SRT Prepares For The Construction Of Skytrain and Subway Extensions

[Jai Dee]

Transport Ministry joins meeting with state enterprises on sky train route-extension project

The Ministry of Transport calls a meeting of relevant state enterprises to consider the construction of the sky train and underground train route-extension project.

Transport Minister Admiral Theera Howcharoen (ธีระ ห้าวเจริญ) discloses that the meeting will take place on April 2nd. He affirms that the Thai government’s request for loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to construct three extended routes will be approved.

As for the hiring of consulting companies for the project by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), the minister says the MRTA board will reconsider the matter during its meeting on April 4th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 April 2007

[ThaiGoon]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/21Apr2007_news11.php

City firm on opening new skytrain route

Council of State ruling could delay project

SUPOJ WANCHAROEN

The city administration is determined to go ahead with its plan to open an extended 2.2km skytrain route to Thon Buri even though the project may be ruled by the Council of State as a joint public-private investment. In principle, that ruling would delay the opening of the extended route for at least another year as there is a long process to go through.

However, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would ask the cabinet to approve the proposed opening, which is initially planned for early next year, even though the Council of State has yet to pass its ruling, said deputy city governor Panich Vikitsreth yesterday.

Construction of the extended route, which runs from Taksin bridge to the Taksin intersection is now almost 100% complete.

Mr Panich said he has also instructed the BMA's traffic and transport department to proceed in compliance with the remaining requirements of the joint investment law without waiting for the council to pass its ruling.

This should also cover the other two extended routes now under construction _ a 5.25km route from Onnut to Sukhumvit Soi 107, and a 5.3km route from the Taksin intersection to Phetkasem road.

[ThaiGoon]

Airport rail builder asks for more time

Consultant suggests a shorter extension

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Theera: More time will be needed

The consortium contracted to build the 30 billion baht Suvarnabhumi airport railway link has written to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) asking for a deadline extension of 652 days, a source said. However, a construction supervision consultant for the project has suggested that the extension of the construction deadline should not exceed 398 days, the SRT source said.

News Article Continues here

http://www.bangkokpost.net/180407_News/18Apr2007_news03.php

[Ijustwannateach]

It's good news if there's political willpower to get the thing built. I guess they realised that if they argue forever about who gets the money, no one gets the money at all- and the lawyers' fees add up.

[appleman_thai]

ANyone have maps of the proposals to see exactly where it is planned for?

[ThaiGoon]

ANyone have maps of the proposals to see exactly where it is planned for?

Here's a map of the extension lines being constructed with the existing routes.

[farangsay]

Well construction seems to be continuing slowly but surely down here at

the bottom end of Suk. I thought they were taking it to the airport ?

Would have made sense.

[Snake V]

ANyone have maps of the proposals to see exactly where it is planned for?

Here's a map of the extension lines being constructed with the existing routes.

What is the "pink" line that goes to Suwannapum Airport? It looks like it ties into the existing Skytrain System at Phaya Thai Station? When is it projected to be completed?

The Sukhumvit extension appears to be progressing well.

[ThaiGoon]

Well construction seems to be continuing slowly but surely down here at

the bottom end of Suk. I thought they were taking it to the airport ?

Would have made sense.

The extension of Sukhumwit line will not go to the airport as of now. They will wait until the construction of the second phase of the new airport starts. Right now the line will stop at Barring (right around BITEC.) Actually the line will be split into two one station before Barring station. One line will be linked to the second phase of Suvanabhumi (as I said earlier) and the other line will go to Samut Prakan (The detailed design of this part is currently underway and the bidding is expected to take place next year if the new elected gov't doesn't scrape the existing plans.)

Snake V, the pink line is the current airport high speed rail link that's under construction right now. It was scheduled to be completed at the end of this year (in November I think), but it wil be delayed because of the belated handover of the land by SRT. You can read a bit more about this in the thread that I posted about the airport link.

Edited April 21, 2007 by ThaiGoon

[ThaiGoon]

Snake V, here's the latest news on the "pink" line (it's actually designated as a red line right now):

Airport Rail Builder asks for more time

[ThaiGoon]

A couple of pictures of Taksin extension that BMA wanna push for the openning early next year. (Khun BlueDragonExpress from thaitransport-photo.net took them a little over a month a go):

Pictures of Sukhumwit extension from Khun Totomaru from the same website (taken about amonth ago as well):

Airport Rail Link ("pink" line) from hflight.net. They were taken last month as well:

Edited April 21, 2007 by ThaiGoon

[ThaiGoon]

Here's the new design for the stations on the Sukhumwit extension line:

(More user friendly during the rainy season than the old one. )

[ThaiGoon]

Some rendering (taken from skyscrapercity.com)

Bang Sue station:

Bang Khaen station:

Lak Si station:

Don Muang station:

Rang Sit station:

[appleman_thai]

So it looks like there are no planned extensions of the skytrain or subway on the Northern end?

[ThaiGoon]

So it looks like there are no planned extensions of the skytrain or subway on the Northern end?

There are three actually. The purple line will run from Bang Sue to Bang Yai (sort of Northwest route) and is expected to be open for bidding around August of this year. The extension of the green line (BTS) from Jatujack to Saphan Mai. It's being designed in detail right now, and will probably be ready for bidding early next year (if the new elected gov't doesn't scrape it.) And finally the red line from Bang Sue to Rangsit. This one is being redesigned as SRT want to add five more stations on the route. It should be ready for bidding either at the end of this year or early next year (again if there's no change in policy on the gov't part.)

[ThaiGoon]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/23...ss_30032431.php

MASS-TRANSIT FUNDING

Officials confident of getting JBIC loan

Finance Ministry believes contract with Japanese agency will be signed in May

The Finance Ministry and the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) are expected to conclude a loan agreement to finance mass-transit projects in Bangkok next month.

Despite reports that JBIC was reluctant to extend loans to the Thai government due to the political situation and other issues, officials at the Finance Ministry are confident that a contract is in the offing.

"We have repaid previous JBIC loans, and the bank has ample liquidity, so we think that JBIC will give us the loan," said an official.

JBIC's representatives are expected to come to Bangkok next month to discuss the terms.

The Cabinet has approved the construction of three mass-transit lines, red, purple and blue, for a total investment estimated at Bt1.65 billion. The Finance Ministry plans to borrow up to 60 per cent of the total from JBIC; the rest will be financed by government budget and domestic loans.

The first bidding, under the State Railway of Thailand, is scheduled in June for the Bang Sue-Talingchan route, part of the red line.

Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn will go to Kyoto early next month to attend a meeting of Asean finance ministers and their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea, known as Asean+3.

He is expected to discuss the loan there with JBIC executives.

[Jai Dee]

Deputy Finance Minister denies news claiming JBIC in denying loans to Thai BTS construction

Deputy Finance Minister Sommai Phasi (สมหมาย ภาษี) dismisses news claiming that the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has denied issuing loans for Thailand in constructing BTS routes.

The news claimed that JBIC has refused to give loans for Thailand due to the political instability. Mr. Sommai says the news is groundless, while affirms that JBIC has shown good response in providing loans to Thailand.

Mr. Jakkrid Parapantakul (จักกฤศฎิ์ พาราพันธกุล), the director of foreign loan department of Public Debt Management, asserts JBIC will approve loan for Thailand, and Japanese team will observe Thailand’s readiness to construct BTS in May before they will propose the matter to Japanese Council for consideration.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 April 2007

[appleman_thai]

So it looks like there are no planned extensions of the skytrain or subway on the Northern end?

There are three actually. The purple line will run from Bang Sue to Bang Yai (sort of Northwest route) and is expected to be open for bidding around August of this year. The extension of the green line (BTS) from Jatujack to Saphan Mai. It's being designed in detail right now, and will probably be ready for bidding early next year (if the new elected gov't doesn't scrape it.) And finally the red line from Bang Sue to Rangsit. This one is being redesigned as SRT want to add five more stations on the route. It should be ready for bidding either at the end of this year or early next year (again if there's no change in policy on the gov't part.)

Ah, I see. Its just that those planned lines were not on the map.

Where did you actually get all this info? Is it publicly available?

I would be interested to keep up to date on these developments myself.

[steffi]

If you take a car ride to the new airport you can see the new route being built.

That said don't you think the Taxi mafia have every incentive to sabotage this route? Just don't see both co-existing harmoniously in the future.

ANyone have maps of the proposals to see exactly where it is planned for?

Here's a map of the extension lines being constructed with the existing routes.

What is the "pink" line that goes to Suwannapum Airport? It looks like it ties into the existing Skytrain System at Phaya Thai Station? When is it projected to be completed?

The Sukhumvit extension appears to be progressing well.

[ThaiGoon]

Ah, I see. Its just that those planned lines were not on the map.

Where did you actually get all this info? Is it publicly available?

I would be interested to keep up to date on these developments myself.

I mostly got the info from skyscrapercity.com. As for the map of the planned routes, somebody posted it on here a while ago. You may still be able to find it at 2bangkok.com as well. And yeah, the map from urbanrail only shows the current exisiting lines and the ones that are under construction.

[JimmyTheMook]

That said don't you think the Taxi mafia have every incentive to sabotage this route? Just don't see both co-existing harmoniously in the future.

[ThaiGoon]

That said don't you think the Taxi mafia have every incentive to sabotage this route? Just don't see both co-existing harmoniously in the future.

If they had any power of the kind, they would have had successfully derailed the project since its inception.

[Hawkup2000]

What do you think will happen to the BTS rates? Higher and higher or same rates as today?

[Jai Dee]

MRTA to begin contract bidding for Purple Line in August

The Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) affirms he will be expediting construction of subway extensions.

Mass Rapid Transit Authority Governor Prapas Chongsa-nguan (ประภัสร์ จงสงวน) revealed that the construction process of the Bang Sue-Bang Yhai (บางซื่อ-บางใหญ) Purple line subway extension is undergoing a major restructuring to adhere to the policy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Mr. Kosit Panpeamrat (โฆษิต ปั้นเปี่ยมรัษฎ์ ).

Contract biddings are expected to be held at the end of August, with total expected cost estimates increasing from 1.5 billion in 2004 to 4.177 billion this year. The nearly threefold increase is attributed to changing economic and political conditions.

Meanwhile the Director of the MRTA Land Provisions Department, Mr. Suchin Somboonsin (สุจิน สมบูรณ์สิน), report that land reclaiment from residents living along planned Purple Line routes will cost about 12 billion baht.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 April 2007

[Jai Dee]

BMA considers implementing the construction of Mo Chit- Sapan Mai BTS-extension route

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will consider implementing the construction of Mo Chit- Sapan Mai (หมอชิต-สะพานใหม่). He says Bangkok might continue the project by itself like On Nut- Lasan (อ่อนนุช-ลาซาล) BTS-extension route.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Panich Wikitset (พนิช วิกิตเศรษฐ์) discloses the government has announced to slowdown the construction of Mo Chit - Sapan Mai BTS-extension route. The government says the project should be continued in the new government.

However, BMA has proposed Bangkok Council to take responsibility to construct the route by itself. Bangkok Deputy Governor says the Bangkok Council has already approved the project and if Bangkok Governor also agrees with the implementation, BMA will be ready to continue.

The Mo Chit - Sapan Mai BTS-extension route is 5.1 kg long and has four BTS stations. The BTS-extension route is expected to efficiently solve traffic congestion at the areas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 April 2007

[Jai Dee]

95 percent of Taksin skytrain extension is completed

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin and a group of officials and media members inspected the construction of Taksin skytrain extension yesterday (May 2) and found out that 95 percent of the construction has been completed. The skytrain extension from Taksin Bridge across Chao Phraya River to Taksin Intersection is expected to be ready to serve the public early next year, to help alleviate the heavy traffic congestion in Bangkok.

Mr. Apirak says Charoen Nakhon and Wong Wien Yai stations will be set up for this project. He says he will also try to extend the route further to Bang Wa. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning will study the possibility of extending the skytrain route from Mo Chit to Kasetsart University as well.

The budget for the skytrain extension from Taksin Bridge across Chao Phraya River to Taksin Intersection is more than 2.3 billion baht. The fares are expected to range from 10 to 40 baht.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 May 2007

[Jai Dee]

JBIC to evaluate Thailand’s electric train route-extension project

The Ministry of Finance reports that representatives of the Japanese government and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will come to Thailand to evaluate the electric train route-extension on May 28th.

Director of the Public Debt Management Office of the Finance Ministry, Phongphanu Sawetrun (พงษ์ภาณุ เศวตรุนทร์) says the Japan representatives will evaluate the project to consider whether JBIC should release a loan for the implementation of the project. The director says his office has completed a report on the country’s economic situation and the construction plan and will submit it to the Japan representatives on May 28th.

The loan, estimated at more than 80 billion baht, is expected to be spent on the construction of the purple line of the electric train route-extension project. The Thai government will issue bonds to mobilize about 13 billion baht for the construction of the red line.

JBIC has a plan to reduce the loan’s interest rate from 0.1 to 0.65 a year. The Thai government expects that it can sign the loan contract with JBIC before August this year and the construction will begin at the end of the year.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 May 2007

[Jai Dee]

Cabinet meeting to approve construction of red line electronic train route-extension project

The Ministry of Transport asks the Cabinet to approve the construction of the red line electric train route-extension project as it has planned to arrange a bidding in August this year.

The Cabinet meeting today (May, 22nd), chaired by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, will consider the construction of the red line electric train which runs from Bang Sue (บางซื่อ) – Taling Chan (ตลิ่งชัน) and Bang Sue – Rangsit (รังสิต) and the act draft which concerns conflicts between individuals and the society. The draft will be submitted to the Cabinet by Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister Theeraphat Serirangsan (ธีรภัทร์ เสรีรังสรรค์).

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 May 2007

[Jai Dee]

State Railway Labor Union to assert management company to solve debt problem of SRT

The State Railway Labor Union has set plans to establish an asset management company to solve the debt problem of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

Chairman of the Transport Committee of the national Legislative Assembly (NLA), Adm.Bannawit Kengrean (บรรณวิทย์ เก่งเรียน), and President of the State Railway Labor Union, Riang Khaengkhan (เรียง แขงขัน) recently announced the union’s proposals to solve the debt problem of SRT. The two representatives affirm the union will push for the enforcement of the proposals via parliamentary procedure and will not rally as it does not want to create more problems to the country.

Adm.Bannawit explains that the main responsibility of the asset management company is to manage lands totaling 250,000 rais which belong to SRT. The chairman expects that if the lands are properly and efficiently handled, the State Railway of Thailand will have enough income and no longer face the problem of lost profits.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 May 2007

[Jai Dee]

Finance Ministry asks for loans from JBIC to build BTS blue-route construction

The Ministry of Finance has requested for cooperation from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to issue loans for Thailand’s BTS blue-route construction.

Director of the Public Debt Management Office of the Finance Ministry, Phongphanu Sawetrun (พงษ์ภาณุ เศวตรุนทร์) discloses JBIC has expressed willingness to help with soft loans to Thailand’s BTS construction plan.

The auction of BTS red route Bang Sue-Rangsit (บางซื่อ-รังสิต) is expected to start in the beginning of the next year. Mr. Phongphanu informs JBIC will send its team to evaluate Thailand’s BTS construction again on July to observe Thailand’s readiness.

The Finance Ministry wants JBIC to approve loans for Thailand quickly as Thailand wants to open the auction of BTS blue route within August. However, he says Thailand will take a loan from financial resources in the country instead, if JBIC refuses to approve the loan.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 May 2007