media (Thailand), said the company had been appointed by BTS to manage the marketing, shop areas and advertisements at its stations.
Specialising in transit and in-store media, VGI Global Media expects its overall sales to grow 15-20 per cent this year to about Bt1.2 billion.
"Our direction is to focus on our specialised format of digital-based semi-outdoor media," he said.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Baby rides for free
A baby girl was born on Monday on a high-speed train linking Paris and Brussels, the first such case since the Thalys rail service was created in 1996. The baby was delivered by two doctors and two nurses who were on board, as the train was travelling at around 300kph.The baby was born without complications, just before the train came to a halt in the Belgian capital, where fire services and an emergency medical team were waiting. Thalys chief Olivier Poitrenaud gave the newborn a life-time free rail pass.
Biker "half to blame"
A German court said a motorcyclist who collided with a drunken pedestrian during the Munich beer festival was partly to blame because she should have expected the road to be full of partygoers. The female biker, who was driving within the speed limit at 40-50 km per hour, hit a man who was crossing the road on a red light during the beer fest which attracts millions of revellers every year. The court ruled she "was 50% responsible" for the accident, and ordered her to pay half the damages from the accident (around $3,600). The court said "the motorcyclist should have adjusted her speed to be able to avoid" large numbers of drunk people on the streets at night, who can not be trusted to observe the rules of the road.
Thailand slips in popularity poll
In third place last year, Thailand has slipped twelve places to 15th in the latest "favourite destination" survey conducted by the UK edition of Conde ' Nast Traveller Magazine to determine the winners of this year's Readers' Travel Awards.
Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.
The awards announced annually extend to various other categories including favourite cities hotels, spas, airlines and airports.
Leading the "favourite cities" category was New York followed by Paris, Rome, Sydney and Barcelona (same scores), Venice, San Francisco, Cape Town, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.
Sicily was their favourite island, followed by Maldives, Barbados, the Cyclades (in the Greek archipelago), Cuba, Seychelles, Mauritius, Phuket (13th last year), Koh Samui (6th last year) and Cyprus.
Their favourite airport was Beijing for flight information/clarity of signs and accessibility, Dubai for shopping, Kuala Lumpur for baggage handling while Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi failed to figure even in the top-15.
The airline category was segmented into short-haul leisure, long-haul leisure, business and low-cost airline.
THAI placed 9th in long-haul leisure segment, Virgin Atlantic took the honours for flight service and lounge facilities, Qantas for in-flight entertainment, Air New Zealand for catering and Singapore Airlines for service/staff.
Seven Thai hotels figured among the top-20 in the "overseas leisure hotels" category: Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai (3rd, up from 15th last year), the Chedi Phuket (6th, down from 2nd), Six Senses Hideaway in Samui (8th, top of the list last year), Amapuri in Phuket (10th, down from 4th), Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai (11th, down from 5th), Six Senses Hideaway, Hua Hin (16th, up a notch) and Anantara Phuket Resort and Spa (20th).
"The Chedi Phuket has the most appetising food and Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai has the most polished service/staff," the survey said.
Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Hua Hin ranked second (up from 5th), behind Zara Spa in Jordan.
For the complete list, visit http://www.cntraveller.com/ReadersAwards/2009.
Airports tap AIS
Airports of Thailand (AoT) has joined hands with I-Access and AIS to launch flight information service via mobile phones.
Called "Airports Flight Info," the service provides quick access to check flight information via SMS and WAP or mobile Internet website, said AoT President Serirat Prasutanond. "The wireless service is regarded as an alternative to access information in response to people's lifestyle today which is always on the move."
The information includes flight schedules, check-in counter numbers, boarding gates and carousel numbers of airlines landing at the following airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hat Yai.
"There are plans to improve and develop facilities so as to make Suvarnabhumi among world's 10 best airports in terms of service by the end of this year. Already, it's handling more than 100,000 passengers and 700 flights daily," said Nirandra Theeranartsin, Suvarnabhumi's general manager.
To check flight schedule, one is required to type flight details and send it to 471-4714. The fee is six baht. The information can also be accessed through WAP Portal of mobileLIFE by dailing *702# to get the link to "Airports Flight Info" page.
Aviation and travel business operators needing information on a regular basis can apply for Smart SIM based on Dynamic SIM Tool Kit technology equipped with built in application for information search. The SIM is convenient when accessing through WAP and SMS and the cost is one baht at a time.
Airports Flight Info SIM will hit the market this month.
Bus service to Laos
Chaipattana Transportation, a major operator of public buses in north Thailand, plans to launch a service linking Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang in Laos next year.
According to company Managing Director Somchai Thongkumkoon, the idea to launch a bus service on this route was spurred by boom in passenger traffic on the R3A highway that links Thailand, Laos and China.
It hopes to ply the route using a fleet of five coaches. Currently the company operates boat cruises and buses to Luang Prabang in tandem with a company in Laos. Travel time is two days by boat and 12 hours by bus.
Balloon festival
Following its resounding success in Khao Yai last year, this time the Thailand International Balloon Festival travels to Ayutthaya where it will be held from Dec 3-6.
Organised by Earth Wind & Fire and backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the event drew 300,000 spectators last year and this time it should go one better as some ranking international balloonists and their crew are expected to converge on Ayutthaya, the ancient Thai capital that's now a World Heritage site, for the three-day spectacle.
To mark the occasion, the organisers have joined hands with Krungthai Bank and MasterCard to launch the "Magic 9 Campaign", a photo contest, in which holders of KTC-MasterCard credit cards are invited to send nine photographs together with captions to the web site http://www.ktcworld.co.th.
At stake is about 900,000 baht in prize money. The deadline for sending entries is Nov 1, and the winners - nine in all - will be announced on Nov 25 via the portal http://www.ktcworld.co.th. They qualify for free balloon rides during the festival.
Korean Air seat upgrade
Korean Air is refurbishing some 9,720 seats on 32 mid- and long-haul Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 aircrafts.
As part of the refurbishing, it is installing lie flat seats in first and business class, while seats in economy class will have a new design. Latest audio and video systems are part of the package that is expected to cost US$200 million (6.8 billion baht) by the time it is completed in April 2011.
If you have any comments or news to share, send them to karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th.
Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.
The awards announced annually extend to various other categories including favourite cities hotels, spas, airlines and airports.
Leading the "favourite cities" category was New York followed by Paris, Rome, Sydney and Barcelona (same scores), Venice, San Francisco, Cape Town, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.
Sicily was their favourite island, followed by Maldives, Barbados, the Cyclades (in the Greek archipelago), Cuba, Seychelles, Mauritius, Phuket (13th last year), Koh Samui (6th last year) and Cyprus.
Their favourite airport was Beijing for flight information/clarity of signs and accessibility, Dubai for shopping, Kuala Lumpur for baggage handling while Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi failed to figure even in the top-15.
The airline category was segmented into short-haul leisure, long-haul leisure, business and low-cost airline.
THAI placed 9th in long-haul leisure segment, Virgin Atlantic took the honours for flight service and lounge facilities, Qantas for in-flight entertainment, Air New Zealand for catering and Singapore Airlines for service/staff.
Seven Thai hotels figured among the top-20 in the "overseas leisure hotels" category: Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai (3rd, up from 15th last year), the Chedi Phuket (6th, down from 2nd), Six Senses Hideaway in Samui (8th, top of the list last year), Amapuri in Phuket (10th, down from 4th), Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai (11th, down from 5th), Six Senses Hideaway, Hua Hin (16th, up a notch) and Anantara Phuket Resort and Spa (20th).
"The Chedi Phuket has the most appetising food and Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai has the most polished service/staff," the survey said.
Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Hua Hin ranked second (up from 5th), behind Zara Spa in Jordan.
For the complete list, visit http://www.cntraveller.com/ReadersAwards/2009.
Airports tap AIS
Airports of Thailand (AoT) has joined hands with I-Access and AIS to launch flight information service via mobile phones.
Called "Airports Flight Info," the service provides quick access to check flight information via SMS and WAP or mobile Internet website, said AoT President Serirat Prasutanond. "The wireless service is regarded as an alternative to access information in response to people's lifestyle today which is always on the move."
The information includes flight schedules, check-in counter numbers, boarding gates and carousel numbers of airlines landing at the following airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hat Yai.
"There are plans to improve and develop facilities so as to make Suvarnabhumi among world's 10 best airports in terms of service by the end of this year. Already, it's handling more than 100,000 passengers and 700 flights daily," said Nirandra Theeranartsin, Suvarnabhumi's general manager.
To check flight schedule, one is required to type flight details and send it to 471-4714. The fee is six baht. The information can also be accessed through WAP Portal of mobileLIFE by dailing *702# to get the link to "Airports Flight Info" page.
Aviation and travel business operators needing information on a regular basis can apply for Smart SIM based on Dynamic SIM Tool Kit technology equipped with built in application for information search. The SIM is convenient when accessing through WAP and SMS and the cost is one baht at a time.
Airports Flight Info SIM will hit the market this month.
Bus service to Laos
Chaipattana Transportation, a major operator of public buses in north Thailand, plans to launch a service linking Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang in Laos next year.
According to company Managing Director Somchai Thongkumkoon, the idea to launch a bus service on this route was spurred by boom in passenger traffic on the R3A highway that links Thailand, Laos and China.
It hopes to ply the route using a fleet of five coaches. Currently the company operates boat cruises and buses to Luang Prabang in tandem with a company in Laos. Travel time is two days by boat and 12 hours by bus.
Balloon festival
Following its resounding success in Khao Yai last year, this time the Thailand International Balloon Festival travels to Ayutthaya where it will be held from Dec 3-6.
Organised by Earth Wind & Fire and backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the event drew 300,000 spectators last year and this time it should go one better as some ranking international balloonists and their crew are expected to converge on Ayutthaya, the ancient Thai capital that's now a World Heritage site, for the three-day spectacle.
To mark the occasion, the organisers have joined hands with Krungthai Bank and MasterCard to launch the "Magic 9 Campaign", a photo contest, in which holders of KTC-MasterCard credit cards are invited to send nine photographs together with captions to the web site http://www.ktcworld.co.th.
At stake is about 900,000 baht in prize money. The deadline for sending entries is Nov 1, and the winners - nine in all - will be announced on Nov 25 via the portal http://www.ktcworld.co.th. They qualify for free balloon rides during the festival.
Korean Air seat upgrade
Korean Air is refurbishing some 9,720 seats on 32 mid- and long-haul Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 aircrafts.
As part of the refurbishing, it is installing lie flat seats in first and business class, while seats in economy class will have a new design. Latest audio and video systems are part of the package that is expected to cost US$200 million (6.8 billion baht) by the time it is completed in April 2011.
If you have any comments or news to share, send them to karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th.
Samoans switch to driving on the left
Church bells rang out across Samoa as the island nation joined its South Pacific neighbours in driving on the left of the road instead of keeping to the right as former colonial master Germany did a century ago.
Ignoring express instructions from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele to observe a two-day public holiday and stay home, Samoa's 20,000 motorists couldn't wait to try out the new experience.
"Do not drive if you are 15 or 16, only those over 21 should drive,and don't drive if you are sleepy, drunk or have just had a fight with your wife," Tuilaepa instructed the nation in a broadcast.
Extra speed bumps, lower speed limits and a ban on the sale of alcohol helped Samoans prepare for becoming the first country since Ghana in 1974 to change sides in traffic.
The move divided this legendarily happy-go-lucky country with two-thirds of the 180,000 population signing a petition drawn up by People Against Switching Sides (PASS) that rejected parity with Australia and New Zealand.
The prime minister's argument was that importing vehicles from the United States was unnecessarily expensive and could be avoided by sourcing cars from neighbouring countries, Australia and New Zealand.
PASS brought out the biggest crowds since independence from New Zealand in 1962 for street protests urging Tuilaepa to think again.
New road signage was defaced and road markings giving the new directions painted over.
"There are some of you who ruined the signs," Tuilaepa said in his changeover broadcast."This is not good."
But predictions of civil unrest and traffic chaos have not come to pass, with Apia, the capital, in party mode and no serious accidents reported in the island paradise located midway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the South Pacific.
The prime minister was taking no chances. Despite promising to be behind the wheel for the big switch, Tuilaepa opted to be chauffeur-driven on his official changeover road trip around Upolu,the main island and home to two-thirds of the population.
Ignoring express instructions from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele to observe a two-day public holiday and stay home, Samoa's 20,000 motorists couldn't wait to try out the new experience.
"Do not drive if you are 15 or 16, only those over 21 should drive,and don't drive if you are sleepy, drunk or have just had a fight with your wife," Tuilaepa instructed the nation in a broadcast.
Extra speed bumps, lower speed limits and a ban on the sale of alcohol helped Samoans prepare for becoming the first country since Ghana in 1974 to change sides in traffic.
The move divided this legendarily happy-go-lucky country with two-thirds of the 180,000 population signing a petition drawn up by People Against Switching Sides (PASS) that rejected parity with Australia and New Zealand.
The prime minister's argument was that importing vehicles from the United States was unnecessarily expensive and could be avoided by sourcing cars from neighbouring countries, Australia and New Zealand.
PASS brought out the biggest crowds since independence from New Zealand in 1962 for street protests urging Tuilaepa to think again.
New road signage was defaced and road markings giving the new directions painted over.
"There are some of you who ruined the signs," Tuilaepa said in his changeover broadcast."This is not good."
But predictions of civil unrest and traffic chaos have not come to pass, with Apia, the capital, in party mode and no serious accidents reported in the island paradise located midway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the South Pacific.
The prime minister was taking no chances. Despite promising to be behind the wheel for the big switch, Tuilaepa opted to be chauffeur-driven on his official changeover road trip around Upolu,the main island and home to two-thirds of the population.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Airport Rail Link dispute goes off the rails
Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum's claims he has solved the industrial dispute surrounding the embattled airport rail link have left the SRT and the powerful rail union baffled.
Mr Sophon said he had held "informal negotiations" with a leading State Railway of Thailand unionist over the Suvarnabhumi airport rail project.
He said the talks had led to an agreement that the union would allow the Airport Rail Link project to be set up as part of a new SRT subsidiary.
However, SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen yesterday said he was not aware of any talks between the minister and the union.
SRT union leader Sawit Kaewwan also denied the workers had reached an agreement with the ministry.
But Mr Sophon insisted the issue had been settled.
"I have reached an agreement with the union representative, whom I did not want to identify by name," Mr Sohpon said."The talk led to an understanding and the union agreed to soften its position."
The union previously wanted the debtridden railway agency to set up a business unit to handle the new project to make sure it would remain under the SRT's direct control.
But under the SRT's restructuring plan,the agency is to set up a subsidiary responsible for commercial and freight services.
Mr Sophon said he had held "informal negotiations" with a leading State Railway of Thailand unionist over the Suvarnabhumi airport rail project.
He said the talks had led to an agreement that the union would allow the Airport Rail Link project to be set up as part of a new SRT subsidiary.
However, SRT governor Yutthana Thapcharoen yesterday said he was not aware of any talks between the minister and the union.
SRT union leader Sawit Kaewwan also denied the workers had reached an agreement with the ministry.
But Mr Sophon insisted the issue had been settled.
"I have reached an agreement with the union representative, whom I did not want to identify by name," Mr Sohpon said."The talk led to an understanding and the union agreed to soften its position."
The union previously wanted the debtridden railway agency to set up a business unit to handle the new project to make sure it would remain under the SRT's direct control.
But under the SRT's restructuring plan,the agency is to set up a subsidiary responsible for commercial and freight services.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Passenger trains to take freight
The debt-ridden State Railway of Thailand plans to use its passenger trains to transport goods from the upper South in a bid to increase revenue.
The scheme, which was raised at a meeting of the logistics development committee chaired by permanent secretary for transport Surachai Tharnsithipong, calls for passenger trains to carry freight on separate goods cars.
The upper South has been targeted because it is an important source of farm produce. Goods would be transported initially between Tha Ma Mao station in Prachuap Khiri Khan and the goods packaging and transporting station in Lat Krabang in suburban Bangkok.
The SRT favours this method because it does not have enough locomotives.Making better use of its passenger trains seemed a good solution, said Jura Sukamanop, deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning."The method would somewhat affect our service," he admitted.
However, he said, the SRT would develop its goods unit to handle the job once all resources were ready. It plans to increase its service efficiency by repairing old locomotives and renting new equipment from Malaysia.
To complete the goods service facility the SRT plans to develop container yards,which would be located 50 to 70 kilometres from factories, Mr Jura said.
The government would finance the construction while private companies would be invited to invest in resources such as lifting equipment.
The scheme, which was raised at a meeting of the logistics development committee chaired by permanent secretary for transport Surachai Tharnsithipong, calls for passenger trains to carry freight on separate goods cars.
The upper South has been targeted because it is an important source of farm produce. Goods would be transported initially between Tha Ma Mao station in Prachuap Khiri Khan and the goods packaging and transporting station in Lat Krabang in suburban Bangkok.
The SRT favours this method because it does not have enough locomotives.Making better use of its passenger trains seemed a good solution, said Jura Sukamanop, deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning."The method would somewhat affect our service," he admitted.
However, he said, the SRT would develop its goods unit to handle the job once all resources were ready. It plans to increase its service efficiency by repairing old locomotives and renting new equipment from Malaysia.
To complete the goods service facility the SRT plans to develop container yards,which would be located 50 to 70 kilometres from factories, Mr Jura said.
The government would finance the construction while private companies would be invited to invest in resources such as lifting equipment.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Airport needs long-term fix
It is encouraging that the Airports of Thailand Plc has shown willingness to put its money where its mouth is. The war it is waging on unlicensed taxi drivers, tour guides, touts and other shady operators at Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally expected to last a month. Instead, it is now entering its seventh week after netting over 1,200 illegal drivers and tour guides and exceeding the time frame allotted for similar crackdowns in the past.
Now the airport authorities have set aside another 15 million baht to finance continued efforts by police,security personnel, Land Transport Department officials and airport staff who say they will work around the clock until the clean-up is complete. Clearly they are serious about this, but the key question of what happens when funds do eventually run out and the crackdown tapers off remains unanswered.
If recent history is any guide, the unlicensed blackplate taxis and illegal tour guides will return as soon as the pressure is off. That is what happened in 2007 when police mounted a 15-day blitz against them. On their return the gangs even blockaded the airport for several hours in a show of force.
This demonstrates how essential it is that a campaign be sustained for as long as it takes to eradicate the problem, even if it means a dedicated task force has to be established to patrol the airport for years, or even throughout its lifetime if it becomes necessary. For this reason the proposal to set up an independent police station within the airport grounds is an extreme step but a welcome one. Short-termmeasures will not solve this problem.
The debacle a couple of years ago was entirely predictable given the misguided optimism displayed by police that the unlicensed black-plate taxis, ticket brokers and illegal tour guides could all be driven out for good in such a short space of time. After all, decades had been devoted, with little success, to attempts to eliminate similar problems at the old international terminal at Don Mueang, but these efforts were constantly thwarted by "men in uniform" and other influential figures.
First-time tourists and businessmen, tired after a long flight and confronted with unfamiliar surroundings and a strange currency, are an exposed target and not difficult to cheat, fleece or overcharge. Since first impressions are the ones that stick in the mind, such despicable activity gives an appalling image of the country they are visiting. Airport gangs do not care about this, nor do they care whether the tourist family they have just exploited ever comes back. That is why they must be stopped before they do any further damage.If a 1,000-baht fine is an insufficient deterrent then increase it substantially and start impounding illegal vehicles, towing them away if necessary. Keep up the pressure and tighten security. With all the new cameras being installed, it should not be difficult to keep tabs on touts or baggage handlers acting suspiciously, and direct a security team to investigate. Other airports have had similar problems and overcome them, with perhaps Manila being the most recent example.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is a driving force behind the move to clean up the airport and has made tourism promotion an important policy goal. If, despite all these measures, precautions and expenditure, those preying on tourists return and appear to be operating with impunity, then the airport management itself must come under scrutiny on suspicion of collusion.
If that happens, the prime minister has the authority to do what is necessary. He has already made it clear he has the resolve.
Now the airport authorities have set aside another 15 million baht to finance continued efforts by police,security personnel, Land Transport Department officials and airport staff who say they will work around the clock until the clean-up is complete. Clearly they are serious about this, but the key question of what happens when funds do eventually run out and the crackdown tapers off remains unanswered.
If recent history is any guide, the unlicensed blackplate taxis and illegal tour guides will return as soon as the pressure is off. That is what happened in 2007 when police mounted a 15-day blitz against them. On their return the gangs even blockaded the airport for several hours in a show of force.
This demonstrates how essential it is that a campaign be sustained for as long as it takes to eradicate the problem, even if it means a dedicated task force has to be established to patrol the airport for years, or even throughout its lifetime if it becomes necessary. For this reason the proposal to set up an independent police station within the airport grounds is an extreme step but a welcome one. Short-termmeasures will not solve this problem.
The debacle a couple of years ago was entirely predictable given the misguided optimism displayed by police that the unlicensed black-plate taxis, ticket brokers and illegal tour guides could all be driven out for good in such a short space of time. After all, decades had been devoted, with little success, to attempts to eliminate similar problems at the old international terminal at Don Mueang, but these efforts were constantly thwarted by "men in uniform" and other influential figures.
First-time tourists and businessmen, tired after a long flight and confronted with unfamiliar surroundings and a strange currency, are an exposed target and not difficult to cheat, fleece or overcharge. Since first impressions are the ones that stick in the mind, such despicable activity gives an appalling image of the country they are visiting. Airport gangs do not care about this, nor do they care whether the tourist family they have just exploited ever comes back. That is why they must be stopped before they do any further damage.If a 1,000-baht fine is an insufficient deterrent then increase it substantially and start impounding illegal vehicles, towing them away if necessary. Keep up the pressure and tighten security. With all the new cameras being installed, it should not be difficult to keep tabs on touts or baggage handlers acting suspiciously, and direct a security team to investigate. Other airports have had similar problems and overcome them, with perhaps Manila being the most recent example.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is a driving force behind the move to clean up the airport and has made tourism promotion an important policy goal. If, despite all these measures, precautions and expenditure, those preying on tourists return and appear to be operating with impunity, then the airport management itself must come under scrutiny on suspicion of collusion.
If that happens, the prime minister has the authority to do what is necessary. He has already made it clear he has the resolve.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
The Highways Department yesterday signed 462 contracts for highway maintenance worth Bt6.12 billion, which is part of the government's Thai Khemkhaeng package.
The department is to sign additional 335 projects worth Bt3.9 billion by the end of this month. For the 2010 fiscal year, the department has been given Bt12.5 billion, of which Bt10.5 billion has been allocated for highway maintenance, Bt1.5 billion for community roads and Bt500 million for security improvement.
"After the contracts are signed, contractors will submit details of the construction work for the department's consideration before the first amount - 15 per cent of the projects' value or Bt1.875 billion - is disbursed in October. This will also help inject money into the economy," Supoj Saplom, director-general of the department, said. He is confident that budget disbursement would go as planned.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the government would focus on medium and long-term measures to boost the economy and increase the nation's competitiveness. He said short-term measures, such as the handouts given to nearly 10 million people early this year, would no longer be implemented.
He said the TKK package would definitely boost the economy, because at least 85 per cent of |the Bt300 billion investment would be disbursed between 2009 and 2010.
The department is to sign additional 335 projects worth Bt3.9 billion by the end of this month. For the 2010 fiscal year, the department has been given Bt12.5 billion, of which Bt10.5 billion has been allocated for highway maintenance, Bt1.5 billion for community roads and Bt500 million for security improvement.
"After the contracts are signed, contractors will submit details of the construction work for the department's consideration before the first amount - 15 per cent of the projects' value or Bt1.875 billion - is disbursed in October. This will also help inject money into the economy," Supoj Saplom, director-general of the department, said. He is confident that budget disbursement would go as planned.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the government would focus on medium and long-term measures to boost the economy and increase the nation's competitiveness. He said short-term measures, such as the handouts given to nearly 10 million people early this year, would no longer be implemented.
He said the TKK package would definitely boost the economy, because at least 85 per cent of |the Bt300 billion investment would be disbursed between 2009 and 2010.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
BECL SAYS TRAFFIC VOLUME STAGNANT
Bangkok Expressway (BECL), the country's biggest private toll road operator, expects zero growth in traffic volume this year as the world oil price remains sensitive to demand.
Panan Tosuwanthaworn, BECL senior managing director for finance, said yesterday that the company expects no growth this year in its traffic volume of 924,000 vehicles daily.
However, the toll revenue for the year is expected to record a 6-per-cent growth.
BECL reported traffic volume of 934,647 vehicles and toll revenue of Bt20.50 million daily in the first half of this year, a 9.28-per-cent growth on year to Bt3.71 billion. Net profit in the first half surged 38.96 per cent on year to Bt881 million. Earnings per share were Bt1.14.
"The actual figures are near our targets," said Panan.
She said the company's revenue grew nearly 10 per cent in the first half while the target for the whole year is 6 per cent growth. The company increased its toll rate for the expressway system by Bt5 in September last year.
Panan said the average traffic volume in the suburban sector grew higher than the urban sector. He added that this was not a significant income contribution to the company as the toll rate of the suburban sector (Bt10 to Bt15 per car) is lower than that of the urban sector (around Bt45 per car).
Of the total revenue, about 67 per cent came from the urban sector with the suburban sector contributing the balance 23 per cent.
To ensure toll revenue covers its debt repayment totalling Bt22.69 billion, Panan said BECL closely monitors interest rate movement all the time. The company's debt-service-coverage ratio as of June 30 was 1.57 times.
"If the interest rate tends to move down, the company might raise more funds via debentures but with coupon rate of not more than 5 per cent annually," she said.
Recently, BECL issued two tranches of debentures amounting to Bt2 billion. The first Bt1-billion tranche, with a maturity of three and a half years and coupon rate of 4.1 per cent annually, was offered to private investors. The Bt1-billion second tranche, which has a four-year maturity, was offered to public investors with a coupon rate of 4.2 per cent annually.
Panan Tosuwanthaworn, BECL senior managing director for finance, said yesterday that the company expects no growth this year in its traffic volume of 924,000 vehicles daily.
However, the toll revenue for the year is expected to record a 6-per-cent growth.
BECL reported traffic volume of 934,647 vehicles and toll revenue of Bt20.50 million daily in the first half of this year, a 9.28-per-cent growth on year to Bt3.71 billion. Net profit in the first half surged 38.96 per cent on year to Bt881 million. Earnings per share were Bt1.14.
"The actual figures are near our targets," said Panan.
She said the company's revenue grew nearly 10 per cent in the first half while the target for the whole year is 6 per cent growth. The company increased its toll rate for the expressway system by Bt5 in September last year.
Panan said the average traffic volume in the suburban sector grew higher than the urban sector. He added that this was not a significant income contribution to the company as the toll rate of the suburban sector (Bt10 to Bt15 per car) is lower than that of the urban sector (around Bt45 per car).
Of the total revenue, about 67 per cent came from the urban sector with the suburban sector contributing the balance 23 per cent.
To ensure toll revenue covers its debt repayment totalling Bt22.69 billion, Panan said BECL closely monitors interest rate movement all the time. The company's debt-service-coverage ratio as of June 30 was 1.57 times.
"If the interest rate tends to move down, the company might raise more funds via debentures but with coupon rate of not more than 5 per cent annually," she said.
Recently, BECL issued two tranches of debentures amounting to Bt2 billion. The first Bt1-billion tranche, with a maturity of three and a half years and coupon rate of 4.1 per cent annually, was offered to private investors. The Bt1-billion second tranche, which has a four-year maturity, was offered to public investors with a coupon rate of 4.2 per cent annually.
Monday, September 7, 2009
People pray for safety in "driving on the left"
Samoans went to church on Sunday to pray that an impending switch to driving on the left will not spark a surge in deaths and injuries on their roads.
The Pacific Island nation of around 180,000 yesterday would be the first country in the world to change driving sides since the 1970s.
Bitter political battles over the move have died down since a court late last month overthrew a legal challenge to the switch, and the country has pulled together in a bid to ensure a smooth changeover.
Thousands in the devout Christian nation went to church on Sunday, praying for a changeover "free of injury and,heaven forbid, death", an editorial in the Samoa Observer newspaper said."All of those who have the safety of our people - and especially our children - in their hearts will echo those prayers by asking the Almighty to calm our tempers and reduce our speed from tomorrow."
The switch officially took place at 6am local time yesterday.
The Pacific Island nation of around 180,000 yesterday would be the first country in the world to change driving sides since the 1970s.
Bitter political battles over the move have died down since a court late last month overthrew a legal challenge to the switch, and the country has pulled together in a bid to ensure a smooth changeover.
Thousands in the devout Christian nation went to church on Sunday, praying for a changeover "free of injury and,heaven forbid, death", an editorial in the Samoa Observer newspaper said."All of those who have the safety of our people - and especially our children - in their hearts will echo those prayers by asking the Almighty to calm our tempers and reduce our speed from tomorrow."
The switch officially took place at 6am local time yesterday.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Ferry sinks, at least 5 dead
Five people were killed and dozens were left missing after a ferry carrying nearly 1,000 passengers sank in darkness off the southern Philippines yesterday, officials said.
In the latest tragedy to hit the Philippines' notoriously dangerous maritime transport industry, survivors reported mass panic as the Superferry 9 began to tilt sharply.
"They told us to stay calm but we could see no sign of rescue. Not for two hours," survivor Manuel Malicsi told radio station RMN.
Nine hundred people on board were rescued but five were confirmed killed and by late yesterday afternoon 63 passengers and crew members remained unaccounted for, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement.
"We are searching all possible areas [for the missing people]," coast guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said.
"Navy ships [and] airforce aircraft are still scouring the area," he added.
Adm Tamayo offered hope for the relatives of those still missing, saying some may have drifted away in life rafts or been picked up by private boats that took part in the rescue.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also said local officials were checking to see if any survivors had already reached shore.
At Zamboanga City, stunned survivors disembarked from the boats that rescued them, many of them still half-naked and bare-foot after leaping into the water.
The ferry issued a distress call around 3.30am yesterday,11km off the coast of Zamboanga peninsula, 19 hours after leaving General Santos City.
Philippine Maritime administrator Elena Bautista warned that criminal charges would be filed if negligence were found to have caused the accident.
In the latest tragedy to hit the Philippines' notoriously dangerous maritime transport industry, survivors reported mass panic as the Superferry 9 began to tilt sharply.
"They told us to stay calm but we could see no sign of rescue. Not for two hours," survivor Manuel Malicsi told radio station RMN.
Nine hundred people on board were rescued but five were confirmed killed and by late yesterday afternoon 63 passengers and crew members remained unaccounted for, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement.
"We are searching all possible areas [for the missing people]," coast guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said.
"Navy ships [and] airforce aircraft are still scouring the area," he added.
Adm Tamayo offered hope for the relatives of those still missing, saying some may have drifted away in life rafts or been picked up by private boats that took part in the rescue.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also said local officials were checking to see if any survivors had already reached shore.
At Zamboanga City, stunned survivors disembarked from the boats that rescued them, many of them still half-naked and bare-foot after leaping into the water.
The ferry issued a distress call around 3.30am yesterday,11km off the coast of Zamboanga peninsula, 19 hours after leaving General Santos City.
Philippine Maritime administrator Elena Bautista warned that criminal charges would be filed if negligence were found to have caused the accident.
AIRPORT LINK TO START ON KING'S BIRTHDAY
The long-delayed Airport Rail Link, to and form Suvarnabhumi Airport, will start with free service to the public from December 5, to coincide with the birthday celebrations for His Majesty the King.
Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Yuthana Tupcharoen, said people interested in free rides on December 5 may apply for tickets from October 1 at either the Airport Rail Link office or SRT head-quarters.
Test runs of the system have been conducted since February by Siemens, the manufacturer and installer of the rail system, and no problems have been found. Independent engineers will do safety inspections of for the next three months and if no problems are found, the rail link will be set to start.
The SRT board has hired Deutsche Bahn International of Germany to train Airport Rail Link staff, in a Bt85-million deal.
The 28-km rail link connects Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province to the City Air Terminal in Bangkok's Makkasan area.
The Airport Rail Link is owned and will be operated by SRT, through a subsidiary company, which will administer the overall operations.
According to a preliminary study, the fare for an express trip will be Bt150 per person, while fares for City Line commuter trips, will vary from Bt30-50 per passenger.
Transport for airport express ridders and local commuters will run on the same track with the same equipment, but with a staggered schedule.
The premium-fare express services will run on the hour between Suvarnabhumi Airport and City Air Terminal, while the City Line service will stop at six local stations along the route.
The express service will cost Bt150 and run on the hour; commuters will pay Bt30-50 for trips to six local stations, from December 5.
Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Yuthana Tupcharoen, said people interested in free rides on December 5 may apply for tickets from October 1 at either the Airport Rail Link office or SRT head-quarters.
Test runs of the system have been conducted since February by Siemens, the manufacturer and installer of the rail system, and no problems have been found. Independent engineers will do safety inspections of for the next three months and if no problems are found, the rail link will be set to start.
The SRT board has hired Deutsche Bahn International of Germany to train Airport Rail Link staff, in a Bt85-million deal.
The 28-km rail link connects Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province to the City Air Terminal in Bangkok's Makkasan area.
The Airport Rail Link is owned and will be operated by SRT, through a subsidiary company, which will administer the overall operations.
According to a preliminary study, the fare for an express trip will be Bt150 per person, while fares for City Line commuter trips, will vary from Bt30-50 per passenger.
Transport for airport express ridders and local commuters will run on the same track with the same equipment, but with a staggered schedule.
The premium-fare express services will run on the hour between Suvarnabhumi Airport and City Air Terminal, while the City Line service will stop at six local stations along the route.
The express service will cost Bt150 and run on the hour; commuters will pay Bt30-50 for trips to six local stations, from December 5.
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