First day of bus reform plan leaves passengers confused, especially the elderly

Bangkok,, The BMTA has arranged bus routes according to the bus reform plan starting today (25 July). It found that many routes have shortened their distances and changed some routes, but the original routes are still in service until 30 August. It was found that the elderly who do not use social media have the most difficulty traveling because they have to stand and wait for the regular bus, but it turns out that the bus is no longer running on this route. Today (25 July), the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has arranged the route operation according to the reform plan for buses in Bangkok and provinces with continuous routes, totaling 107 routes, as approved by the Central Land Transport Control Committee at the 7/2019 meeting on 5 July 2019. However, the original route operation will continue along with the reformed routes that have been changed to facilitate service users and allow them to adjust. The original routes will be stopped from 31 August onwards. For the changes that will happen to the B MTA, in addition to the new routes, which will initially provide 10 routes, there are many routes that have been changed and will affect the public, such as: Line 21 Wat Khu Sang - Chulalongkorn University will be changed to Line 21 (4-6) Wat Khu Sang - Maha Nak, cutting the route to only Maha Nak, not passing Charoen Krung Road, Rama IV Road, not reaching Chulalongkorn University. However, those who wish to travel to Chulalongkorn University can use Line 21E (4-7E) Wat Khu Sang - Chulalongkorn University by taking the Suk Sawat Expressway to get off at Sathon Tollway, passing Sathon Nuea Road, Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road, Silom Road, Rama IV Road, Henri Dunant Road, ending the route at Chulalongkorn University. Line 22, Suan Siam Depot - Sathu Pradit, has been changed to Line 22 (3-40) Thanon Tok - Happy Land, cutting the origin from Suan Siam Depot, leaving only Happy Land, cutting the destination from Sathu Pradit Depot (Central Rama 3), leaving only the end of the route at Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospit al. Line 37 Chaeng Ron-Maha Nak has been changed to Line 37 (4-9) Tha Nam Phra Pradaeng-Chulalongkorn University, changing the starting point from Soi Rat Burana 37 to Tha Nam Phra Pradaeng, following Phra Ratchawiriyaphon Road, Rat Burana Road, and extending from Maha Nak, passing Rama IV Road, ending the route at Chulalongkorn University. Line 68 Saem Dam Depot - Bang Lamphu has been changed to Line 68 (4-12) Saem Dam - Bang Lamphu, still providing service as usual but the route Line 68 Samut Sakhon - Bang Lamphu and Line 68 King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bang Khun Thian - BRT Ratchaphruek have been cancelled since August 31, 2024. Passengers coming from Samut Sakhon Province use Line 105 (4-18) Samut Sakhon - Krung Thonburi BTS Station to connect to Line 68 (4-12) instead. As for passengers coming from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bang Khun Thian, there is a concession for Line 4-31, but the Department of Land Transport has not yet opened the selection of operators for this route. Line 205 Klong Toey Depot - The Mall Tha Phra has been changed to Line 205 (3-51) Klong Toey Circle - Talat Phlu BTS Station. The route is arranged in a circle, without passing Rama 3 Road at Nararam 3 Intersection, without passing Nonthavee Witthaya School, without passing Na Ranong Intersection, and without passing Sunthon Kosa Road from Na Ranong Intersection to Klong Toey Depot. Buses leaving Klong Toey Depot will run in a circle. The car circles left along Kasem Rat Road, turn left onto Rama IV Road, reach Witthayu Intersection, turn left onto Sathorn Tai Road, cross Somdech Phra Chao Taksin Bridge, Krung Thon Buri Road, Ratchaphruek Road, turn left at Ratchada-Talat Phlu Intersection onto Ratchadaphisek Road, pass The Mall Tha Phra, Rama III Bridge, Rama III Road, turn left onto Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road, before turning right at Sathorn-Narathiwat Intersection onto Sathorn Nuea Road, reach Witthayu Intersection, turn right onto Rama IV Road, turn right onto Kasem Rat Road, end at K hlong Toei Depot. For the right-hand side, go along Kasem Rat Road, turn left onto Rama IV Road, reach Witthayu Intersection, turn left onto Sathon Tai Road, turn left at Sathon-Narathiwat Intersection onto Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road, reach Nararam 3 Intersection, turn right onto Rama III Road, cross Rama III Bridge, Ratchadaphisek Road, The Mall Tha Phra, turn right at Ratchada-Talat Phlu Intersection, go along Ratchaphruek Road, Krung Thon Buri Road, cross Somdech Phra Chao Taksin Bridge, Sathon Nuea Road, reach Witthayu Intersection, turn right onto Rama IV Road, turn right onto Kasem Rat Road, end at Khlong Toei Depot. Line 509 Borommaratchachonnani Depot - Mochit 2 Bus Terminal has been changed to Line 509 (4-60) Setthakit Village - Mochit 2 Bus Terminal, where the origin of the route starts from Setthakit Village, Assumption Thonburi School. It does not enter Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Road anymore. In addition, some routes have been changed. When reaching Fai Chai Intersection, it will turn right onto P hran Nok Road, Wang Lang Road, turn left at Siriraj Intersection, pass Siriraj Hospital, along Arun Amarin Road, turn right at Arun Amarin Intersection. It does not pass Bang Khun Si Market, Bang Khun Non Intersection and Pata Pinklao, and replaces Line 91 Setthakit Village - Sanam Luang. The 'Thai Bus Page', which has been following this issue continuously, posted on the page asking, 'Is it chaotic this morning? The admins are answering calls, media, and many networks. The users are confused, the staff are confused, and the admins are confused.' It turned out that many members of the public who used the service commented, such as, 'I feel sorry for the elderly who don't know anything, standing and waiting for a bus that's no longer running, I feel very sorry for the elderly, especially when I meet old people who don't play social media. I've taken my uncles and aunties on and off with me many times, BMTA has reformed the routes so confusingly, and there are even more strange routes, this morning there are f ew buses, the roads are clear, and each bus is packed.' While some people commented, 'The solution is to go back to using the old route numbers. Whoever gets the concession just doesn't want to make the buses wait for long. The new route should have new route numbers from the old ones, they don't care about the people. They're sitting in their own cars, sitting in air-conditioned rooms, sipping iced coffee comfortably, but the locals are suffering, it's not chaotic but the buses are very crowded, waiting for a long time, it was so entertaining this morning, Petchkasem Road, there are a lot of people stranded, all the buses are packed, the people who think aren't using it, the people who use it aren't thinking, everyone is confused and dazed, admin.' The 'Bus Lovers Community' page posted a message saying, 'Some lines have disappeared, some have been reborn, some have changed routes, some have the same routes and some have new routes. Today, anyone who takes a BMTA bus will be a bit confused. Look carefully a t the number signs.' Many people commented, such as, 'It allows passengers to practice their eyesight and agility. The BMTA is really good. Today, we can see things we've never seen before, but we're confused by the new routes. Regular passengers are confused, so how confused will people who don't take them often be?' People who understand the changes commented, 'The bus conductors and drivers, please be patient with passengers you're not familiar with. Explain and clarify things slowly. Don't get hot-headed easily. You need time to adjust.' Some people jokingly commented, 'You have to read the signs on the side of the bus. Wherever it passes, after reading, the bus leaves. You won't make it in time.' Source: Thai News Agency