BTS to Invest in Light-Rail Project Linking Singapore-Malaysia

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - BTS Group Holdings has informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) that it has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with several foreign companies to build and operate a light-rail transit (LRT) system. The network will connect with a railway shuttle link currently being built from Singapore to Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

 

Other participating companies include Sinar Bina Infra SDN Berhad, Ancom Berhad, Nylex Malaysia Berhad and LBS Bina Group Berhad.

 

The property and construction group said the collaboration will include integrated property development using the "transit-oriented development” (TOD) concept in the Johor Bahru metropolitan region.

 

The group also noted that the LRT project is subject to a feasibility study and the Johor state government granting its concession award.

 

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The parties entered into the HOA for the purpose of recording the salient terms of the proposals, which would be incorporated into definitive agreements.

 

According to the HOA, Nylex will appoint BTS to commission a feasibility study on the commercial viability of a transport-oriented development in the Johor Bahru metropolitan region.

 

The planned LRT project is projected to have an hourly carrying capacity of about 15,000 passengers per direction, matching that of the RTS Link currently being built to connect Singapore to Johor Bahru. It could span up to 75 km, with the initial phase within the Johor Bahru city center running around 9 km.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-22

 

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[richard_smith237]

As a business investing overseas in something it considers profitable is obviously sensible. 

 

However, I wonder why the group does not invest in further aspects of Thailands transportation system.  Does the BTS group consider any such development in Thailand doomed to failure ? or is corruption so strong they can’t get their finger in those pies ?

 

 

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

However, I wonder why the group does not invest in further aspects of Thailands transportation system.

Too much bureaucracy and corruption to get involved..

[Lakegeneve]

19 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

As a business investing overseas in something it considers profitable is obviously sensible. 

 

However, I wonder why the group does not invest in further aspects of Thailands transportation system.  Does the BTS group consider any such development in Thailand doomed to failure ? or is corruption so strong they can’t get their finger in those pies ?

 

 

They are, but you just are not aware of it.

 

They operate the BMA Gold line (APM). They are building the MRT Pink and MRT Yellow lines with their own money after being awarded a 30 yr concession. An investment of around US$5B. They bid to build & operate (PPP) the MRT Orange line western ext and later took the MRTA to Court when the tender was changed to benefit BEM. Still remain in contention for that, but unlikely to win the new tender. Their fingers are in plenty of pies......

 

They will most likely bid for the MRT Brown line and the BMA Grey line. Also, they will most likely bid for the recently contracted MRT Purple line southern ext but they will probably be unlikely to be awarded that? Let's see in the next few years.

[richard_smith237]

30 minutes ago, Lakegeneve said:

They are, but you just are not aware of it.

 

They operate the BMA Gold line (APM). They are building the MRT Pink and MRT Yellow lines with their own money after being awarded a 30 yr concession. An investment of around US$5B. They bid to build & operate (PPP) the MRT Orange line western ext and later took the MRTA to Court when the tender was changed to benefit BEM. Still remain in contention for that, but unlikely to win the new tender. Their fingers are in plenty of pies......

 

They will most likely bid for the MRT Brown line and the BMA Grey line. Also, they will most likely bid for the recently contracted MRT Purple line southern ext but they will probably be unlikely to be awarded that? Let's see in the next few years.

This is all within Bangkok. 

 

Whereas the investment they are making joins two other cities / countries  (JB and Sin) outside of Thailand and does not aid the development of Thailand. 

 

There has been long discussion of high-speed rail and joining Chiang Mai to Bangkok / Pattaya to Bangkok and a high-speed rail through to the south (Hat Yai).... 

 

Thailand ‘could’ have an incredible high-speed rail network, but lacks the investment. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lakegeneve]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

This is all within Bangkok. 

 

Whereas the investment they are making joins two other cities / countries  (JB and Sin) outside of Thailand and does not aid the development of Thailand. 

 

There has been long discussion of high-speed rail and joining Chiang Mai to Bangkok / Pattaya to Bangkok and a high-speed rail through to the south (Hat Yai).... 

 

Thailand ‘could’ have an incredible high-speed rail network, but lacks the investment. 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes. I assume you've taken the train between JB & Singapore, it's very short pop across thecauseway. This new metro style link has been long planned but delayed. Unfortunately, the HSR line between KL & Sing was cancelled again for the 2nd time 3 years ago.

 

Thailand wise, it's not really an investment issue as the interest to invest is there. More down to succesive govts not progressing each project. The CP consortium will start construction of the Eastern HSR line (3 Airports line) this year after they won the contract in Oct 2019 with a 50 yr concession. However, they didn't provide their first payment to the SRTET last year as part of the concession agreement. Should take 4 years to build. (An Eastern HSR line was first proposed in 1996!)

 

The BKK to Korat line is under construction (since 2017) in specific, short sections but other sections are delayed due to the govt not being organised to do the tenders on time. It might be complete within 3-4 yrs. For Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and the remainder of the NE HSR line to Nong Khai (to kink with the new Yunnan to Vientiane HSR line) the govt is to blame. They reviewed all proposed HSR lines after the May 2014 coup for 2 years and then took another 3 years dithering as to what to do next.

 

These new HSR lines were proposed by the Democrat govt in 2009 (along with a big duplication program of the narrow gauge netork)  with a construction timetable meaning that 2 lines would have been opened by 2015/16. But they lost the 2011 election as you know. PT govt then did their own review of the HSR plans for 18 months, then affirmed the plans but never tendered a project before being deposed in May 2014.

 

It's Thailand.....