Red Line, double-track work to begin’ rapidly’
PUBLISHED: 7 Jan 2025 at 08: 11
The Transport Ministry is aiming to establish some essential public transport projects at the start of this year, pending the cabinet’s approval, in a bid to boost the nation’s connectivity.
According to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, these projects include the expansion of the State Railway of Thailand’s ( SRT ) Dark Red and Light Red lines and the second phase of double-track upgrades on key stretches in the North, Northeast and South.
Altogether, these tasks require 319 billion ringgit in assets to carry out.
The SRT wants the funds to increase from the latest 6.4 billion ringgit, he said, even though the first one, which would see Rangsit and Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus connected by an 8.84 kilometer extension of the Dark Red energy commuter rail line, had already been approved in December.
The next project, which may depart from the main Light Red Line, is the building of a 20-kilometer drive line connecting Siriraj Hospital to Salaya.
According to Mr. Suriya, the project will begin once it has received final approval from the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council ( NESDC ) and the Budget Bureau.
The next job, the second phase of double-track updates on important extends in the North, Northeast and South, may cost about 297 billion ringgit to complete.
It will see the one record on six routes– At Nam Pho-Den Chai, Den Chai-Chiang Mai, Jira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani, Hat Yai Junction-Padang Besar, Chumphon-Surat Thani, and Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Songkhla– upgraded to two tracks to increase efficiency.
Veeris Ammarapala, SRT chancellor, said the double-track switch project may be proposed to the case maybe this month.
Once it receives the commission’s assent, the SRT will start the buying process for purchasing and building, starting with the Pak Nam Po-Den Chai and Jira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani sections.
The last to be upgraded will be the Den Chai-Chiang Mai section, as its Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) is still being reviewed, Mr Veeris said.