Thought that it would be good to start a thread for the two SRT Red Lines especially as the tender for these two lines will be issued first.
Having thought about the lines being approved I also think it is strange that it will end up being 3 lines terminating at Bang Sue (Purple, Red 1 & 2) and then communters will have to transfer to the Blue Line and the BTS if they want to travel into central wider Siam area. Perhaps a good strategy to increase cummuters fo MRT Blue Line and BTS but not very efficient in the long run. At least it should put pressure on the approval of the rest of the Red Line to be completed.
Electric train lines put on fast track Bidding on Red Line to be opened in March PRADIT RUANGDIT AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK - Bangkok Post 09/01/07
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula has ordered relevant agencies to speed up five electric train projects, with the Red Line being the first to open for bidding in March. After chairing a meeting of a government committee responsible for following up on the progress of the planned routes, M.R. Pridiyathorn said the panel agreed to call bids for the Red Line (Rangsit-Bang Sue-Taling Chan) in March and for its extension (Bang Sue-Makkasan-Hua Mark) in July.
Bidding for the Purple Line (Bang Yai-Bang Sue) is expected to open in May, and in July for the Blue Line (Hua Lamphong-Tha Phra, and Bang Sue-Tha Phra-Bang Khae) . Meanwhile, the committee is to review and streamline bidding procedures for the Green Line (Mor Chit-Saphan Mai, and Soi Baring-Samut Prakan) so that bids could be called soon. The five lines are estimated to cost about 165 billion baht. M.R. Pridiyathorn said the government would issue bonds and seek loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to finance their construction.
Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said the Blue Line has run into some land expropriation problems, particularly at Wat Mangkorn Kammalawas community in Chinatown. Further negotiations would be held with local residents to find out if they wanted an electric train route in their neighbourhood or not, he said. Kriangsak Lohachala, chairman of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) committee, said concerns had been raised over the Blue Line project design.
It is feared that construction of its underground section from Hua Lamphong to Tha Phra would affect the environment of Rattanakosin Island, which is the old city area of Bangkok. The MRTA committee finally resolved that the underground section would be maintained, said Mr Kriangsak. MRTA plans to hold talks with the Rattanakosin Island committee to discuss the controversy and work out solutions by Jan 17, he added.
According to the project design, a subway station is to be built in the old city area at Sanamchai. The Rattanakosin Island committee fears its construction will affect the historic site and wants the station relocated. However, an MRTA source said the agency did not think the subway construction would cause any environmental impact. Sanamchai was considered the best location and Rachinee school, located nearby, was strongly in favour of the proposed site, the source added.
Having thought about the lines being approved I also think it is strange that it will end up being 3 lines terminating at Bang Sue (Purple, Red 1 & 2) and then communters will have to transfer to the Blue Line and the BTS if they want to travel into central wider Siam area. Perhaps a good strategy to increase cummuters fo MRT Blue Line and BTS but not very efficient in the long run. At least it should put pressure on the approval of the rest of the Red Line to be completed.
Electric train lines put on fast track Bidding on Red Line to be opened in March PRADIT RUANGDIT AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK - Bangkok Post 09/01/07
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula has ordered relevant agencies to speed up five electric train projects, with the Red Line being the first to open for bidding in March. After chairing a meeting of a government committee responsible for following up on the progress of the planned routes, M.R. Pridiyathorn said the panel agreed to call bids for the Red Line (Rangsit-Bang Sue-Taling Chan) in March and for its extension (Bang Sue-Makkasan-Hua Mark) in July.
Bidding for the Purple Line (Bang Yai-Bang Sue) is expected to open in May, and in July for the Blue Line (Hua Lamphong-Tha Phra, and Bang Sue-Tha Phra-Bang Khae) . Meanwhile, the committee is to review and streamline bidding procedures for the Green Line (Mor Chit-Saphan Mai, and Soi Baring-Samut Prakan) so that bids could be called soon. The five lines are estimated to cost about 165 billion baht. M.R. Pridiyathorn said the government would issue bonds and seek loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to finance their construction.
Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said the Blue Line has run into some land expropriation problems, particularly at Wat Mangkorn Kammalawas community in Chinatown. Further negotiations would be held with local residents to find out if they wanted an electric train route in their neighbourhood or not, he said. Kriangsak Lohachala, chairman of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) committee, said concerns had been raised over the Blue Line project design.
It is feared that construction of its underground section from Hua Lamphong to Tha Phra would affect the environment of Rattanakosin Island, which is the old city area of Bangkok. The MRTA committee finally resolved that the underground section would be maintained, said Mr Kriangsak. MRTA plans to hold talks with the Rattanakosin Island committee to discuss the controversy and work out solutions by Jan 17, he added.
According to the project design, a subway station is to be built in the old city area at Sanamchai. The Rattanakosin Island committee fears its construction will affect the historic site and wants the station relocated. However, an MRTA source said the agency did not think the subway construction would cause any environmental impact. Sanamchai was considered the best location and Rachinee school, located nearby, was strongly in favour of the proposed site, the source added.
