New train routes await nod

The projects are awaiting the Superboard’s consideration on procurement bids. Also subject to this process is a proposal for seven new rail routes in regional areas, with double tracks.
After chairing a meeting yesterday of the ministry’s committee overseeing the transport action plan, Peraphon Thawornsupacharoen, transport deputy permanent secretary, said the Bt131-billion Skytrain Purple Line project from Taopoon to Ratburana was expected to be reviewed by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) in early March, before being forwarded to the Cabinet later that month or early April.
That project is under the 2016 action plan. In all, six projects are planned.
There are four projects under the 2017 action plan. They include the Bt12.15 billion extension of the Skytrain’s Dark Green Line for the Samut Prakarn to Bangpoo route, and the Bt9.8 billon Skytrain Dark Green Line for the Kukot-Lamlukka route.
There is also the Bt21.2 billion Skytrain |Blue Line extension for the Bang Kae-Buddhamonthon Sai 4 route, and the Bt111.19 billion Skytrain Orange Line for the Bangkhunnon-Thailand Cultural Centre route. One more project is the Bt31.24 billion expressway project – the Rama 3-Daokanong-Bangkok western outer-ring road approved by the NESDB. If the Cabinet gives the project the green light, it would be financed by the infrastructure fund.
Based on the 2017 action plan, seven routes of the double-track rail project are expected to be proposed to the Ministry of Transport in March. They include the Bt56.07 billion Paknampho-Denchai route, the Bt26.06 billion Khon Kaen-Nong Khai route, the Bt35.84 billion Jira-Ubon Ratchathani route and the Bt23.38 billion Chumpon-Surat Thani route.
They also include the Bt51.82 billion Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Songkha route, the Bt7.94 billion Hat Yai-Padang Besar route and the Bt59.92 billion Denchai-Chiang Mai route. 
In regards to the five of the seven routes of double-tract railways in the process of being bidded on and the postponed of an announcement to reveal the qualified candidates on February 20, the superboards must make its procurement decision before an announcement on the project’s timeframe can be revealed. 
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) finalised information for the superboard on February 24 and will present the information again in the middle of this week.
“Whether or not the list [of qualified candidates] will be announced for the five routes of the double-track project depends on the superboard’s decision. The SRT’s Red Line missing link, a part of the Red Line suburban railway system, will be redesigned and an addi?tional budget for its construction will be requested. The planned proposal will be made in May,” Peraphon said.
The Thailand-China train project is expected to hold a discussion of the Thailand-China Joint Committee late March, while the Thailand-Japan train project will be further studied on economic returns, with the expectation of its feasibility study being presented in June.
Peraphon cite the delay of the Port Authority of Thailand’s Bt35.1 billion Laemchabang Port phase three project on people calling for an analysis of the project’s environment and health impacts.