Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 26 June 2006 :-

Bangkok, provinces on full alert : Monsoon season looks set to peak with major flooding predicted in many areas

Bangkok residents have been told to brace themselves for intense flooding and given emergency helplines in case the water rises too high.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) 24-hour emergency flooding number is 1555, or alternatively 02 248 5115, Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday. Three other helplines are being run by radio stations: 1137 of traffic radio Jor Sor 100; 1677 of Ruam Duay Chuay Kan community radio; and 1644 of Sor Wor Phor 91 station.

BMA teams have been readied to tackle complaints and water pumps are available in likely areas of flooding.

Floods are expected throughout Bangkok's low-lying areas when rainfall reaches 100mm.

Apirak and BMA bosses discussed assistance yesterday to help the capital cope with the monsoon's peak in the coming weeks. Waterways and roadside culverts are also being cleared.

Numerous sandbags are ready to build embankments near waterways.

Flash-floods are being forecast near Uttaradit, where many people drowned last month.

Officials in Phetchabun are preparing for possible mudslides in 11 districts in the province containing around 300 villages.

In Khao Kho and Lom Kao districts, people living in low-lying areas in the water's potential path have been evacuated to higher ground.

Areas where major mudslides killed many residents six years ago are receiving particular attention.

Officials have been trained to report emergency incidents and conduct rescue operations.

Provincial governor Torphong Amphan said officials in areas prone to flooding and mudslides had been trained to deal with any incidents.
---KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 26 June 2006 :-

SUVARNABHUMI PROPERTY : City plan could see prices double - But most prime land 'snapped up by big developers, well-connected investors'

The Cabinet's approval last week of a draft bill for Suvarnabhumi City will likely drive up property values around the new airport even more, but the benefits will accrue only to those big, well-connected developers that have already cornered most of the prime sites there, according to a source.

Real-estate prices could double if Parliament endorses the plan to set up a special body to administer the new aerotropolis, the source said last week.

"My friend told me that a politician's wife had bought 4,000 rai from a developer, which was pledged to Krung Thai Bank. The transaction was wrapped up in the first quarter of this year," he said.

Most of the area has fallen into the hands of prominent listed developers like Land & Houses, Quality Houses, Property Perfect, Supalai, LPN Develop-ment, SC Asset Corp, as well as investors with close ties to politicians. Among them are the Jungrungreangkit and Mahagitsiri clans.

The Mahagitsiris possess 200-300 rai along Bang Na-Trat Road, where Lakewood Country Club is located. The Jungrungreangkits also own about 500 rai in the area.

Somporn Juangroongruang-kit, sister-in-law of caretaker Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit and president of Thai Summit Group, said the group had accumulated the land 10 years ago in view of its potential for commercial and residential development.

"We bought the land a long time ago and it has nothing to do with the government's plan to promote the area as a new province," she said.

However, most investors started eyeing the area just a few years ago when airport construction was mostly complete.

"We bought land when the airport construction took shape. This is not related to the bill to set up Suvarnabhumi City," said Property Perfect director Teerachon Manomaiphibul.

If the bill is passed, the price of land in this location will double, as more infrastructure will be put in. But that will still take more than four years from now, he said.

The property market around Suvarnabhumi Airport started to heat up three years ago. A rai costing Bt1 million then can fetch Bt3 million now and probably much more in the future, he said.

Suphin Mechuchep, managing director of the local arm of Jones Lang LaSalle - an international property services firm - also said property prices had shot through the roof during the past three years, particularly along Km 2-20 of Bang Na-Trat Road.

The bill would further raise values, but it would also pose big challenges to developers looking to squeeze profits from their pricey assets.

"They need to wait for the city plan, which will specify what they can build and what they cannot. Indeed, there are many types of development that would take shape in the city, including residential areas, logistics areas, exhibition centres, business centres as well as the water management area," she said.

While drawing local developers to the vicinity, the airport has also attracted foreign investors, she added.

US-based TMW Asia Property Fund I just last week entered into a Bt4.7-billion joint venture with Ananda One Co Ltd to buy 400 rai near the airport, she said.

"We believe that when the master plan for Suvarnabhumi City is finished, this location will be a new magnet for investors. That will include residential and industrial developers," Suphin said.

The bill has ignited widespread controversy, with many parties questioning the move to turn the flood-prone area into a metropolis.

Wasant Khongchan, an executive of Agency for Real Estate Affairs Co Ltd, said the airport could push up property prices by two to four times, but land appraisals in some places north and south of the airport could drop.

"Residents in the north-south route, parallel to the runways, would learn after the airport starts commercial operations that the place is not a good residential site due to the noise pollution. Land values could drop by half or more," he said.

Architect Manop Bongsadadt said the neighbourhood would come in for overly rapid development, which is governed by many restrictions like landfills, and other improvements which could reduce the area's capacity to drain water from inner Bangkok.
---KatoeyNewsNetwork

[tirak69]

i am told that there is a big public holiday coming up in july. abt 9/10/11. its a buddhist event and there will be no alcohol served.

bros who are planning trips in july pls take note...

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 28 June 2006 :-

BTS Skytrain to run more trains

Operators of the BTS Skytrain plan to increase services from next Monday to reduce overcrowding during peak hours.

Dr Anat Arbhabhirama, an adviser to the directors of the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, said the Skytrain would change its weekday timetable (Monday to Friday) to keep up with the increasing number of commuters.

The new timetable means passengers would have a shorter wait for trains, which would run every 2 to 3 minutes during peak hours and up to 8 minutes apart after 10pm.

In the morning "peak hour" on the Sukhumvit Line, trains currently run every 2.4 minutes from 7.30am. From Monday, trains will run every 2.33 minutes, from 7am.

The Silom Linewill get trains every 3.2 minutes during peak periods instead of every 4 minutes.

In the evening peak period, from 5pm to 7pm, Sukhumvit Line trains will run every 2.4 minutes, instead of every 3 minutes at present. Trains on the Silom Line will be fractionally quicker to arrive - running every 3 minutes from 5.30pm to 7pm.
---KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 3 July 2006 :-

Operator ups subway fares after talks break down

Subway fares were to rise by from one to three baht today after talks to freeze the price broke down.

The basic fare range goes from 14-36 baht, depending on the distance travelled, to 15-39 baht, and 8-20 baht for the elderly and children.

The fare hike could trigger a legal backlash for the operator, Bangkok Metro Co Ltd (BMCL).

Chartchai Praditpong, BMCL promotions manager, said the increase was in line with the terms of the subway concession.

Travellers using stored-value tickets will get a 15% discount, with trips ranging from 13-33 baht, he said.

Transport deputy permanent secretary Therdsak Sethmanop, an executive member of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA), said talks with the BMCL on a fare freeze had achieved nothing.

Yiamchai Chatkaew, acting MRTA governor, said he had asked BMCL to put the increase on hold pending a decision from the cabinet tomorrow.

If the firm applied the increase the MRTA would take legal advice on whether it could be penalised for not getting prior cabinet approval.

Skytrain extension Construction of the 2.2 km skytrain extension from Taksin bridge to Taksin road in Thon Buri will begin next month.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's commercial arm Krungthep Thanakom Co and the elevated train operator, Bangkok Mass Transit System Corp (BTSC), agreed building the route across the Chao Phraya river would begin next month, a source at the city's traffic and transportation office said.

Under a memorandum of understanding that has been signed there would be two stations, at Charoen Nakhon and Wongwian Yai, and the fare would be 10 baht. BTSC trains would run on the new route and the company would be commissioned to collect fares.

The revenue from the extension would mostly go to the BMA, which invested in the route, but a final income-sharing agreement was still being worked out. The source said it was very likely BTSC would be chosen to build and operate the three other skytrain extensions now on the drawing board - the 5.1-km Mor Chit-Kasetsart sector, the 5.25-km Onnuj to Sukhumvit Soi 107 sector and the 5.7-km Taksin-Phetkasem link. Total investment for the three extensions was estimated at 27 billion baht
---KatoeyNewsNetwork

[pomrakthai]

Oh, good..our KNN is back in business.

The rise in BKK MRT fares is not good news. But I must admit that the trains are much more efficient that our Bolehsia KL LRT trains.

The new links are long overdue. In fact most of the historical sites and famous places along the Chao Phraya river are not accessible by MRT.

BTW, can anyone confirm whether that Taksin brideg and Taksin road are named after King Taksin [Siamese king of Chinese descent] who founded Chonburi and had defeated the Burmese invaders, or named after our beloved PM Taksin. Just want to confirm. Thanks.

[singrakthai]

Originally Posted by pomrakthai

BTW, can anyone confirm whether that Taksin brideg and Taksin road are named after King Taksin [Siamese king of Chinese descent] who founded Chonburi and had defeated the Burmese invaders, or named after our beloved PM Taksin. Just want to confirm. Thanks.

Named after the King, King Taksin.... Taksin and Thaksin are pronouced differently, though they may sound very similar to us....
And for your info... UR beloved PM Thaksin is not very loved anymore nowadays.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 4 July 2006 :-

Commuters promised a better deal at a later time

The Transport Ministry has moved to cool train commuters' complaints about rising fares on the subway with a promise of more attractive fares in the future.

Subway fares rose by one to three baht yesterday and now range between 15 and 39 baht, up from 14-36 baht.

Many commuters were unaware of the change, giving rise to grumbles.

The subway operator, Bangkok Metro Co Ltd (BMCL), said the increased fares are allowed under its concession contract with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority.

The ministry will seek cabinet approval today for the new fares.

Train traveller Panida Chantarasriwong said the fare rise hit her purse as the cost of everything else seemed to be going up lately as well.

Apisit Suwannasing said the increase hurt because he always took long trips and therefore had to pay more than short-distance riders.

In exchange for the higher ticket price both wanted more frequent services, saying the wait between trains was too long, and a quick expansion of the subway system to cover greater Bangkok.

The existing 20km subway line runs between Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue.

Caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said he hoped to convince BMCL to set a flat 20 baht fare once the Blue Line is extended from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae and from Bang Sue to Tha Phra.

The operator would benefit from an increased number of trips once the route opened, he said.

The government plans another two lines - the two-sector Red Line from Rangsit to Phaya Thai and Taling Chan to Makkasan; and the Purple Line from Bang Sue to Bang Yai.

Mr Pongsak said the terms of reference for the contracts would be completed by July 25.

Pending the expansion, he wanted BMCL to issue monthly tickets with a better discount than the 15% passholders presently receive. The discount for students is doubled.
---KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 8 July 2006 :-

Budget airlines seek Suvarnabhumi delay : Most don't trust Sept 28 deadline

Thailand's three budget airlines have urged the government to reschedule the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport beyond Sept 28 as they don't believe it will be ready.

Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and One-Two-Go have asked the Transport Ministry in a letter to be realistic about setting a new deadline.

''The opening date [Sept 28] is too rushed. It will be beset with a lot of problems if the government insists on opening the airport prematurely on that day,'' said Sehapan Chumsai, executive vice-president for marketing of Nok Air, an affiliate of Thai Airways International.

The government would only open itself to criticism from the public and could face further embarrassment if glitches accompany the airport's opening, he said.

The three carriers say it will do no harm to have flights continue to operate out of the existing Don Muang airport, which is coping despite heavy congestion, until Suvarnabhumi is truly ready.

International carriers are also on record as being equally sceptical about the Sept 28 opening date promised by caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

''We [budget airlines] are not against moving to Suvarnabhumi, though we are comfortable remaining at Don Muang,'' Mr Sehapan said.

Among the obvious problems with Suvarnabhumi is that despite four decades of stop-and-start planning and development, a clear transport plan is still lacking.

''The general public still do not have a clue as to whether there will be public transport to the site. Worse still, many simply don't know how to get there,'' said Mr Sehapan.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents almost all of the world's airlines, warned recently that Suvarnabhumi should begin commercial operations only when it is operationally ready.

''This means having undergone the required robust and comprehensive testing and trials to ensure that the various systems are working 100% and are seamlessly integrated,'' said Albert Tjoeng, the Asia-Pacific spokesman for IATA.

''We want it to be a safe and successful opening and cost-efficient in order to be a successful hub. No one wants the cost or embarrassment of a troubled opening.''

Despite serious doubts expressed by the industry, the Transport Ministry and Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) remain committed to the Sept 28 opening.

Pongsak Raktapongpaisal, the caretaker transport minister, has been upset by reports casting doubt on the schedule, and has even gone so far as accusing the media, especially foreign news agencies that carried the reports, of having ''a hidden agenda''.

Mr Pongsak said that Suvarnabhumi managers had been running tests since Sept 29 last year, and that recent inspections showed satisfactory results.

Aviation communications were in place, including the navigation system, and facilities such as the luggage conveyor and check-in systems were completely ready for service, he added.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 9 July 2006 :-

GOOD SPORTS? : CPB urged to abandon plan to turn historic Silom Club into highrise

The Silom Club, one of the country's oldest sport clubs, may be forced to close.

Its new owner, the Crown Property Bureau (CPB), wants to turn the 89-year-old property - located on Si Wiang road in the Sathorn area - into a highrise building, after winning a legal battle.

Poor maintenance has left the building in a dilapidated state, but the club's executive board maintains the club is more than just an old structure.

It was the place where tennis took root in what was then Siam.

Founded in March 1917 by Chao Phraya Sridhamadibes, a minister of various ministries including justice, foreign affairs and finance, the Silom Club was an exclusive place for judges and justice ministry officials.

It was a decade before it opened to members of the public, where they could choose between snooker tables and rooms for reading, meeting and playing poker.

Historical records show that the Prince of Phitsanulok, a son of King Chulalongkorn and an avid tennis player, competed in a tennis tournament in 1920. King Prajadhipok graced the club once, to watch a tennis match in 1927.

''This is a club that was once part of a prominent social scene with fond memories,'' said Prachitr Srijaiyanta, the board chairman.

It was Chao Phraya Sridhamadibes who donated four rai of his land for the club. The land was later used as collateral with the CPB for 50,000 baht of loans, used to pay for the club's development.

Since the club could not pay back the debt, it lost its ownership through a court order to the CPB, which took over the property. In 2003, the CPB increased the rent from 40,000 baht per year to 300,000 baht. The rent is to go up to 600,000 baht this year and 900,000 baht in 2009.

Pol Maj-Gen Prachitr said the club would continue to fight. He said he would appeal again and would petition His Majesty the King.

According to Pol Maj-Gen Prachitr, the club has 300 members. More than half are non-paying members. As a non-profit organisation, the club charges a monthly fee of 400 baht.

Pol Maj-Gen Prachitr said the club takes pride in offering low-priced services to the public.

''We are to maintain our principles as a non-profit sports club. It's true that the club looks sad but this is not the heart of the matter,'' he said.

''It would be sad to see this non-profit sports club die. ''

Yachai na Songkhla, 81, son of Chao Phraya Sridhamadibes and a former director of Chulalongkorn Hospital and dean of Chulalongkorn University's faculty of medical science, said his father loved the club.

''I saw tears welling up in his eyes when the club was engulfed with fire,'' said Dr Yachai, referring to a blaze which hit the club in 1937. The building was also damaged during World War Two.

While conceding the club's golden era had passed, Dr Yachai frowned on the idea of demolishing it completely.

He said the CPB could do society a great service by allocating some space to the club, to allow residents and office workers in the area to have a place to socialise.

It would be a shame to demolish it completely. ''This plot originally belonged to my father. He even tried to protect it by seeking Royal Patronage from King Rama VII. It would be unfair if it just disappeared,'' he said.

A source in the CPB said the agency is determined to develop the building, which is in a prime business district, into a highrise.

The source said since the club was not on the national heritage list, the CPB should have a free hand on what to do with the property.

However, Prathoomporn Vajrasthira, lecturer on international politics at Chulalongkorn University, urged the CPB to show ''conservation spirit'' by preservingthe vintage clubhouse building.

The club has the potential to be a luxurious place on a par with the Sport Club on Henri Dunant road or the British Club on Surawong road, she said.

It would be an ideal venue for international tennis tournaments, given its role as the birthplace of tennis in Thailand, she said.

''It is unfair to stop the CPB from maximising profits, as this plot is worth a billion baht. But Bangkok needs a direction in development. One cannot keep knocking old buildings down,''she said.

Assoc Prof Prathoomporn said she was sad to see the demolition of beautiful villas, vintage houses and even a Catholic cemetery.

''One day, even temples in prime areas will be demolished to build another Paragon shopping complex. There might be no more beautiful old town areas left for future generations.''
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 18 July 2006 :-

40 richest Thais have combined $20 billion

Thailand's 40 richest business figures have a combined net worth of US$20 billion, evenly split between old and new wealth, according to Forbes magazine.

Thailand's 40 Richest list, to be published in the July 24 edition of Forbes Asia, shows that at least a third of the country's super-rich are self-made entrepreneurs who built fortunes from scratch.

The list was compiled at a turbulent time for the country and its tycoons. Billionaire politician Thaksin Shinawatra, who ranks fourth, has faced unrelenting pressure for months over his family's sale of their 49.6% stake in Shin Corp tax-free to Singaporean investors.

Another mogul, Thai Beverage founder Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, who topped the list at $3.2 billion in net worth, took his company public in Singapore after protesters objected to an alcohol company listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The second richest person on the list, Chaleo Yoovidhya created the formula for the popular energy drink Red Bull. With $2.7 billion, he owns a 49% share of the company. Mr Chaleo also owns TC Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Krating Daeng energy drinks for the Thai market, and holds a stake in Piyavate Hospital.

About half of Thailand's top 40 inherited their fortunes and often share them with extended families. Wanchai Chirathivat, the fifth richest at $1.2 billion, is one example. He chairs the Central Group, with interests in retailing, real estate, hotels and resorts. Its main business is the Central Retail Corp, with sales of $1.7 billion, being the country's largest retailer. Many family members work at Central and as many as 45 relatives share in the fortune.

Sixth on the list at $860 million, the Vongkusolkit family is seeing sweet returns as the Mitr Phol Sugar Corp celebrates its 50th anniversary. The country's largest producer and exporter of sugar is diversifying into biomass power and plans to operate two bioethanol fuel plants.

Media magnate Vichai Maleenont, the chairman of the BEC World media group, also has several family members operating the Maleenont group of companies. He oversees a collection of TV, radio, Internet and video-rental interests that have earned the family an estimated $475 million.

Somporn Jungrungreangkit is the only woman in the top 10. Ranked 10th with a net worth of $420 million, Ms Somporn took over the reins of Thai Summit, one of the country's largest auto-parts groups, after her husband's death in 2002. She now oversees more than a dozen companies as the group president. Her brother-in-law, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, is the acting Deputy Prime Minister.

To compile the list, Forbes Asia looked at family shareholdings in public as well as private companies. Publicly traded fortunes were calculated using recent share prices and exchange rates. For private fortunes, it estimated what the firms and assets would be worth if they were public.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 19 July 2006 :-

BMA to sign B3.8bn skytrain deal

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will sign a 3.8 billion baht contract with Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) at City Hall today to extend the BTS skytrain system. Construction of the 5.25km elevated extension, including train stations and tracks, from Onnuj station along Sukhumvit road to Soi 107 will begin next month with the completion date expected some time in 2010.

The BMA's traffic and transport director, Apirat Sivapornpitak, said ITD can move into construction sites on Sukhumvit road next month and start relocating public utility lines to pave the way for the construction of the structure.

Mr Apirat expects the whole project to be completed over the next three-and-a-half years.

The BMA will also hire a consultancy firm for 140 million baht to supervise construction, a contractor for 4.6 billion baht to install a signalling system, and second consultancy firm for 105 million baht to supervise installation.

Total cost to the BMA for the project will be about 8.7 billion baht. It will have five stations, expected to be near Sukhumvit 83, Sukhumvit 97, Sukhumvit 101, Sukhumvit 103 and Sukhumvit 107.

A BMA official said that Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, a deputy leader of the Democrat party, previously planned to chair the contract signing ceremony at Onnuj station.

He cancelled the plan to avoid accusations he was exploiting the event to attract votes in the Bangkok council elections this Sunday.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 19 July 2006 :-

7-Eleven reveals expansion plans in Thailand

The retail chain C.P. Seven-Eleven Plc is speeding up the expansion of its Kudsan bakery, coffee shop and consumer-goods stores, as well as Book Smile outlets, to increase sales this year. At the same time, it wants to make 7-Eleven outlets different from rivals such as Tesco Lotus Express, Tops Daily and Mini Big C, which also plan to focus expansion closer to communities.

Piyawat Titasattavorakul, the company's president, said it launched Book Smile bookstores beside 7-Eleven outlets two years ago with an aim to increase traffic at the convenience shops. The initiative lifted the sales capacity to more than 10,000 baht per day per branch.

Last year, the company opened four Kudsan stores, next door to 7-Eleven stores in Bang Na, Sukhumvit, Rangsit and on Phetchaburi Road, with a very good response. Mr Piyawat said the Kudsan outlets drove unexpected sales of around 12,000 baht per day, which was higher than for Book Smile.

Consequently, the firm plans to open another 12 Kudsan outlets this year, up from an earlier plan of eight. Each requires an investment of one million baht. It is expected that the number of Kudsan outlets will increase to 100 in the future.

Kudsan outlets offer freshly baked goods, fruit juices and coffee, and about 200 popular consumer items, selected from the 7-Catalogue. Each outlet also has a small seating area.

The company also plans to spend at least 200 million baht to open about 300 Book Smile stores this year, double the original target, and 100 of which are likely to be at petrol stations.

''The government prohibits us from selling liquor at gas station 7-Elevens, so we will open Book Smile stores instead to offset a 10% loss in liquor sales,'' he said.

Selling online lottery tickets is also in the business pipeline to further increase traffic at the stores.

He said that low consumer confidence and rising oil prices had not affected its business because 7-Eleven provided necessary goods, but consumers had shifted to shop at stores nearer their homes.

''Same-store sales grew 8% during the first half of this year, compared to 2-6% in the past few years, despite fiercer competition from our competitors that have opened new stores in nearby areas,'' said Mr Piyawat, adding that sales of food products had risen by 20%.

Suwit Kingkaew, the company's vice-president, said that although energy accounted for 10-12% of total operating costs for 7-Eleven, the company had adopted measures to reduce expenses and avoid pushing up prices.

''Our electricity bill has been cut to 30,000 baht per store per month from 38,000 baht in the past 10 years,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the company is talking with its transport firms to use NGV as an alternative to diesel.

Shares of C.P. Seven-Eleven closed yesterday on the SET at 6.85 baht, up 20satang, on trade worth 14.44 million baht.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 19 July 2006 :-

One-Two-Go's battle plan : Budget carrier will 'fight tooth and nail' with Thai AirAsia

Thailand's budget airline One-Two-Go has vowed to take on its Malaysian rival AirAsia with an aggressive plan to expand regionally for the first time. The privately owned airline, which, since its December 2003 inception, has been confined to domestic operations, intends to start flying on routes operated by AirAsia and its local arm Thai AirAsia.

''We are determined to fight AirAsia tooth and nail by matching its regional network,'' said Udom Tantiprasongchai, the founder and chairman of the One-Two-Go budget carrier.

Plans are afoot for One-Two-Go to introduce scheduled services from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Rangoon, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Indonesia in the next one or two years.

Its parent carrier Orient Thai Airlines would also expand its international network to cover destinations such as Kathmandu, Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, according to Mr Udom.

One-Two-Go will also expand its domestic network by shortly embarking on new routes from Bangkok to Phitsanulok, Krabi,and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Last Friday, the airline started daily flights from Bangkok to Khon Kaen, adding to flights to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai and Surat Thani.

Instrumental to network expansion is a plan to enlarge the airlines' fleet, with the acquisition of two more rear-jet MD-82 aircraft and five additional Boeing 747 jumbo jets - all expected to be available some time next year.

One-Two-Go now operates four 172-seat MD-82 craft, while Orient Thai's five B747s are used for flights to Hong Kong and Incheon in South Korea, in addition to cargo and charter services.

The MD-82 jets will be used for domestic and regional routes within the range of two to three flying hours.

Mr Udom said four of the 10 planned B747 jets would be used for scheduled passenger services, while the remaining six would concentrate on charter operation, a move reflecting its strategy to step up non-scheduled traffic such as transporting international military troops.

Its bid to tap the booming Indian air-traffic market was unlikely to materialise as authorities had preferred to give priority in terms of traffic rights to Nok Air, the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Thai Airways International, he said.

Nok Air is due to open its first overseas route - from Bangkok to Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India - in October.

One-Two-Go has recently spun off from Orient Thai to establish its own entity with registered capital of 200 million baht, as part of a growth plan including a listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand during the next two years.

Aviation analysts said the bid by One-Two-Go and Orient Thai to take on AirAsia regionally, especially in terms of network coverage and capacity size, seemed ambitious.

Launched in 2002, AirAsia has been expanding at a blistering pace with a fleet of 39 Boeing 737-300s and Airbus 320s and a network covering 11 countries in Asia including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Wednesday 19 July 2006 :-

Skytrain to get smart

Millions of Skytrain riders in Bangkok will now be able to skip long queues with the introduction of a new "contactless" Smart Card, to be introduced shortly by Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC).

Anat Arbhabhirama, an adviser to the BTSC board of directors, said the company planned to introduce new contactless smart-card tickets called the Smart Pass. Introduction of the Smart Pass is aimed at providing Skytrain passengers with more efficient and convenient service, while enabling future integrated ticketing with other transport systems, such as the subway and buses

New Smart Pass gates will be equipped as follows:

Smart card readers

Card readers will be installed on the tops of gates. The reader acts as a card analyser and data recorder. Made of durable lightweight polycarbonate, the reader analyses the entry status of each passenger. A green light means the card is verified, while a red light means the card cannot be accepted, due to data loss or expired value.

Passenger information display module

The information display consists of a thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display screen, covered in a polycarbonate casing.

The colour monitor is bright and displays the remaining value or number of trips on a card, including date of travel.

Gate end display

The gate end display shows the status of an automatic gate, using red and green LED lights to indicate whether passengers are allowed to enter or exit through a particular gate. Gates displaying a green arrow will allow entry, whereas a red "x' indicates no entry.

Electronic control unit

Control units are installed inside the automatic gates. This device allows gates to support both magnetic cards (existing tickets) and the new contactless smart cards.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork