Change would eliminate duplication and reduce costs on line serving western suburbs of Bangkok
PUBLISHED : 30 Jul 2024 at 17:28
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to merge two extended sections of the Light Red Line mass transit project to address the problem of overlapping areas and reduce project costs.
SRT deputy governor Anan Phonimdang said the Taling Chan-Salaya and Taling Chan-Siriraj sections would be combined into a single project to eliminate the overlap in Taling Chan district on the western edge of Bangkok.
The merger, approved by the board of the state enterprise, is expected to help speed up the handover of the necessary land as well as construction and systems installation, he said.
The Taling Chan-Salaya section is a 14.8-kilometre route with six stations: Phra Ram 6, Bang Kruai-Egat, Ban Chim Phli, Kanchanaphisek, Sala Thammasop and Salaya. The 5.7km Taling Chan-Siriraj section has three stations: Taling Chan Floating Market, Charan Sanitwong and Thon Buri-Siriraj.
Mr Anan said the merger would lower overall project costs slightly, from 15.3 billion to 15.1 billion baht, with the project to be built by a single contractor.
The project proposal will be forwarded to the cabinet for consideration next month. Mr Anan estimates it would take eight months to conclude bids for a contractor and project consultants.
Construction, tentatively scheduled to start in May next year, will be completed in 36 months, with operations likely to begin in May 2028.
In a related development, Mr Anan said the SRT board approved a plan to hire a consultant at a cost of 135.6 million baht to review the design, environment impact and terms of reference for a 33.16km commuter rail project linking Wong Wian Yai in Bangkok with Mahachai in Samut Sakhon province.
However, the board instructed the SRT to discuss the matter first with the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) at the Ministry of Transport.
Earlier, the OTP recommended a new study if the SRT was to build the Wong Wian Yai-Mahachai route, known as the Dark Red Line, as some sections might have to be elevated.
Mr Anan said the SRT would also discuss with the Department of Rail Transport a proposed 3.4km between Hua Lamphong and Wong Wian Yai.