Rail System

I’ve reported to the sources since yesterday, and today finally the wrong data were been completely removed. This is fast! Our next step is to provide the right information to them, thank you Google Map. CHEER!!

Google Map We’ve seen they added the accessibility information for a while now. This is the most wanted feature for wheelchair travelers.

There is sometimes I need to use a restroom when I take a ride on MRT blueline. I have been traveling by using the metro train for very long ago. Just like you, there are some times I need to use a restroom in urgency. Well, but the disabled restroom is always closed while the rest are all open freely. There is always a sign stating that “Out of service. Sorry for any inconveniences.” I don’t know what is the logic behind this but it’s such an incredibly wrongdoing. It should be all open all the time during service hours.    

BTS National StadiumLast Saturday at BTS National Stadium, I took a field survey to observe any updates of a brand-new skywalk connected to MBK, which was still under construction. As I observed, there was no accessible lift from the platform floor to floor ticket, only escalator at opposite side of MBK. Disabled passengers, especially wheelchair users, would have to face troubles getting off the station. They inevitably needed to deploy by escalator which required at least 3-4 staffs to help. This movement on this way could cause from slight injury into risk of serious accident.

The MRT Purple line is on servicing for over a year now. Unfortunately, its elevator access has already been installed just a half of the total. There are still 32 elevators to go which each costs around 10 million baht. So, the remaining elevators’ total expense will be around 320 million baht comparatively to the total construction cost of the whole project which is around 60,000 million baht, accounts just 0.5% approximately. This number is compelling to the World Bank’s research as quote “Research has demonstrated that the cost of accessibility is generally less than 1% of total construction costs; …

Saturday, 13 August, 2016 It was my first time to go testing a ride on MRT Purple line after its official launch on 6 August 2016. I always get in touch with its construction and progress for two years. Now it is such good news to know that has been opened already. So I don’t waste myself a minute to go see it at first hand. Survey from Afternoon-Evening: Park & ride building – Khlong Bang Phai station Testing stair lift – Bang Plu station Testing stair lift, checking a connected skywalk between MRT Bang Son – SRT Bang Son …

For a year and a half that I’ve jointly work with the “Transportation For All (T4A)” team to improved the public metro train system. Some of our T4A members have been working on the relate issue for more than 20 years. Here is a summary that represents a failure of the accessible facilities design on the rail system in Bangkok which will be implement within 6 years.

Strong Network is what I’m always paying attention for, specially friends from oversea. Some of their member are interesting and working on the accessibility since so long. They wanted to try out our Bangkok Train system, yes we’re on the same page. But it was not easy for a group of my new friends from Singapore to try out by them self. So I volunteered on the last day to send them back, travelling from Siam area to the Su-varn-na-phu-mi International Airport. We could also save some money too.

13 July 2016 Accessibility Is Freedom was attending a meeting with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEP) regarding accessible facilities, held by Mr. Maitri Intasood, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, as President, and Mr. Somchai Chalernaumnuysook, Director-General of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, as Vice President, as well as the management team from the provision of accessible infrastructure and environment for PWDs.

On 29 June, 2016 Accessibility Is Freedom, as a representative of “Transportation For All community”, had addressed our serious concern on the accessibility problems on BTS and MRT, as well as feasible solutions in our perspective, to the National Human Rights Commission.