STATE Railway of Thailand (SRT) has reportedly unveiled plans to add four extensions to the newly-opened Bangkok Red Line, which would be constructed with the support of a private partner through a public-private partnership (PPP). The private partner would then be given a 50-year concession to operate the line.
The new extensions would take the total investment in the line to Baht 188bn ($US 5.6bn). Trial passenger services on the 15.3km Bang Sue - Taling Chan and 6.3km Bang Sue - Rangsit sections began on August 2.
The Bangkok Post reports that the four planned extensions are:
- Bang Sue - Phayathai - Makkasan - Hua Mak, including a connection to Hua Lamphong - 25.9km (Baht 49.6bn)
- Rangsit - Thammasat University - 8.84km (Baht 6.6bn)
- Taling Chan - Salaya approximately 10km (Baht 10.6bn), and
- Taling Chan - Siriraj - 5.7km (Baht 4.7bn)
SRT began market sounding on October 26 after Thailand’s transport minister, Mr Saksayam Chidchob, ordered revisions to the investment plan for the project. Bidding for the contract is expected to take place in June, with construction due to begin in June 2023.
The Rangsit - Thammasat University, Taling Chan - Salaya, and Taling Chan - Siriraj extensions are expected to be completed in 2026, while the Bang Sue - Phayathai - Makkasan - Hua Mak section, together with the missing link to Hua Lamphong, should be completed in 2028.
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