Phuket Tram Project Expected to Start in About Two Years

[webfact]

 

Phuket — The Thai Minister of Transport vowed to make trams happen in Phuket City. However, the project will be after an ongoing road expansion construction project finishes which will take about 2 more years.

On September 30th, 2023, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Transport, stated to the public that Phuket province is in need of a mass transportation system for convenience. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) presented a report on a current study project on the development of a mass transportation system for Phuket City, Tha Nun Railway Station – Phuket Airport – Chalong Intersection, a total distance of 58.5 km, worth hundreds of millions of baht.

 

At present, Phuket City has traffic congestion and ongoing road expansion construction work, especially on Highway 402.

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2023-10-02

 

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[Tropposurfer]

A really carefully planned, eco-conscious line across the island would be a wonderful transport idea, and a really good tourist attraction. 

Imagine it winding its way almost silently through the green national park, with awesome views from the higher climes of the island, then arriving in Phuket town, and on to a few of the south eastern beaches.

[SoilSpoil]

Phuket's traffic is hortible these days. It takes me more than 1 hour to drive from town to Thalang. And that is in low season! Phuket needs a proper notth-south road.

[Sydebolle]

Aha, so that is how remorse is displayed? The uncle of Khun Thanathorn (Future Forward) had spent close to USD 100'000 for an auspicious car plate (9999) for his son's vehicle and now it's the tram. Good on him, me thinks ???? 

[brianthainess]

Can't wait to see the accessibility for the disabled.

[billd766]

Phuket's provincial government can have what ever they want and can pay for from their own funds and borrowing,

 

Why should the whole of Thailand subsidise a railway that the majority of the Thai people will never use?

 

If Phuket and the people who work and live there, plus the zillion tourists want to put their own money where their begging bowl and mouth is, good for them.

 

But please don't keep coming to the government, begging and demanding that the government subsidise you, and you keep all the profit.

 

To quote from an old Jeremy Taylor song,

 

'Whatever you want, the answer's NO'.

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Can't wait to see the accessibility for the disabled.

Wheel chairs with the same rail gauge as trams?

[The Fugitive]

19 hours ago, billd766 said:

Phuket's provincial government can have what ever they want and can pay for from their own funds and borrowing,

 

Why should the whole of Thailand subsidise a railway that the majority of the Thai people will never use?

 

If Phuket and the people who work and live there, plus the zillion tourists want to put their own money where their begging bowl and mouth is, good for them.

 

But please don't keep coming to the government, begging and demanding that the government subsidise you, and you keep all the profit.

 

To quote from an old Jeremy Taylor song,

 

'Whatever you want, the answer's NO'.

Valid point of course. When we go to Phuket my Mrs seeks out her friends from Khon Kaen area working there, hence people working in Phuket don't necessarily live there, at least not full time. Integrated public transport;  airports, railway stations, bus stations, town centres, business and residential zones all linked by trams has to be the way to go.    

[billd766]

2 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

Valid point of course. When we go to Phuket my Mrs seeks out her friends from Khon Kaen area working there, hence people working in Phuket don't necessarily live there, at least not full time. Integrated public transport;  airports, railway stations, bus stations, town centres, business and residential zones all linked by trams has to be the way to go.    

But the people who live and work there (plus the tourists) will be the ONLY people who will benefit whilst all the rest of the country's tax payers will have to foot the bill and get NO benefit from it. 

[bokningar]

On 10/2/2023 at 3:45 AM, Tropposurfer said:

A really carefully planned, eco-conscious line across the island would be a wonderful transport idea, and a really good tourist attraction. 

Imagine it winding its way almost silently through the green national park, with awesome views from the higher climes of the island, then arriving in Phuket town, and on to a few of the south eastern beaches.

Sounds brilliant, send the heavy machines in and destroy the last small remaining rain-forest (now protected national park) on Phuket island. 

[The Fugitive]

9 minutes ago, bokningar said:

Sounds brilliant, send the heavy machines in and destroy the last small remaining rain-forest (now protected national park) on Phuket island. 

Reminded me of a Brasilian friend telling me what Brasilian's say about those who concern themselves with the destruction of their rainforest; 'Those who complain should go and live in it'.

[The Fugitive]

36 minutes ago, billd766 said:

But the people who live and work there (plus the tourists) will be the ONLY people who will benefit whilst all the rest of the country's tax payers will have to foot the bill and get NO benefit from it.

I don't think there is any ideal solution to this. For example, motorists everywhere argue that they are 'self sufficient' as regards transport so do not believe they should be contributing to public transport. There is freedom of movement, people can choose to visit and live where they want. If this scheme boosts tourism there will, in theory, be more jobs for Thai citizens. Expanding affordable public transport has to be good for the environment and citizens in the long run.