Rail System

On behalf of the president of a railway accessibility and a following-up of BTS elevators installation group, the representative of T4A association and PWDs, I went to meet Mr. Phanurak Klannurak, director of the TTD, and his board of directors in order to follow up the installation process of additional elevators on BTS stations and also others projects that we may work together in future.

After we have conducted field survey at the stations so many times, today I and Mr. Ood, on behalf of Transportation For All (T4A), participated in a meeting with the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) in regard to physical improvement surrounding the stations to be accessible for all.

When you get off a train, there would normally have a gap between the train and the platform. Despite the gap, some trains stop at an unparalleled degree (different height level) to a platform edge. This gap makes it quite uncomfortable and unsafe, but ordinary passengers can still go through it. However, the case is not true for wheelchair users in particular of those having severe disabilities or having a power wheelchair with substantial weight. This hindrance is too risky and they cannot go through it by themselves.

Thailand’s public transportations is currently flourishing throughout the country, not just Bangkok. More than 5 years I and our strong networks have engaged in countless projects for more equitable accessibility. For part of the Accessibility Is Freedom, we run with our own limited money, so its impact might be modest. Days ago I got news that there would be a general meeting to gain public opinion in regard to the Light Rail Transit in Korat. Oh boy, this news drove me crazy. I really wanted to attend, but I just can’t make it due to my financial and time. However, …

Days ago I made field survey at BTS Bang-wa station. Within 600-metres from the station, there was a pier for shuttle boat service. I couldn’t wait but rushed to see this interesting stuff. What we’ve found:

Last month I went to observe the extension work of MRT Green Line (Northern Bound). Workers were doing their jobs at the construction site at Sai-yud station. At first sight, I recognised there was a glass room at the front of the elevator (What da heck!). Surprisingly, I later found the same thing on the next 3 stations. (What da…!)

According to the incapability of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the current owner of the entire BTS, that failed to provide adequate elevators and other accessibility facilities on its BTS 23 stations, a group of people with disabilities, for this reason, had prosecuted the BMA and finally won a lawsuit on November 24, 2014. The court thus issued an order to BMA for them to complete, constructed by law, all the remaining elevators and other supportive accessibility facilities within one-year time. As such, the completion should be fulfilled by the beginning of 2016. Nevertheless, the construction remains unfinished to this day, …

I usually meet with new people whenever I leave my home and be open-minded. Today, during my returning trip by BTS skytrain, I met with a lovely family traveling to the A-soke station. I wasn’t decisive about their nationality, so I greeted them in Thai. They’re finally Singaporean who recently changed their travel plan from Rat-cha-da Night Market to a shopping mall at A-soke due to the raining.

28 May 2018 As a chairman, on behalf of Rail System / Transportation For All (T4A) leading by Mr. Theerayuth, to discuss on accessibility problems and plausible solutions regarding the extension of BTS Green Line (Bearing – Sa-mut Pra-karn). Mr. Jeerasak Sripamma, Deputy Director of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, was the guest of honor who performed as a chairman. The meeting involved other relevant parties as well.

9 May 2018 A group of PWDs activist, Transportation For All (T4A), is gathering with other groups of PWDs networks to proceed prosecuting Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for failure to completely install all BTS elevators and infrastructure. This inability to comply is against the order from the Supreme Court which had issued the mandate previously. The group also claimed that the incidence has terribly costed the estimated damage of 1,436 million Baht.