Phuket Tram project temporarily halted, more study needed

By THE NATION

 

 

Speaking in his capacity as president of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA)’s board, Department of Highways director-general Sarawut Songsiriwilai announced on Wednesday (December 11) that the board had agreed to temporarily halt the development of the Phuket Tram project and ordered MRTA to conduct a further study of the impacts across all dimensions.

 

“One of the key aspects that needs reconsideration is the estimated number of passengers, which is thought to be inaccurate,” he said. “The project also needs further study on the travel behaviour of local residents and an estimate of the numbers of foreign tourists visiting Phuket in the future.”

 

“The board still believes that the project is feasible, and that the thorough study of impacts in all dimensions will help improve investors’ confidence in the project,” he added. “This project will have a combined distance of 42 kilometres, 30.2 km at the ground level, while 2.7 km. will be elevated and 9.1 km. will be constructed underground.”

 

Meanwhile, MRTA governor Pakapong Sirikantaramas said that the Phuket Tram project is currently undergoing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process as well as selecting investment models. “The board’s order to perform further studies should not impact the bidding process, which is still slated for before the end of 2020. MRTA will begin the study as soon as possible and will present preliminary results to the next board meeting,” he said.

 

Pakapong added that the Phuket Tram will be a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project with an estimated total budget of Bt34.5 billion, comprising Bt26 billion for construction, Bt1.5 billion for land reclamation and a Bt7-billion operational budget. The tram will start at Phuket International Airport and terminate at the Chalong Intersection, with a total of 21 stations.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30379333

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-12-12

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10 minutes ago, webfact said:

“One of the key aspects that needs reconsideration is the estimated number of passengers, which is thought to be inaccurate,”

I saw the figure of 70,000 estimated passengers per day and laughed! This is Phuket, not a major metropolis, and the route is not suitable for most tourists, so I'd mainly expect locals to use it.

 

Peersonally I believe the traffic gridlock the construction will inevitably cause will be a disaster for Phuket and outweighs the limited benefits of the system. Now if they'd done it 15 years ago..............

This should not surprise anyone.

Seems the train is going to disappear into the same void as the Patong tunnel, the airport freeway, the new airport, the water pipeline, the Chalong Hospital, the resorts cleared off beaches, the metered taxis, the buses serving Phuket Town, the U-turn overpasses, and …………  (insert one here)

 

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

more study needed

more money needed they mean!

 

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Seems the train is going to disappear into the same void as the Patong tunnel, the airport freeway, the new airport, the water pipeline, the Chalong Hospital, the resorts cleared off beaches, the metered taxis, the buses serving Phuket Town, the U-turn overpasses, and …………  (insert one here)

 

 

 

Thailand - HUB of talk and face but no results 

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Seems the train is going to disappear into the same void as the Patong tunnel, the airport freeway, the new airport, the water pipeline, the Chalong Hospital, the resorts cleared off beaches, the metered taxis, the buses serving Phuket Town, the U-turn overpasses, and …………  (insert one here)

 

 

The Chalong Hospital is NOT going to disappear. But it will limp along for years until fully equipped. I have been using it for regular out patient visits. The ramps for the ambulance access languished for months but over a few days were completed last week.  Now if they only could buy an X-ray machine and CT Scans (MRI).  

9 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

The Chalong Hospital is NOT going to disappear. But it will limp along for years until fully equipped. I have been using it for regular out patient visits. The ramps for the ambulance access languished for months but over a few days were completed last week.  Now if they only could buy an X-ray machine and CT Scans (MRI).  

The hospital did go into limbo for a year or two after building was completed, but I probably should just have cited the separate x-ray building that was fully funded by a donor, but lost in the bureaucracy.

...... more envelopes needed....

 

nothing to do with the taxi maffia ? 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“One of the key aspects that needs reconsideration is the estimated number of passengers, which is thought to be inaccurate,” he said. “The project also needs further study on the travel behaviour of local residents and an estimate of the numbers of foreign tourists visiting Phuket in the future.”

One would think that had already been taken into account before making announcements... but then thinking again it's always done backwards here!

The mania for trams in Thailand has broken out ... the trams certainly do not improve the traffic situation!

I recommend the formation of a committee to study the project..........(yawn)

From the Nation where good intent ,a catchy slogan, and a thumbs up promise,is good enough.....sighhhhhhhhh

7 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

...... more envelopes needed....

 

Big C sells them cheap but unfortunately only empty ones ????

12 hours ago, webfact said:

The board still believes that the project is feasible

Issues previously disclosed:

• The EIA was to be submitted for first consideration on January 26, 2018 - almost two years later and what happened? https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-light-rail-eia-to-be-submitted-next-week-65661.php#TQikgDE3rfJFR9uC.97
• The set up of the public-private venture required for the project was in the review stage in August 2018 - almost 1.5 years later and still under discussion? https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-light-rail-to-be-completed-by-about-2023-says-vice-governor-68450.php#Tl4pAJ0B93gqPois.99  
• Estimated cost in 2015 was B24bn - now about B35bn (Phase 1 only), expected to jump 10% and Phase 2 cost unknown as of June 2019? https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-light-rail-budget-b34-8bn-for-phase-1-only-expected-to-jump-10-71886.php#dFuHrCOBCd35jwps.97
• Phuket’s tourists, who mainly head for the west coast beaches, are being almost completely ignored in the planning but the tram will travel from the airport to Phuket Town (where less than 5% of Phuket’s tourists stay); loss of road space along the route will restrict local road traffic even more, neutralizing any net gains of the new tram system https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/the-35-billion-baht-white-elephant-phukets-light-rail

Doesn't matter, the gravy train doesn't need a station or tracks just years of studies and committees.