Red Line, new Grand Station to launch in March with free rides
The Bangkok Red Line from Bang Sue to Rangsit (North) and Bang Sue to Taling Chan (West) will open in March next year with free rides for a three-month trial period, said Transport Minister Saksayam Chibchob on Monday.
He added that the Bang Sue Grand Station will open for use before March.
Saksayam announced the new Red Line schedule after meeting on Monday with the Japan International Cooperation Organisation (JICA), which has invested about Bt87.4 billion in the project. In August, Saksayam said construction of the Bang Sue-Rangsit Red Line was at least Bt10.3 billion overbudget and required more money from the government.
“We received a progress report on the Red Line which says commercial service is scheduled to start in November 2021. Regarding the budget exceeding the specified framework, we have assured JICA that we will discuss [the matter] with the Finance Ministry, said the transport minister, adding that the budget snag would not affect rail operations.
He said tests on the Red Line were currently underway ahead of the scheduled trial opening for free rides from March to May. The full service will launch in November 2021.
