Lakegeneve

On 12/20/2020 at 10:35 AM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I remember traveling within Singapore on their city rail lines, and each of them having a descriptive/location based name as you mention above. Vastly easier to deal with, especially when you're talking about tourists who aren't there and using them year-round.

 

To me, it's kind of bizarre that any of the transit authorities here think the average person is going to be able to mentally keep track of their colors-only naming scheme once the number of different BKK lines gets into the double digits.

 

In Singapore  I always think of the line colour first , then the name. In most other places around the world too. Line numbers are of course the easiest but I think you might find that many people easily remember the line colour. Don't forget that some of these lines have been planned since the early 90s and remained the same colour, eg MRT Yellow line.

This being BKK, the most confusion regarding line colours is that the MRTA and BMA/BTSC still can't agree on the same colours for the BTS lines.

For the BTS the Sukhumvit line is light green, for the MRTA it is dark green. https://www.bts.co.th/eng/routemap.html and https://metro.bemplc.co.th/MRT-System-Map

For the Silom line, BTS is dark green and MRTA is light green. MRTA Map

And for the recent extension from MoChit to Khu khot which the MRTA built, it referred to the project just as "the green line" https://www.mrta.co.th/en/projectelectrictrain/bangkok-and-vicinities/greenline

Thanks for the updates JB, some great pics. A shame that you didn't get to see it being installed. At least you have a 2nd chance.

On 11/17/2020 at 12:55 PM, Bangkok Barry said:

You confuse a question with a moan. I didn't moan. I questioned the logic of giving something for free when they are in a deep hole of debt.

 

Thanks for the info on the other systems.

The JICA loan that funded the Dark Red line and Bang Sue station has such low interest rates that the debt doesn't really matter. However, the MOT has had to top up extra funds for design changes and modifications. Bang Sue is the new intercity terminal for all current and future HSR trains so it is inaccurate to compare that part of the construction debt with the future earnings of just the 2 SRT Red lines.

As we have seen with the BMA funded BTS extensions which have free ride periods, the thinking has been that it is both to draw pax into using the new ext and to compensate for the fact that these extensions have opened late. Also, I think that you'll find that the 3 month period may not be the whole section and most likely it will be at a reduced frequency.

As for these lines. the Light Red line was opened in late 2012 and ran limited services before it closed in early 2014 due to the fact that the SRT didn't have rolling stock for the line and that Bang Sue hadn't started construction. The Dark Red line was originally due to open in late 2016 so it is only a little late.......????

Late least year the SRT suggested that the line wouldn't open until early 2022 so anything earlier works for everyone, free or otherwise.

Remember, for the Dark Red line this is the first 21.6km of what will eventually a 87km line running from Thammasat Uni to Samut Sakhon which at this rate will be completed by 2050.......

58 minutes ago, phka said:

Can anyone tell me if the above BTS station on the silom line is open. 

Thanks

Not yet.

You'd be better posting this query in the BKK forum as your answer is there.

On 9/25/2020 at 7:20 PM, heina said:

What was the reason to build Suksa Witthaya station?

Since the BTS opened it was always intended to build S4 & N6 once there was sufficient pax density around the area. Given all of the new condos and offices building which has have been built on Sathon rd it was decided in 2016 to build S4. It will also relieve some of the pax congestion at S3.

Some of the new lines will also have stations that will be built at a later date.

Quote

 

6 October 2017

I mentioned in the previous update that I would post a summary of new rolling stock orders;

 

A) BEM Blue Line (MRT) -

BEM finally placed an order with Siemens a few weeks ago for new rolling stock!!! Originally, they were going to order more stock in 2008 but had to defer due to debt restructuring issues so it has been a long wait! BEM has ordered 35 new 3 car sets which will be delivered in 3 stages ; 

1) 3 sets in late 2018,
2) 15 sets in early 2019,
3) 17 sets in late 2019.
(Note: BEM should be moving to 4 or 5 cars sets by now as expected pax after the extension are 750k-800k rising to 1m by 2022)

 

 BTSC Dark Green (Suk) line  (BTS) -

1) The BTSC has ordered for 22 new 4 car sets from Siemens in May 2016 for the when the Samut Prakhan extension. These are being built in Turkey with expected deliveries in late 2018 & early 2019.

2) At the same time, the BTSC ordered 24 more 4 car sets of CRRC (Chinese) for the North ext to KuKot/Lam Lukka rd. These should be delivered in late 2018.

(Note: 4 sets will be kept for reserve/repairs etc)

 

C) BSR Pink and Yellow line (MRT) monorail orders -

1) Pink Line: BSR has ordered 42 Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 sets  (4 cars)

2) Yellow Line: BSR has ordered 30 sets (4 cars) of the same model.

 

D) SRT Dark and Light Red suburban lines -

Hitachi has the contract to supply rolling stock by 2020. However, the exact number of sets is unclear.

 

E) SRTET Airport Line (ARL) -

1) The order for 7 new 5 car sets is still pending. However, the SRT has promised to place it by the end of the year.

 

Summary:

That's a total of 81 heavy rail sets (3 & 4 cars) and 72 monorail sets (4 cars) on order!

 

BSR MRT Pink line and MRT Yellow line monorail orders

The first sets for both lines have been assembled and shipped on 4 Sept to Thailand. They should arrive by the end of the month.

All other sets will be progressively delivered during next year with final deliveries expected by 1st quarter of 2022.

On 8/15/2020 at 3:39 PM, Lakegeneve said:

Construction progress as at 31 July:

1) MRT Orange Line: 66.06%

2) MRT Pink Line: 61.83%

3) MRT Yellow Line: 62.44%

4) SRT Dark Red Line: 100% - S&E Installation: 73% (no update available)

5) BMA Gold Line: 88% - was due to commence operations on 1 October. However, now delayed to late October as testing of the first set has been delayed due to Chinese officials being unable to enter Thailand. Expect further delays on this front.

Construction progress as at 31 August:

1) MRT Orange Line: 67.84%

2) MRT Pink Line: 63.36%

3) MRT Yellow Line: 64.30%

4) SRT Dark Red Line: 100% - S&E Installation: 73% (no update available)

5) BMA Gold Line: 94% - was due to commence operations on 1 October. However, now delayed to the end of October or more likely early December as further testing is required  Test runs started a couple of weeks ago as you can view in this BMA provided video;

On 9/14/2020 at 4:41 PM, josephbloggs said:

So watching this develop I still have no idea how it will get across.  They have now built support columns either side of the motorway and they are much thicker than the usual supports.  But it is 50/55 metre span between them so I don't see how it can be done in one go, but they obviously will do it somehow (normally the supports seem to be no more than 20 metres apart).  Anyone know?

Interestingly also as soon as it has crossed the motorway it dives down to go underneath the ARL - it also splits in two to go around an ARL support column which is right in the way - before climbing immediately back up into Pattanakarn station.  Seems quite steep too.  I wonder why they didn't go over the ARL as it looks like a lot of extra work to go under.

I was looking for some renders but could not find them. However, you can see in the route video around the 2 min mark the configuration of the line when it passes the Chonburi Motorway. Larger cross support beams will be built on the south side of the motorway. 

The reason why the line passes under the ARL is so that the station can be built at a reasonable height as otherwise the station would have to be much higher and the interchange to the ARL would be more cumbersome to construct. It also allows air space for the future SRT Light Red viaduct to be more easily built.

On 9/15/2020 at 9:01 AM, ExpatOilWorker said:

In a distant future a high speed rail line will connect Don Mueang, Swampy and Utapao. I imagine it will run partially parallel to the ARL along this section and maybe the high speed rail line is to tall for the moon rail to pass above it.

Actually, the Eastern HSR line will take over the ARL. The ARL will need to be shut down at some point once the ext to DMK is done first in order to do install a new signalling system and finally replace the substandard chinese built rail.

However, as mentioned in the previous page the SRT Light Red Line is still planned to be extended to Hua Mark so that will require a new viaduct along the ARL.

On 7/14/2020 at 7:49 PM, Lakegeneve said:

 

Construction progress as at 30 June:

1) MRT Orange Line: 64.21%

2) MRT Pink Line: 60.31%

3) MRT Yellow Line: 60.94%

4) SRT Dark Red Line: 100% - S&E Installation: 73%

5) BMA Gold Line: 81% - due to commence operations on 1 October.

Construction progress as at 31 July:

1) MRT Orange Line: 66.06%

2) MRT Pink Line: 61.83%

3) MRT Yellow Line: 62.44%

4) SRT Dark Red Line: 100% - S&E Installation: 73% (no update available)

5) BMA Gold Line: 88% - was due to commence operations on 1 October. However, now delayed to late October as testing of the first set has been delayed due to Chinese officials being unable to enter Thailand. Expect further delays on this front.

On 7/28/2020 at 7:52 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Looney Toons....

 

So the future Light Red Line is going to have its own station, among others, in the Makkasan area -- totally separate from the current huge white elephant, vastly overbuilt station that is the Makkasan ARL station.

 

Any idea how far apart in distance the various dual station (ARL and Light Red Line) locations are going to be from each other?  In terms of allowing or making inconvenient transfers between the two lines?

 

The previous renders had them adjacent to each other.

I wouldn't get too worked up about this as it will be many years away if it happens. Look at the brief overview;

• 2004/05: SRT drafts new commuter network plans and included in the OTOP M-MAP
• 2009: SRT Light Red and Dark Red lines approved by then Dem govt,
• 2010-2012: Light Red line built, Dark Red line suffers 2 year contractual dispute with JICA (funding the project), Light Red runs limited services from Dec 2012 to Jan 2014
• 2013: Construction finally starts on the Dark Red line due for late 2016 completion (Bang Sue Terminal is part of the funding)
• mid 2016: Cabinet approves Dark Red northern ext to Thammasat Uni, Dark Red southern ext to Hua Lumphong and Light Red western ext to Salaya
• Aug 2016: SRT finally orders rolling stock for the Light Red and Dark Red lines (remembering that the Dark Red line was due to be completed by late 2016)
• late 2018: tenders for the Thammasat Uni ext and Salaya ext were due to be out but were delayed,
• late 2019: above tenders were again due to go out
• mid 2020: govt announces that tenders for the above will now be further delayed until 2021 in order to explore a PPP project funding basis. That means 4 years after Cabinet approved the first exts for boths lines, the tenders have still not been done!

At this stage the SRT Dark Red and Light Red lines will not open until March - June 2022 contingent on when Bang Sue Terminal is finally completed. That essentially means that it will have taken nearly a decade to build a 26km line!!!

Approx order of extenstion consruction:

1) Dark Red line 10km northern ext to Thammasat Uni - construction should be done in 2-3 years,

2) Light Red line 15 km western ext to Salaya- work should take 3 years,

3) Light Red line 6.5km spur line Taling Chan to Siriraj - construction should take 2-3 years,

4) Dark Red line 11km southern ext to Hua Lumphong - 3-4 years,

5) Light Red line 25km eastern ext to Hua Mark via Phaya Thai - 4-5 years

6) Dark Red line 39km ext to Mahachai via Wong Wian Yai - 5-6 years

Note: with all these est time frames add at least 1 year

Also note that in the long term future the SRT Dark Red line might be further extended 40km north from Thammasat Uni to Phachai in Ayutthaya province and a further 24km at the southern end from Mahachai to Maeklong. The Light Red line might be also extended 30km from Salaya to Nakhon Pathom in the future. 

At this stage 1-3 might be done by 2025 at the earliest, 4 might be done by 2028 and thus 5 probably wont be considered until after 2025. I would still hope that it doesn't get built and that 6 is prioritised before 5. Meanwhile, we will have the Eastern HSR line being built between 2021 to 2024 which will take over the ARL.

9 hours ago, CLW said:

Seriously? No way...

So the elevated Dark red line track to DMK can't used by the proposed 3 airport rail link?

It was never intended to.

The Eastern HSR line will use the ARL. The ARL will need to be shut down for a period of time in order to lay new track and signalling changes but that won't be for a couple of years if construction actually proceeds as planned.

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 LG, for the Huamak to Phyathai segment of the Light Red Line, how's its alignment going to run relative to the existing ARL line? And the same question for the Light Red Line stations at locations like Phyathai, Makkasan, Ramkhamhaeng and Huamak where there already are existing ARL stations?

 

You'll read in my previous posts on this section (in the previous thread) that I am very critical of the plan to extend the line to run exactly parallel to the ARL - in fact it is stupid. The plan is to build a new viaduct and new stations adjacent to the current ARL viaduct and stations. The whole plan is patently flawed, why would you build a new line to compete a current one that you operate? If you need more capacity (as the ARL has done so for many years) you just expand the rolling stock and/or increase frequency on the existing line.

This section really makes no sense. Then again this is the SRT which has the Bangkok commuter lines master plan which initially proposed the following 3 lines;

1) ARL line - standard gauge EMU,

2) Light Red line - narrow gauge DMU,

3) Dark Red line - narrow gauge EMU.

All of which would have has rolling stock incompatible with the other lines!

Given that the next 2 exts (Dark Red: Rangsit  to Thammasat Uni) (Light Red: Taling Chan to Salaya) are still yet to be tendered (approved by Cabinet in July 2016 planned for late 2017 tender), now subject to further delay while the govt considers PPP tenders for these exts, we won't be seeing what happens with the Huamark section for a few years. Add into the mix that the SRT is losing the ARL which will now become the Eastern HSR line. 

On 7/14/2020 at 7:49 PM, Lakegeneve said:

 

Construction progress as at 30 June:

5) BMA Gold Line: 81% - due to commence operations on 1 October.

For those that wish to see Bombardier Innovia APMs in action here is a video of a 6.7km Puijiang line in Shanghai. The video interlaces pics of the Gold line APM rolling stock. Many of you would have used APMs at airports to transfer between terminals or perhaps used the small LRT loop lines in Singapore.

The first part of the BMA Gold line is due to open on 1 October.

9 hours ago, pegman said:

Thanks. Is there an estimate on when the Airport Rail Link will be operating to D.M. airport?

It will be takne over by the new Eastern High Speed line which will run DMK to U-Tapao.

I'd suggest the extension will be done by the end of 2024, but we'll have a much better idea by the end of next year.