The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) Innovation News Team interviewed Mr. Kittikant Chomdoung, Director of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), regarding his personal Facebook post stating that the iconic red cream buses will not be retired but will be selected based on their condition for a major overhaul and repurposed as “special reserve vehicles” to preserve Bangkok’s identity and support emergency missions.
Mr. Kittikant stated that BMTA is proceeding with the government’s policy to procure 1,520 electric vehicles (EVs) under a 7-year lease agreement. The first batch of 500 vehicles will be delivered in March 2017, the second batch of 500 vehicles in April, and the final batch of 520 vehicles in May 2017. Additionally, the Ministry of Transport has allocated a budget to procure an additional 800 EVs, expected to be delivered in December 2017. This will result in BMTA’s fleet being 100% electric by the end of 2017, helping to reduce pollution and lower energy and maintenance costs.
Currently, BMTA has approximately 1,520 red cream buses, including Hino AK176, Isuzu MT111QB, and Mitsubishi Fuso RP118 models, with an average age of 35 years. BMTA will select the strongest buses to complete the overhaul by December, leaving around 700 buses to be refurbished, upgraded, and have their emissions systems adjusted to meet environmental standards.
The refurbished buses will transition from daily service to “special reserve vehicles,” used for special events, government or private sector requests, or in case of BTS/BRT disruptions, as well as for emergency situations like floods. BMTA is also considering marketing opportunities, such as café buses or tour buses, and is studying the details and budget for these initiatives.
Mr. Kittikant mentioned that this idea came from public demand to preserve the red cream buses, especially after their performance during recent floods, where they could navigate through 80 cm of water, making them valuable for emergency situations.
In his Facebook post, Mr. Kittikant summarized, “I will not abandon our red cream buses. They are not just a 30-year-old legend but also a robust vehicle with strategic value in emergencies, especially their ability to navigate through water and quickly return to service after refueling.”
The next steps involve selecting the strongest buses for a complete overhaul, including engine upgrades and emission standards, before repurposing them as special reserve vehicles to “revive” the red cream buses for new missions while preserving BMTA’s identity.