Cabinet endorses new segments of Red Line electric train project

BANGKOK, 26 July 2016 (NNT) – The Cabinet has given the green light to the construction of additional segments of the Red Line suburban railway system, with the bidding process expected to take place this August.

Vice Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Kobsak Pootrakul made known that the Cabinet has agreed to a proposal by the State Railway of Thailand to construct the Light Red Line on the Bang Sue–Phaya Thai–Makkasan–Hua Mak segment as well as the Dark Red Line on the Bang Sue–Hua Lamphong segment under a 44-billion-baht budget, totaling 25.9 kilometers.

Mr Kobsak insisted that the Light Red Line and the Dark Red Line, which are both part of the Red Line suburban railway project, will greatly help alleviate traffic congestion in Bangkok, especially on major roads and at railway crossings. The two lines will be comprised of elevated, ground-level and underground tracks.

The bidding for the two new segments is expected to be held in August this year. Construction is likely to begin in February next year and finish in late 2019 before the launch of commercial service the following year.

Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNECO5907260010008

-- NNT 2016-07-27

I am sure in the future we will read of the Thin Red Line, the Baby Pink Line, The Sky Blue Line,The Sea Green Line etc etc.

This all sounds wonderful and will make the people happy.

The PM recently handed down his budget which shows a 390 billion baht deficit. On top of that to satisfy the military war games there is 36 billion capital expenditure for submarines and another 10 billion for Russian tanks.

Now the u-beaut red line rail adds another 44 billion. That brings the debt up to nearly half a trillion baht (US $143 billion) not counting any other expenditure or the interest on the debt that must be paid.

Little mention of extra revenue except for the new tax on sugar drinks.

Gurgler fast approaching.