Towards a Smarter City in Bangkok: Exploring the impacts of digital intermodal transport and logistics services

Urban areas, including Bangkok, face congestion and pollution from increasing passenger and freight transport demands. There is a need to develop smarter, more sustainable, and more efficient transportation systems to address these challenges. This paper focuses on integrating Bangkok's public transport and parcel delivery services to establish a sustainable and efficient transportation system. The study analyses the first-to-last-mile transportation in Bangkok by examining the utilization of the current resources that combine public transport and parcel delivery with electric trains and ride-hailing (RH) taxis. The research provides initial insights into the impact of integrating different transport modes with electric trains. The findings indicate that the BTS Skytrain has unused capacity throughout the day, which could be effectively utilized for parcel delivery. The study recommends promoting public transport to reduce private car usage and implementing parcel delivery alongside RH services to enhance cost-effectiveness. Moreover, integrating the electric train service with other modes of transportation offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option for commuters. These findings guide policymakers and practitioners in designing and implementing smarter and more sustainable transportation systems in Bangkok and other urban areas.