Commuters returned to the work week but not necessarily work this morning as the MRT subway system was suffering unexplained outages.
Starting since about 7:30am, based on social media complaints, commuters were piling up at stations, unable to board a train. As of 10:20am, the Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Co. Ltd. had not acknowledged the outage.
@js100radio เผื่อเวลาเดินทางนะคะ รถไฟล่าช้าหรืออะไรไม่รู้ แต่คนล้นสถานีพระราม9มาก แถวขดไปขดมายาวมาก ละสถานีคือไม่ประกาศอะไรเลย @BEM_MRT pic.twitter.com/j5mnQKF4Sa
— (@puzzleploy) August 19, 2019
Videos and photos on social media this morning show multiple MRT stations filled to the brim with waiting passengers. Train platforms were filled with rows and rows of people queuing for a train.
User AmMieZ_Lee wrote that people were spilling out of the station.
รถไฟล่าช้าในเช้าวันจันทร์ค่ะ พังบ่อยอะไรบ่อย คนล้นหมดแล้วค่ะ MRT pic.twitter.com/gpc0ja6dWc
— 🐶💛 Ammie누나 (Rest เงินหมด) (@AmMieZ_Lee) August 19, 2019
“I have been waiting for 20 minutes, and only one train came byPphat_gobgab tweeted at about 9am.
@js100radio รอมา 20 นาที รถไฟมา 1 ขบวน ประกาศให้รออีก 10น. ดีค่ะ 🙄🙄 #สวัสดีวันจันทร์ #mrt pic.twitter.com/qGLzmNhtb5
— gobbgabb (@phat_gobgab) August 19, 2019
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Some people were especially angry that no announcement or explanation for the delay or system faults have been announced. The last thing the system operator posted on Twitter was a 7:30am reminder not to eat inside stations.
“You have a problem, but why don’t you announce it? There are so many people waiting. You guys always make announcements about other stuff but not this. People going to work must make plans, this is not OK,” @Sinezeeza wrote just before 10am.
มีปัญหาทำไมไม่แจ้งค่ะ ว่ารถไฟมีปัญหา คนรอเยอะมาก ทีเรื่องอื่นยังแจ้งได้ คนไปทำงานเค้าจะได้วางแพลนถูก แบบนี้ไม่ไหวนะคุณ
— Aksaranan.. (@sinezeeza) August 19, 2019
Through the MRT has had its share of outages, it has been the more reliable of Bangkok’s twin commuter rail systems. Last year, the BTS Skytrain system suffered dozens of system failures and broke down 11 times in one month alone. The massive delays were caused by a malfunctioning signaling system.
Bangkok Skytrain breaks down for the 11th time this month
Though Deputy Bangkok Gov. Sakolthee Pattiyakul said at the time the operator would be fined THB1.8 million (US$54,000) for the rush hour disruptions, he later walked that back, saying it was not liable.
เช้าวันจันทร์ที่สดใส รถไฟฟ้าใต้ดิน ขบวนรถไฟขัดข้อง งดให้บริการ ให้ผู้โดยสารลงจากขบวน 😡 #MRT pic.twitter.com/cNUzmiORYB
— B’Banana 🍌 (@BBananaKluay) August 19, 2019
Related stories:
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BTS promises refunds for recent delays, phone app that offers real-time reports
BTS now all fixed up, won’t be fined THB1.8 million for last week’s delays: officials
BTS to be fined THB1.8 million for this week’s disruptions
Bangkok Skytrain breaks down for the 11th time this month
Monday Morning Hell: Malfunctioning signaling system paralyzes Bangkok’s skytrain network
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