Suriya Pushes for Approval of Red Line Extension to Thammasat University
Bangkok, Thailand April 24, 2024 Minister of Transport, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, has expedited approval of a 6.4-billion-baht extension for the Red Line electric train to Thammasat University, Rangsit Center. The proposal is now with the Cabinet Secretariat for review. Two additional Red Line extensions, Taling Chan-Salaya and Taling Chan-Siriraj, are also under consideration.
Mr. Suriya revealed that the Ministry of Transport and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) have completed a detailed review of the Rangsit-Thammasat University, Rangsit Center extension. The proposed 8.84 km line will include four stations. Relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, Budget Bureau, and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, will provide feedback before final Cabinet approval.
Additional Details
The Red Line extensions are part of a larger project with a 21.79 billion baht budget.
The Rangsit-Thammasat University extension is expected to open for bidding in 2024. Construction should take approximately 35 months, with a projected opening date in 2028.
The SRT is currently reviewing details for the Taling Chan-Salaya (14.8 km) and Taling Chan-Siriraj (5.7 km) extensions. Bidding for both could open in 2024 with a projected 35-month construction period and 2028 opening.
Progress updates on Taling Chan-Salaya, Bang Sue-Phaya Thai-Makkasan-Hua Mak ("Missing Link"), and Taling Chan-Siriraj sections.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is preparing details for the Red Line suburban railway extension project from Taling Chan to Salaya (14.8 km), with an additional budget of 10,670.27 million baht. This information, including traffic management plans and safety measures, will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport in May 2024 for consideration by the Cabinet.
The SRT Board is expected to approve the design of the Bang Sue-Phaya Thai-Makkasan-Hua Mak ("Missing Link") section (25.9 km), including the Ratchawithi Station, in June 2024. Following SRT Board approval, the project will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport and then the Cabinet.
The Ratchawithi Station design has been adjusted to move the location closer to Ramathibodi Hospital. This underground station will feature a skywalk connecting to the hospital for passenger convenience. Due to this change and integration with the high-speed rail project connecting three airports, the construction cost has increased slightly.
The Taling Chan-Siriraj section (5.7 km, budget 4,616 million baht) awaits the start of construction on the overlapping Orange Line Bang Khun Non-Min Buri (Suwinthawong) section by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The Supreme Administrative Court's decision on a dispute regarding the Orange Line project will determine the timeline for the Red Line extension.
Vows to Submit 3 Red Line Extensions to Cabinet for Approval This Year
Source - Thai Post Thursday, July 04, 2024 04:08
Nakhon Ratchasima * "Surapong" accelerates 3 Red Line extension routes with a budget of 21.7 billion baht, including the Rangsit-Thammasat University section. Promises to submit to Cabinet for approval within 2024, expecting to use domestic loans.
Mr. Surapong Piyachoti, Minister of Transport, revealed the progress of the Red Line Commuter Train System extension project for 3 routes with a total budget of 21,790.25 million baht. For the Red Line section from Rangsit to Thammasat University Rangsit Center, covering 8.84 kilometers with 4 stations and a project budget of 6,473.98 million baht, he has signed and submitted the proposal to the Secretariat of the Cabinet. It is now waiting to be included in the Cabinet meeting agenda for further consideration.
For the other two routes - the Taling Chan-Salaya section with 6 stations covering 14.8 km and a project budget of 10,670.27 million baht, and the Taling Chan-Siriraj section covering 5.7 km with 3 stations and a project budget of 4,616 million baht - he admitted there are delays from the original plan. Currently, these are undergoing additional detail adjustments. It is expected that these will be proposed to the Cabinet meeting within 2024. The project funding will use domestic loan sources.
Regarding the progress of procuring locomotives and passenger trains for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), Mr. Surapong stated that SRT is currently in the process of selecting the technology model. Initially, they plan to procure hybrid locomotives, which are now widely used in foreign countries.
Railway Project: Two Red Lines Combined into One Contract Worth 15.1 Billion Baht
Manager Online, July 30, 2024, 06:00 AM
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Board has approved the merging of two Red Line railway projectsTaling Chan-Salaya and Taling Chan-Sirirajinto a single project. The combined contract value is 15.1 billion baht. This decision aims to resolve overlapping area issues, reduce consultancy fees, and expedite the project for submission to the Cabinet, with bidding expected to open in September. Additionally, the deep red line from Wongwian Yai to Mahachai will undergo design work, with a consultancy budget of 135 million baht.
Anan Podingdang, Deputy Governor of the SRT, revealed that the SRT Board, chaired by Jirut Wisanjit, Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, agreed to merge the suburban railway projects. This includes the light red line from Taling Chan to Salaya and three additional stations (Rama VI Bridge, Bang Kruai - EGAT, and Ban Chim Phli), and the Taling Chan to Siriraj line, into a single project from Siriraj to Taling Chan to Salaya. The SRT proposed this as both projects share overlapping areas at Taling Chan station, which could impact construction and system operations. The unified construction will also reduce project redundancy and consulting costs, bringing the total project cost from 15,286.27 million baht to 15,176.21 million bahta reduction of 110.06 million baht. The project will seek Cabinet approval in August 2024, followed by three separate bidding processes for contractors, construction supervision consultants (CSC), and independent consultants (ICE) from September 2024 to April 2025. Construction is expected to begin in May 2025 and finish in 36 months, with operations starting in May 2028.
The Taling Chan to Salaya Red Line project, spanning 14.8 kilometers with six stations (Rama VI, Bang Kruai-EGAT, Ban Chim Phli, Kanchanaphisek, Salathammasop, and Salaya), was initially approved by the Cabinet on February 26, 2019, for 10,202.18 million baht, later adjusted to 10,670.27 million baht. However, the proposal was withdrawn in March 2024 for further revision.
The Taling Chan to Siriraj Red Line, covering 5.7 kilometers with three stations (Taling Chan Floating Market, Charansanitwong, and Thonburi-Siriraj), was originally approved on March 5, 2019, for 6,645.03 million baht, later adjusted to 4,616 million baht. The project was also withdrawn for further revision in February 2024.
The combined project for the Siriraj-Taling Chan-Salaya line spans 20.5 kilometers with a budget of 15,176.21 million baht, including 14.78 million baht for tender consultancy, 392.13 million baht for CSC (a reduction of 2.75 million baht), 39.55 million baht for ICE (a reduction of 7.35 million baht), 10,774.72 million baht for civil and rail systems (a reduction of 99.96 million baht), and 3,955.03 million baht for electrical and mechanical systems. Train carriages will be included under the PPP model for the Red Line.
**Deep Red Line from Wongwian Yai to Mahachai: Consultancy Contract Approved**
The SRT Board also approved hiring a consortium led by Tesco Co., Ltd., including MHP Co., Ltd., MAA Consultant Co., Ltd., and Decade Consultant Co., Ltd., to review the feasibility study, design details, conduct an environmental impact assessment, and prepare tender documents for the Wongwian Yai to Mahachai deep red line suburban railway. The consultancy contract is worth 135,622,500 baht and will take 450 days. The SRT will consult with the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) before finalizing the consultancy contract.
Previously, the OTP suggested a new feasibility study for the deep red line project due to concerns about the narrow railway right-of-way (20 meters from the centerline on either side) and the potential need for an elevated structure and land expropriation near stations. The SRT, after preliminary discussions, emphasized the necessity of the Wongwian Yai to Mahachai route due to high passenger demand and benefits, confirming this with the OTP.
Additionally, the Department of Rail Transport had considered canceling the Hua Lamphong-Wongwian Yai section due to the failure to pass the EIA and the high costs of converting the construction to an underground tunnel under the Chao Phraya River. The SRT, however, stressed the importance of this route for connecting the Red Line network and its benefits to the public, prompting further discussions with relevant agencies.
According to a 2006 study, the suburban railway project from Hua Lamphong to Mahachai covers 36.56 kilometers with an estimated cost of 53,064 million baht, divided into two sections: 1) Hua Lamphong-Wongwian Yai (3.40 kilometers, 4,934 million baht) and 2) Wongwian Yai-Mahachai (33.16 kilometers, 48,129 million baht). A further study in 2007 detailed the suburban and intercity railway systems connecting the Bangkok metropolitan area (Mahachai-Pak Tho) into three segments: 1) Mahachai-Ban Laem (0.85 kilometers), 2) Ban Laem-Mae Klong (33.73 kilometers), and 3) Mae Klong-Pak Tho (30.50 kilometers), with a total project cost of approximately 38,182 million baht.
New Cabinet to approve 660 billion baht rail system
Source - Thai Post
Thursday, September 05, 2024 04:51
"Surapong" unveils plans to push forward rail system projects to the new Cabinet within this year. Bidding will proceed for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail Phase 2, remaining double-track lines, 6 routes, and the Red Line suburban railway, with a total value of over 660 billion baht.
Mr. Surapong Piyachoti, Deputy Minister of Transport, revealed that within October, the Ministry will gradually propose investment projects for the rail system that are ready and pending consideration from the previous Cabinet. These will be presented to the new Cabinet meeting for completion within this year. The key projects that the Ministry will propose to the Cabinet meeting are a package of 9 rail system projects with a value of 661,060.42 million baht, including:
* The high-speed rail project (high-speed) under the Thai-Chinese cooperation framework, Phase 2, Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai section, with a distance of 356 kilometers (km) and a total investment value of 341,351.42 million baht.
In addition, a package of Phase 2 double-track railway systems will be proposed, which were pending from the previous Cabinet submission, including 6 routes with a value of 298,060 million baht, consisting of:
* Pak Nam Pho-Den Chai section, 281 km, budget of 81,143 million baht
* Chumphon-Surat Thani section, 168 km, budget of 30,422 million baht
* Surat Thani-Hat Yai Junction-Songkhla section, 321 km, budget of 66,270 million baht
* Den Chai-Chiang Mai section, 189 kilometers, budget of 68,222 million baht
* Chumphon Junction-Ubon Ratchathani section, 308 km, budget of 44,103 million baht
* Hat Yai Junction-Padang Besar section, 45 km, budget of 7,900 million baht
Mr. Surapong said that the Ministry will also propose the Red Line suburban railway extension project to the Cabinet to enable convenient connections from the suburbs to the inner city. The proposed projects include the Red Line Rangsit-Thammasat University Rangsit Center section, with a budget of 6,473 million baht, and the Red Line extension Siriraj-Taling Chan-Salaya section, with a budget of 15,176 million baht. After the Cabinet's approval, the Ministry will expedite the bidding process for construction.
Source: Thai Post Newspaper, September 5, 2024 issue.
Suriya Confident on Infrastructure Boost: 4 Major Projects Set for Cabinet Approval
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit is confident that four key infrastructure projects, totaling over 124 billion baht, will be presented to the Cabinet for approval before the end of the year. These projects are expected to significantly stimulate the Thai economy.
"We are working to expedite these infrastructure investments and get them before the Cabinet as soon as possible," said Suriya. "They are crucial for injecting much-needed capital into our economic system."
The projects include:
* Red Line Commuter Train Extension: Extending the Red Line from Rangsit to Thammasat University Rangsit Center (8.84 km). This 6.473 billion baht project has already been submitted to the Office of the Cabinet Secretariat. Suriya anticipates it will be on the Cabinet's agenda within two weeks.
* Red Line Expansion to Salaya: A 20.5 km extension from Siriraj to Taling Chan and Salaya, with a budget of 15.176 billion baht. This project underwent budget adjustments to reflect current economic conditions and is currently under review by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the Budget Bureau.
* Motorway No. 5 (M5) Expansion: A 22 km elevated section of the Utraphimuk Road, connecting Rangsit to Bang Pa-in. This public-private partnership, valued at 31.358 billion baht, will soon be presented to the Cabinet for initial approval, paving the way for private investment.
Suriya acknowledged that the approval process has faced some delays, primarily due to the need for thorough reviews by relevant agencies like the NESDB and the Budget Bureau. "These processes are essential to ensure that the projects are worthwhile investments for the nation," he explained. "We expect the remaining projects to be on the Cabinet's agenda within the next two weeks."
This ambitious infrastructure push signals the government's commitment to economic growth and improved transportation networks across Thailand.
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