BTS Group, led by, Mr. Sumit Srisantithum, Chief Operating Officer of Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC), and Mr. Daniel Ross, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Sustainability, and Mr. Geert Jacques Omer Warlop, Chief of Technology and Data, of BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited, opened Asia Pacific Rail 2025 at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center (BITEC) Bangna, also participating in panel discussions under the topics "Carbon Footprint, Carbon Credits, Green Infrastructure – How Have The Buzzwords Become a Reality on the Path to Net Zero" and "Intermodal Transport Innovations to Overcome the Last Mile Hurdle."

Mr. Sumit Srisantithum remarked that it was an honor for the group to be acknowledged by the organizers of the event, which invited BTS to take part for a fourth consecutive year. He highlighted that Asia Pacific Rail 2025 was a gathering of regional leaders in the rail business, allowing them to exchange know-how and views on the direction of rail in Asia through seminars and the largest rail system exhibition in Asia. With attendants from both within Thailand and beyond, Mr. Sumit stated BTS Group would be applying lessons from the happening to improve its own electric train service.

Notably, BTS Group provided the event with an exhibition encompassing the BTS Green Line and Gold Line and the MRT Nakkhara Phiphat (Yellow Line), Pink Line and its Sri Rat - Muang Thong Thani station extension. The event itself included a showcase on interprovincial motorways, namely the Bang Pa In-Nakhon Ratchasima (M6) and Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi (M81) connections, and the U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City project, which garnered considerable interest from rail academics, students, and attending companies.

Mr. Daniel Ross “Whilst BTS Group is proud to be the most sustainable transportation Company in the world, our sustainability journey now moves into a more challenging phase following our commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050. To help Thailand achieve its goals of carbon neutrality by 2050, we must reorient our transportation systems to be more rail centric. Despite being the most energy-efficient mode and the only one to reduce carbon emissions over the past decade, rail is paradoxically losing market share. Governments should prioritise investment in regional rail infrastructure to enable a modal shift from road and air to rail-linking ports and population centres.” Mr. Ross said.

Mr. Geert Jacques Omer Warlop indicated that BTS Group is currently integrating AI systems and a digital database into its operation, whether for the Green Line, which has run for over 25 years, or the MRT Nakkhara Phiphat (Yellow Line) and Pink Line, which have only been in service for over a year. The implementation has begun with quick changes, such as adjustments to parking spaces served by public cars and the construction of Park & Ride buildings, which offer passengers economic parking for their vehicles before boarding the train system.

Electronic payment systems are also constantly being developed by the BTS group via the Rabbit Card, which applies to the SkyTrain, Chao Phraya Express Boat, and BRT, while also allowing for the collection of points applicable to journeys and other discounts. Importantly, journey packages are offered to provide economic options to passengers with monthly and weekly programs available. All of these elements are at the early stages of the BTS group’s aspiration to tie electronic systems to the daily usage of passengers.

Moreover, the group utilizes a digital database to analyze information from each of its stations, looking into which handles the most tourists or workers. Insights from these analyses inform the setup of retail stores and facilities for passengers.

The technology and data chief gave his view, however, that the density of Bangkok makes developing routes and automated systems difficult, unlike suburban areas and Smart cities, where room for improvement is still ample. Through systematic planning, he believes a comprehensive transport network can be established for the capital’s suburbs.

For further details, contact BTS Customer Relations at Tel. 02 - 617- 6000, Line official: @btsskytrain, and Facebook Page: BTSSkyTrain. Check train statuses using the application ‘The SKYTRAINs’.