SRT Prepares For The Construction Of Skytrain and Subway Extensions

[Jai Dee]

SRT has developed investment plan for 2008

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has drafted an investment plan for next year with a total budget of more than 16,531,831,000 baht.

The SRT Chairman, Mr. Siwa Saengmanee, says about 15,570,233,000 baht will be for the government while the remaining 961,580,000 baht will be for the SRT. He says the investment plan will be proposed to the Ministry of Transport and the government for consideration.

Some of the SRT's projects for next year include the construction of railway between Chachoengsao, Si Racha, and Laem Chabang and the construction of railway in Bangkok between Bang Sue and Taling Chan. Other projects include the renovation of railway between Phaya Thai and Suvarnabhumi Airport, or also known as Airport Link. The SRT will also renovate train stations, offices, and official residences.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 01 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Red Line now to run on diesel

The red line suburban train system will run on diesel, not electricity, as originally planned by the Thaksin Shinawatra administration, according to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning.

The Red Line, which has already won Cabinet approval to open bidding, will get commuters from Bangkok's outskirts to the inner city more conveniently, Pranote Suriya, deputy of the transport-planning office, said last week.

He said the suburban network as conceived by the current government would encourage people to go by rail more frequently.

The mass-transit system will use both "standard" and electric trains. The Red Line's two sections - Taling Chan-Bang Sue and Bang Sue-Rangsit - will be constructed for standard trains. The Blue, Purple and Green lines will run electric trains. The 137-kilometre system requires an investment of Bt165.4 billion

Other revisions to the Red Line's initial design involve track, platforms, financing and distance.

It has been extended from 32km to 60km.

Under the detailed design method proposed by the incumbent administration, the private sector can take responsibility for the investment, whereas the previous "design-and-build'' type of contract would have meant the government picking up the entire tab.

The suburban route is now designed to be elevated at intersections and underground at points where environmental impact is a concern.

Stations will be two to four kilometres apart.

Tracks will have the same width as existing mass-transit rail routes so that trains from upcountry can continue onto the Red Line, allowing commuters from dormitory towns in Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya and Chachoengsao to travel to Bangkok more conveniently.

The State Railway of Thailand will buy special carriages to run on the suburban rail routes to carry outlying passengers to Bang Sue station, expected to become the hub of Bangkok's mass-transit rail system.

The Red Line's Taling Chan-Bang Sue section is expected to open for bidding next month, with construction commencing in February.

The Bang Sue-Rangsit project is scheduled to be submitted to the Cabinet in August with bidding likely next July.

"The planned electric and standard rail projects will be submitted to the Cabinet during the current government. The Red Line's Taling Chan-Bang Sue section and the Purple Line are expected to open for bidding in this term and the rest in the next government," Pranote added.

Source: The Nation - 04 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

JBIC to release loan for Thailand's construction of electric train route-extension project

Deputy Minister of Finance Sommai Pasri (สมหมาย ภาษี) affirms that Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will release loan for Thailand’s construction of electric train route-extension Purple line project.

JBIC confirms to follow Thailand’s request to take its loan; however, JBIC has to consider other factors, including political situation, economy, and other situation in the countries. Mr. Sommai says the Finance Ministry might issue bonds or bring money from Fuel Fund to support the construction of electric train route-extension Purple line project if JBIC refuses releasing loan for Thailand.

Deputy Minister of Transport Sansern Wongcha-um (สรรเสริญ วงศ์ชะอุ่ม) says the construction of Purple line is expected to be proposed to the Cabinet within August, and its price bidding is expected to start in September.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Deputy Minister of Transport says auction for red line of sky-train to be held next month

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Sansern Wongcha-um, insists that the bidding for the construction of the sky-train’s red line will be opened next month. The route will link Bang Sue and Rangsit.

Mr. Sansern says the stations between the Bang Sue and Rangsit are now being renovated. He says Thailand is cooperating with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in releasing loans for this project.

Mr. Sansern says the sky-train’s purple line should be finalized after the Cabinet will consider it in August this year, and the auction should be opened this September. He says the project would need about 30 billion baht of investment.

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

[Jai Dee]

SRT ready to issue bonds in preparation for the construction of sky train

The state Railway of Thailand (SRT) is ready to issue bonds for mobilizing capital if the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) refuses to issue loan for Thailand.

The SRT Governor Mr. Prapas Chongsa-nguan (ประภัสร์ จงสงวน) says if JBIC does not release loan for Thailand to construct BTS-expansion routes within the beginning of the next month, SRT will seek solutions to construct the sky-train.

As for the construction of the sky train’s purple line, Bang Yai- Bang Sue (บางใหญ่-บางซื่อ), Ministry of Transport has proposed the issue to the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC), and it will be tabled in the meeting on August 6th.

Meanwhile, the construction of blue line, Bang Sue-Tha Phra (บางซื่อ-ท่าพระ) and Hua Lam Phong-Bang Kae (หัวลำโพง-บางแค), is scheduled to start work in October.

Mr. Prapas adds that the construction of purple line and blue line must be approved by the current Cabinet.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 July 2007

[Jai Dee]

Ministry of Transport admits delays to MRT Blue Line extension

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Blue Line extension will be delayed for 8 months due to the effect of construction work on local historical sites.

The Deputy Minister of Transport Mr. Sansern Wongcha-um (สรรเสริญ วงศ์ชะอุ่ม) admitted that extension work on the Mass Rapid Transit's (MRT) Blue Line from Hua Lampong (หัวลำโพง) to Bang Khae (บางแค) will be delayed by 8 months due to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource's opposition to the project. An environmental committee under the ministry has concluded that the Blue Line's extension route will damage local historical sites both in terms of aesthetics and building safety.

Official fear that MRT construction work will damage the foundation of historic structures due to vibrations. Wat Pho is among one of many historical sites believed to be affected by the Blue Line's extension. Mr. Sansern said that proposals for alterations to the Blue Line's route are required, and will take 8 months to finalize.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 July 2007

[Jai Dee]

MRTA to propose the implementation plan of the purple line to Minister of Transport

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) will propose the implementation plan of the purple line or the Bang Yai (บางใหญ่) – Bang Sue (บางซื่อ) route to Ministry of Transport for consideration next week.

MRTA Governor Prapat Chongsanguan (ประภัสร์ จงสงวน) says currently, there are two interesting implementations for the project. The first implementation is the joint investment between the government and the private sector. The government will invest in infrastructure while the private sector will invest in electronic train system. The second implementation is to allow the private sector to run both construction and operation.

MRTA, however, will arrange a meeting to conclude again and will propose the final conclusion to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and it will forward to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) for consideration as well. The consideration process is likely to take one month, and then, the subject will be presented to the Cabinet for approval. Mr. Prapat is confident that the auction of the project will take place within October.

Mr. Prapat refers to the budget to compensate the owners of the expropriated lands that the amount of budget may be reduced from 10 billion baht to 9 billion baht. Nevertheless, it depends on the committee concerning the matter, saying that they have to consider the land before providing the suitable prices.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 August 2007

[Jai Dee]

Purple line to provide its service in the next three years

The Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), Mr. Prapat Chongsanguan (ประภัสร์ จงสงวน) expresses his confidence that the purple line linking Bang Yai (บางใหญ่) and Bang Sue (บางซื่อ) will be ready to provide its service for Bangkok residents in the next three years.

Mr. Prapat reports the progress of the purple line construction, saying its design is already completed. Currently, the details of the project are being proposed to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) for consideration on whether it is in line with the 1992 Joint Investment Act.

There are two interesting implementations for the project. The first implementation is the joint investment between the government and the private sector. The government will invest in infrastructure while the private sector will invest in electronic train system. The second implementation is to allow the private sector to run both construction and operation.

The NESDB is expected to complete the consideration of giving the green light to the project within September and will propose it to the Cabinet in October this year.

The MRTA will start paying the compensation for the owners of the expropriated lands in October.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 August 2007

[Jai Dee]

Construction of electric train routes might not begin during interim govt.

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Sansern Wongcha-um (สรรเสริญ วงศ์ชะอุ่ม), says the construction of three extended-electric train routes might not begin during the interim government’s term, especially the purple line which starts from Bang Yai (บางใหญ่) to Bang Sue (บางซื่อ).

Mr Sansern says further that the committee of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is reviewing an investment plan of the construction which is expected to be completed within this week. The plan will be forwarded to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and then to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for approval of loans. He then speculates that the bidding for the construction of the three electric train routes might not take place during the current government administration.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Sommai Phasee (สมหมาย ภาษี), discloses that the JBIC is considering changing the interest rates for the loans to fund the construction project due to appreciation of the yen currency.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 31 August 2007