BTS Group studies Tram-buses to link academic Institutes with public transit

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BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study with King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and Bangkok Smartcard System Company Limited on an “electric tram-bus service” and “e-payment system” to link its main campus with the public transport network. This collaboration aims to reduce the use the private cars, relief traffic congestion and air pollution inside the campus in accordance with the government policy.

BTS Group Holdings chief executive officer Kavin Kanjanapas explained the collaboration was seeking to forge a mass transit connection from the campus to the Airport Rail Link’s Lat Krabang Station. The partnership will also pave the way for knowledge exchange between BTS and the institute.

BTS Group Holdings executive director Surapong Laoha-Unya said two possible routes were being studied – Hua Takhe to Lat Krabang Station (4 kilometres) and a link directly from the campus to Lat Krabang Station. Each tram-bus will have three carriages and capacity for 250 passengers. The study will take two to three years to complete.