Bangkok's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service between Sathorn and Ratchapruek was officially opened yesterday.
The service will run free of charge for a test-run period up until August 31.
From September 1, the bus fare will be a flat rate of Bt10 for about four months, after which progressive rates from Bt12 to Bt20 will be enforced from January 2 onwards.
MR Sukhumbhand Paripatra chaired the opening ceremony for the BRT service yesterday, while PM's adviser and former governor Apirak Kosayodhin attended the first bus service from Sathorn Station to Ratchapruek Station.
Sathorn Station also has a "sky walk" linking to the Skytrain system at Chong Nonsi BTS station.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has published 200,000 copies of a BRT handbook for public dis?tribution at the 12 BRT stations, plus the BMA Traffic and Transportation Department and 50 district offices.
The Sathorn-Ratchapruek route is one of five BRT routes planned. Other four routes to be completed respectively are: Mor Chit to the civil service complex and Nonthaburi; Sathorn to Suksawat; Don Muang to Min Buri, then Suvarnabhumi, and Min Buri to Sri Nakarin and Samrong. The Mor Chit- Chaeng Wattana and Nonthaburi route is expect?ed to start in 2012.