FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Missing 1km link to be built

Missing 1km link to be built

THE ONE-KILOMETRE mass-transit rail link from Bang Sue to Tao Poon will no longer be “missing” after the Cabinet yesterday resolved it would be a part of the existing subway’s extensions instead of the new Purple Line.

The move came after the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand failed to convince Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM)Metro, the operator of the Blue Line (Bang Sue-Hua Lamphong), to operate the 1km extension according to the desires of both.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday said after the meeting that it would be decided next week whether to open for bidding the Blue Line extensions (26km Bang Sue-Thaphra and Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae sections), including the 1km missing link, under the public private partnership (PPP) model or to negotiate with existing operator BEM. The 1km missing link is expected to cost about Bt600 million and require 15 months for construction. The operator is required to prepare shuttle buses running between the Bang Sue and Tao Poon stations during August. It will serve inbound commuters from the Purple Line (Bang Yai-Tao Poon), which will be officially launched on August 6. Recently, BEM proposed to operate the 1km train for two years while waiting for the opening of the Blue Line. However, the MRTA was instructed to talk with BEM about operating the missing link until 2029 by the Cabninet in 2014. 
 
RELATED
nationthailand