Showing 1 - 10 of 35
Rail station name shame
Oped, Editorial, Published on 07/01/2023
» At a cost of 33 million baht, the nameplate and logo redesign for Bang Sue Grand Station has triggered public suspicion that requires not only a clear explanation from the State Railway of Thailand and the Transport Ministry but also prompt and thorough scrutiny from related agencies.
Khashoggi and MBS's blunderers
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 03/03/2021
» If Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, were a burglar, he wouldn't be George Clooney in Ocean's Eleven. He'd be a cartoon burglar in a carnival mask and a top with black-and-white horizontal stripes, carrying a sack labelled "SWAG".
Common ticket vows fall flat
News, Editorial, Published on 14/06/2020
» Earlier this month, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha inaugurated a 4.3-kilometre extension of the BTS Skytrain from Kasetsart University to the Royal Forest Department. The event was marked with official fanfare but city residents had little reason to cheer. Over the past year, various extensions have sprung across the city connecting commuters from all corners to the mass transit system. However, transit operators have not been able to get one crucial thing right -- introducing a robust common ticketing system.
Dismantling Malta's mafia state
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 27/12/2019
» It's two years since Daphne Caruana Galizia, the best investigative journalist in Malta, was killed by a car bomb. She had been using the huge leaks of financial data in the "Panama Papers" to track down suspicious dealings by members of the Maltese government, and she was getting too close for comfort.
Our car-free days just token effort
News, Editorial, Published on 22/09/2019
» For another year, today's Bangkok Car Free Day, the local version of an annual awareness-raising event observed in cities across the world, has been reduced to a PR stunt by the city administration and central government.
Make mass transport for the masses
News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 06/09/2019
» City commuters, especially those who use the electric rail system, are keeping their fingers crossed. Today, the authorities are set to make a decision on a proposal that will reduce fares, especially for routes operated by the MRT.
Cheaper fares need thought
News, Editorial, Published on 30/07/2019
» The Transport Ministry's plan to make electric trains more accessible by lowering fares is noble, but any such move must be grounded in reality and be practical.
It's time to tackle tourist scammers
News, Editorial, Published on 21/07/2019
» A tourist scam in Phuket has prompted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to raise concern about the adverse impact such incidents may have. He has warned tourist operators not to exploit tourists or the province's reputation will be tarnished.
Faring poorly in BMTA's war on public bus prices
News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 27/04/2019
» Five days after the bus fare increase took effect, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) insisted the majority finds the hike agreeable. I really wonder who "the majority" is.
Diversify the duty-free ops
News, Editorial, Published on 06/04/2019
» Starting in September of next year, all duty-free shops at Suvarnabhumi airport will be owned and run by one company for a period of 10 years, if the Airports of Thailand (AoT) insists on going ahead with the monopolistic concession model that it has been using since 2006.