Do we need Bangkok BTS train pushers?
Recently in the news there has been a lot of stories about how the BTS is getting more and more congested with new rail lines opening up the downtown area just get's more and more crowded with the easier accessibility to different areas of the city. Long lines and ques to paying for the ticket are getting ridiculous and even if your a regular with a pass once your at the waiting area it's so crowded sometimes you have to wait 3 or 4 trains before you can board.
Personally I don't think it's that bad but then again i'm not working all day in an office and trying to get home as quick as I can. I remember those days so can sympathise to the many commuters trying to get to and from work using the BTS. But with all the complaints is it as bad as you really think. 10 years ago you'd be stuck in a taxi, bus etc and probably take you 3 times as long as it does now. To think how far the Thai's have come in that short a time is pretty incredible.
I remember a trip to Japan I did once and tried to get on their trains during peak hour. You think it's bad in Bangkok then check out this video.
I don't think it's as bad as everyone is making it out to be in Bangkok. Now I don't know what you would call the person's job that it is to cram people into train carriages like sardines in a can but for now I guess I'll just call them Train pushers. Like in the video train pushers are there to get as many people into a train carriage as possible. You could employ these people all over Bangkok's mass transit system at a relatively low cost probably cheaper that it would be to buy new trains. You could get more people into the trains and everyone is happy.
I don't think we're anywhere near the train pusher need right now but some are arguing that in not so many years you will need them especially if they don't add more trains to the network. Let me know what you think by adding a comment below.
Do we need Bangkok BTS train pushers?
I have been at the BTS station during rush hour, and as you point out there are long lines for purchasing tickets. Solution to that is to use a BTS card. And I have had to wait for the third train to come before I could get on. Solution to that (for me) is to avoid rush hour travel. Still everyone seemed patient and everyone was able to board. Certainly nothing like the Tokyo video above…