Bangkok rail lines to transport up to 2 million passengers a day
BTS Group Holdings (BTSG) expects between 1.7 million and 2 million passengers per day on the combined BTS Skytrain, Yellow Line and Pink Line services when the latter two lines commence operations.
The Yellow and Pink lines are both expected to handle almost 200,000 passengers daily in the first year of operation.
The BSR Joint Venture (BSR) – comprising BTSG, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction (STEC) and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding (Ratch) – recently won the bid for the Pink Line monorail project, the Khae Rai-Min Buri section, and the Yellow Line monorail project, the Lat Phrao-Samrong section.The project was initiated under a public-private-partnership scheme from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand.
BTS holds a 75-per-cent stake in the consortium, while STEC owns 15 per cent and Ratch 10 per cent.
The concession contracts for both projects cover 33 years and three months (a construction period of 39 months, followed by 30 years of train operations and maintenance).
The panel founded under the PPP Act of 2013 will enter negotiations with the consortium on Monday to discuss prices and other conditions, and the negotiation results are expected to be forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration between March and April.
Keeree Kanjanapas, chairman of BTS Group, said the company had undertaken a thorough feasibility study of the Pink and Yellow lines and was confident that both were suitable for investment by the private sector and would achieve an acceptable return.
Given the strong alliance with STEC and Ratch, the BSR Joint Venture can ensure that the project will be run efficiently and that the cost of construction is competitive, he said.
He added that there were about 3 million people living along the Skytrain lines and the Yellow and Pink lines, representing around one-third of Bangkok’s population.
BSR has also offered to extend the Pink Line 2.6 kilometres, from Sri Rat Station on Chaeng Wattana Road to provide a direct connection to Muang Thong Thani. This densely populated area is rapidly expanding, with major commercial developments and government offices.
It is also home to the Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Trade Centre, which hosts many international events.
For the Yellow Line project, BSR Joint Venture is offering to extend the line from Ratchada Station, running along Ratchadapisek Road and terminating at a new station close to the Ratchayothin Intersection. The new station will then be linked via a walkway to the Skytrain’s Green Line extension (Mo Chit-Ku-Kot, which is under construction) at Station 10 (Soi Phaholyothin 24).
Under the PPP net cost terms, the concessionaire is responsible for the design, construction, and the supply of civil works, mechanical and electrical systems and operations and maintenance services for the two projects.
The government is responsible for the acquisition of land and providing funding of up to Bt20.135 billion for the civil works construction of the Pink Line, and Bt22.354 billion for the Yellow Line.
The concessionaire will carry out civil works construction, install mechanical and electrical systems, provide train operation and maintenance services, and collect fares.
The total cost of the Pink Line is Bt53.49 billion and for the Yellow Line Bt51.81 billion.
BTS Group, STEC and Ratch intend to invest in both projects, with each project having fully registered share capital of Bt14 billion, as required by the terms of reference. The remaining investment of Bt70 billion will be in the form of bank loans and/or raised from the capital market.
Keeree insisted that BTS Group had no need to increase its capital to fund the project. The BSR Joint Venture has discussed arrangements with various financial institutions and relevant parties, and believes that funding can be secured to meet the project schedule.
Pakpoom Srichamni, president of Sino-Thai, said the company had undertaken a careful feasibility study of both projects and was confident that it could construct the civil works as scheduled and within the price offered.
Rum Herabat, chief executive officer of Ratch, said the company was investing in the new railway system as it had expertise and resources in electrical systems related to mass transit. The company’s participation in mass-transit projects reflected its exploration of diversification. However, the energy business would still be its main business for a long period, he added.
