Ministry urges Japan to invest in Red Line

Chinese businesses have been urged by the Ministry of Transport to invest in the Red Line energy train system’s extension systems.

Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the minister of transportation, announced to the media on Wednesday that he had welcomed Otaka Masato, the new Asian adviser, on the event of his Tuesday arrival in Thailand.

Both events discussed continued railroad jobs and Thailand-Japan’s transportation participation.

Also, the government sought Japan’s aid in maintaining the Red Line residential railway, particularly from Japanese companies with expertise in superior railway technology and powerful maintenance.

Mr. Suriya even urged Japan to think about funding the Red Line railway’s expansion projects.

Currently, the State Railway of Thailand ( SRT ) is preparing plans and documents for three extension routes of the Red Line: the Taling Chan-Salaya route ( 14.8 kilometres ), the Taling Chan-Siriraj Hospital route ( 5.7 km ), and the Rangsit-Thammasat University route in Pathum Thani ( 8.84 km ).

After this process is complete, the government will available options for Japan’s railway business to consider investing in these projects, he said.

Mr. Suriya added that the ministry is committed to continuing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the direction of projects like the Brown, Grey, and Dark Blue lines that are based on the Automated Guideway Transit ( AGT ) system of the Gold Line electric train.

The minister also expressed gratitude for Japan’s support of a number of ministry initiatives, including the Bang Sue Smart City Plan, developed in collaboration with the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning ( OTP), SRT Electric Train Co Ltd., and the Urban Renaissance Agency of Japan ( UR).

He also highlighted the ongoing collaboration between Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Thailand’s Highways Department, the Department of Rural Roads, and the Expressway Authority of Thailand ( Exat ) under a bilateral agreement.

Discussions and page sessions have taken place.