A bus from Bangkok's 2 billion baht Bus Rapid Transit system has been put on display at City Hall ahead of a planned soft opening next month.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul said yesterday Bangkok Mass Transit System Co (BTSC) had prepared the bus for use on a trial run from May 15 to Aug 31.
Each BRT bus, assembled by Shanghai Sunlong Bus Co of China, costs about 8 million baht. Twenty-five will be put into service over the first three years. A further five will be added later.
BRT passengers will be charged a flat fare of 10 baht from Sept 1 until the end of the year, after which the fare will be based on the distance travelled and will range from 12 to 20 baht.
The BRT system will stretch 16km from Chong Nonsi on Rama III Road to the intersection of Ratchadaphisek and Ratchaphruek roads. There will be 12 stops.