The New Skytrain (continued for 2019)

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

With the current virus threat, I would be afraid to take suck canned packed public transport in Thailand, China or Korea...and any other place in the world. And for those with no choice, the transport authorities should hand over FFP2 norm facemasks at the entrance of all the BTS stations to passengers boarding a train.

Should they also hand out health insurance?

 

Why should a transport operator be expected to hand out masks?  

[Crossy]

On 3/9/2020 at 6:24 PM, CLW said:

What a Thai friend told me and I did see it too afterwards is that the Stations of the new Green Line extension bear a MRTA logo. 

I always thought they are operator of the MRT only?

 

MRTA (Mass Rapid Transit Authority) do not operate anything:-

• The Blue and Purple lines (sometimes called the MRT) are operated by BEM (formerly called BMCL).
• The Green line is operated by BTSC.

The confusion arises because the green line extensions were financed by MRTA (rather than BMA) and therefore have MRTA logos all over them. BTSC have the concession to operate the green line extensions.

 

If you visit E15 (Samrong) and N9 (Ha Lek Lat Phrao) you will notice they have island platforms. These were designed so that, in the event that the concession didn't go to BTSC, passengers could swap trains easily at these stations (E15 was briefly operated like this when BTSC didn't have all their new trains).

 

 

[CLW]

On 3/9/2020 at 9:46 PM, josephbloggs said:

Should they also hand out health insurance?

 

Why should a transport operator be expected to hand out masks?  

Well, somehow observer is right.

The BTS tell passengers in their announcement to wear masks.

But where to find them?

Everywhere sold out since weeks...

[Crossy]

 

And four more in October with the final stations on the North Extension opening in December.

 

[ThailandRyan]

For the past few months there has been free passage also on certain sections of the lines.  It has been pretty handy for some since I think the rates are a little out of whack for the normal 300 baht a day Thai person

[DDBKK]

Have they "downed tools" due to the Covid chaos or trooping on thai style?

[bodga]

On 12/4/2018 at 3:13 PM, FarangryBirds said:

Yeah, I guessed because Samrong has an island platform, it'll work like the change at Siam where you just hop over to the connecting train.

 

I still wonder if it will truly be every ten minutes if there are only 3 new trains in operation or they have some spare rolling stock on loan from the main Sukhumvit line.

 

Why don't  they add more  carriages they still have room  looking at platform lengths.

[Crossy]

On 5/4/2020 at 6:02 AM, bodga said:

Why don't  they add more  carriages they still have room  looking at platform lengths.

 

It's not that easy.

 

The traction power system as built 20+ years back will require an upgrade to go to 6 car trains. The current 4 car units are the practical limit.

[Lakegeneve]

1) MRT Orange Line western extension

We haven't been updating this thread that much during the slumber of COVID-19 lockdowns but finally we have some major news with the MRT Orange line western section tender (PPP project) being released on 3 July. This section of the Orange line will be 13.4 km and fully underground with 12 stations.

 

Bids need to be received by 23 September which will hopefully mean an October announcement of the successful bidder and maybe, just maybe an early 2021 construction start? The tender specifies a construction period of 3.5 years which realistically will be 4+ yrs.

 

It is worth noting that this was originally due to be tendered in the last quarter of 2018 but was delayed due to changing the project to a PPP (or BOT) project.

 

2) MRT Purple Line southern extension

This ext was due to be tendered in April this year after a further delay from the original 2018 tender due to a combination of land transfer delays and the wish of Cabinet canvassing the option to also conduct it as a PPP project.

 

However, the MRTA has announced that it should be tendered in September this year....... or at least not later than December 2020!

 

3) MRT Brown line

EXAT & MRTA should finish the integrated design by October this year after which consultants will prepare the tender specifications. Hopefully, the project will be tendered in the 2nd quarter of 2021 which should mean a construction start by the end of 2021. This might occur more quickly as the govt wants the N2 expressway to start construction sooner as a part of post COVID economic stimulus. 

 

In summary, by the end of 2021 all 3 of these projects will hopefully have started construction.

[Lakegeneve]

On 1/12/2020 at 4:49 PM, Lakegeneve said:

Construction progress as at 31 December:

1) MRT Blue Line ext: 100%
2) BTS Northern ext: 100% S&E Installation: ?
3) MRT Orange Line: 53.31%
4) MRT Pink line: 50.10%
5) MRT Yellow line: 49.89%
6) SRT Dark Red Line: 100% - S&E installation: 48%
7) BMA/Private 2.2km Gold Line: approx 45%

 

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.

[pegman]

On 7/14/2020 at 7:49 AM, 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.

Any of these service D.M. airport? Which line will go there and when is it scheduled to be operational? Thanks

[Lakegeneve]

9 hours ago, pegman said:

Any of these service D.M. airport? Which line will go there and when is it scheduled to be operational? Thanks

Yes, the SRT Dark Red Line which will run 21.6km from Bang Sue to Rangsit and is taking 10 years to build! It should open in early to mid 2021 but that depends on when Bang Sue terminal is completed. You can see some pics of the Dark Red line trains on page 14, #196 onwards.

 

Here is a map of the lines to assist you, there are other maps at the start of the thread;

 

Edited July 16, 2020 by Lakegeneve

[clearance]

There is highres of this image from wikipedia

 

[pegman]

16 hours ago, Lakegeneve said:

Yes, the SRT Dark Red Line which will run 21.6km from Bang Sue to Rangsit and is taking 10 years to build! It should open in early to mid 2021 but that depends on when Bang Sue terminal is completed. You can see some pics of the Dark Red line trains on page 14, #196 onwards.

 

Here is a map of the lines to assist you, there are other maps at the start of the thread;

 

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

[Lakegeneve]

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. 

[moontang]

On 7/16/2020 at 12:37 AM, pegman said:

Any of these service D.M. airport? Which line will go there and when is it scheduled to be operational? Thanks

The old SRT has been serving DMK for decades.  You can board it at Bang Su..adjacent to the MRT..

[Lakegeneve]

On 10/27/2019 at 1:45 PM, Lakegeneve said:

Japan, joint Mitsubishi and Hitachi and Sumitomo built trains.

 

10 4 car sets for the Light Red line & 15 6 car sets for the Dark Red line (though can mix as needed). 25 EMUs and 130 cars in total.

SRT only placed the order in mid 2016 when the line was originally due to open in late 2016! There were some needless delays as usual....

Update on SRT Red lines rolling stock:

7 of the 6 car sets have been delivered as have 6 of the 4 car sets = 13 EMUs out of the 25 sets ordered.

By next month another 2 sets (1 of each) will arrive in Thailand.

 

Both SRT Red lines are not expected to be operational until the first quarter of 2022 as they need the new Bang Sue Intercity Terminal to be completed first.

 

It should also be noted that the SRT Light Red line will need some repairs - having been completed in 2012 - as termite damage has been discovered at some of the stations which have been idle and unused since Jan 2014 when temp operations were suspended.

 

[Lakegeneve]

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.

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

15 minutes ago, Lakegeneve said:

Update on SRT Red lines rolling stock:

7 of the 6 car sets have been delivered as have 6 of the 4 car sets = 13 EMUs out of the 25 sets ordered.

By next month another 2 sets (1 of each) will arrive in Thailand.

 

Both SRT Red lines are not expected to be operational until the first quarter of 2022 as they need the new Bang Sue Intercity Terminal to be completed first.

 

It should also be noted that the SRT Light Red line will need some repairs - having been completed in 2012 - as termite damage has been discovered at some of the stations which have been idle and unused since Jan 2014 when temp operations were suspended.

 

 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?

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

20 minutes ago, Lakegeneve said:

It should also be noted that the SRT Light Red line will need some repairs - having been completed in 2012 - as termite damage has been discovered at some of the stations which have been idle and unused since Jan 2014 when temp operations were suspended.

 

So it's basically going to end up being a decade or more, from 2012 until 2022 or later, from the first limited opening of the Light Red Line until its subsequent more fleshed out revival....  And I see the first contract for the project was supposedly let back in late 2008. 

[Lakegeneve]

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. 

[Lakegeneve]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

So it's basically going to end up being a decade or more, from 2012 until 2022 or later, from the first limited opening of the Light Red Line until its subsequent more fleshed out revival....  And I see the first contract for the project was supposedly let back in late 2008. 

The SRT Light Red line took less than 3 years to build (Taling Chan to Bang Bon) with construction starting in early 2010 and completed by the 3rd quarter of 2012. (Note: the section from Bang Bon to Bang Sue was not done as it had to wait for the Bang Sue Terminal contract which was tendered as part of the Dark red line - tender was delayed for 2 years due to funding disputes with JICA).

 

Limited services using old SRT DMUs, 6 per day, ran from Dec 2012 until Jan 2014. The stations have been idle since then....hence the termites and other repair issues.

 

It is a complete waste as the SRT could've ran services every 30 mins between Taling Chan and Bang Sue since 2013/14 until Bang Sue Terminal was done and electrification completed (along with the new rolling stock which was only ordered in 2016). That would have at least generated some income, built up a pax base and given the bored security guards at each station something more interesting to do!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

41 minutes ago, Lakegeneve said:

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.

 

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?

 

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, Lakegeneve said:

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. 

Plus the fact that there's isn't enough physical room beside the ARL to build another viaduct.

[digbeth]

13 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Plus the fact that there's isn't enough physical room beside the ARL to build another viaduct.

There actually is room south of the ARL viaduct and existing ground level trains from Makkasan all the way east, peek around the back of the buildings along Petchburi rd. and you'll see mostly empty lands or with cheaply built structures. Businesses have been paying rent to SRT to use these lands as  carparks and such.

 

When the high speed links and dual tracking were getting into gears, there's talks of not renewing lease on these lands and evictions, but looks like it has stalled again 

[CLW]

19 hours ago, Lakegeneve said:

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. 

Seriously? No way...

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

[Lakegeneve]

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.

[Lakegeneve]

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.

[CLW]

9 hours ago, Lakegeneve said:

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.

Thanks for clarification but it still doesn't make any sense to me.

Whatever, let them Thais do as they want....

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 7/28/2020 at 3:37 AM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

So it's basically going to end up being a decade or more, from 2012 until 2022 or later, from the first limited opening of the Light Red Line until its subsequent more fleshed out revival....  And I see the first contract for the project was supposedly let back in late 2008. 

 

On 7/29/2020 at 10:03 AM, Lakegeneve said:

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!!!

 

The decade long saga with the Light Red Line is what I had noted above in our exchanges here....