Nevermind, ‘too hot’ and ‘too wet’ for open-air BTS

Original Photo: San Francisco Market Street Railway
Original Photo: San Francisco Market Street Railway

A pilot program of running the BTS Skytrain with its windows open was declared a complete failure today.

After public health officials proposed opening the windows for better air circulation to lower the risk of COVID-19 spreading, the skytrain operator said sorry – it won’t work.

The Bangkok Mass Transit System said Thursday afternoon that opening small windows and for even only short distances resulted in the cabin interior becoming uncomfortably warm and sending the air-conditioners into overtime.

Wind of Change: Bangkok BTS may soon go open air

Plus, the fact that the season of wet has just begun doesn’t make it very feasible either.

“Thailand has entered the rainy season and opening windows while running will even cause more inconvenience to passengers,” the operator said in a statement.

BTS said it already has measures to address COVID-19 such as providing hand sanitizer and requiring everyone to wear face masks while aboard, and may consider checking commuters’ body temperatures.



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