Bangkok Mass Transit System
{{short description|Thai transport company}}
{{about|the company|the rapid transit system it operates|BTS Skytrain}}
Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC, {{langx|th|บริษัทระบบขนส่งมวลชนกรุงเทพ จำกัด (มหาชน)}}) is a Thai transport company, best known as the operator of Bangkok's BTS Skytrain. It is a majority-owned subsidiary of BTS Group Holdings (BTSG, previously known as Tanayong), and also operates the Bangkok BRT and the Gold Line.
History and operations
BTSC was founded by Keeree Kanjanapas in 1992 to serve as Tanayong's concession operator for Bangkok's then-planned elevated rapid transit system. It was formed as a joint venture with Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction, Sito, and Dyckerhoff & Widmann.{{cite magazine |title=โครงการรถไฟฟ้า กทม. ยืดเยื้อ ธนายงเร่งสัญญาหวั่นพิษการเมือง |url=http://info.gotomanager.com/news/details.aspx?id=6737 |access-date=29 December 2020 |magazine=Manager |date=February 1992 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The company was publicly listed in 1996. It incurred heavy losses following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and underwent business rehabilitation and debt restructuring from 2006 to 2008. In 2010, Tanayong renamed to BTSG and reacquired a 94.6 percent stake in BTSC, becoming the majority owner.{{cite web |author1=Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL |title=แบบ 56-1 ปี 2558/59 แบบ 56-1 ปี 2558/59 บริษัท ระบบขนส่งมวลชนกรุงเทพ จำกัด (มหาชน) ส่วนที่ 1 : การประกอบธุรกิจ |url=https://capital.sec.or.th/webapp/corp_fin/datafile/56/BUSINESS_2016201603311076t02.pdf |website=Securities and Exchange Commission |access-date=29 December 2020 |language=th |date=2016}}{{cite news |last1=Kittikanya |first1=Charoen |title=Riding to the rescue |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1139153/riding-to-the-rescue |access-date=29 December 2020 |work=Bangkok Post |date=19 November 2016}}
BTSC operates the BTS Skytrain, which opened in 1999. It is the sole concessionaire of the original BTS network (including stations from Mo Chit to On Nut on the Sukhumvit Line and National Stadium to Saphan Taksin on the Silom Line), of which the company was the sole investor, and operates extensions to the lines under concession agreements from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (via its investment arm the Krungthep Thanakom company) and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). It also operates Bangkok's Bus Rapid Transit system, whose only line opened in 2010, and the Gold Line automated people mover, which opened in 2020.{{cite news |author1=Advertising partner |title=Mass-transit propels BTS Group's success (advertorial) |url=https://www.scmp.com/country-reports/country-reports/topics/thailand-business-report-2018/article/2159808/mass-transit |access-date=29 December 2020 |work=South China Morning Post |date=15 August 2018 |language=en}}{{cite web |author1=ศศิวรรณ โมกขเสน |title=ย้อนดูสัมปทานบีทีเอส เป็นมาอย่างไรแล้วจะอยู่ด้วยกันไปอีกกี่ปี |url=https://themomentum.co/bts-skytrain-concession/ |website=The Momentum |access-date=29 December 2020 |language=th |date=1 August 2018}}{{cite news |title=Gold Line set for October opening |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1937172/gold-line-set-for-october-opening |access-date=29 December 2020 |work=Bangkok Post |date=18 June 2020}}