Bangkok assigned the Team Consulting Engineering & Management Company to undertake feasibility studies into extending the existing “skytrain” line. Three possible routes have been submitted for consideration.
The first would be about 8km in length with six stations, following Ratchaphruek Road. The second – 10km with eight stations – would head west along Phran Nok-Phutthamonthon Sai 4. The third – 8km with six stations – would also head west, but along Tharit Issarayangyun. The third option, Team Consulting points out, would serve the most people but, unlike the other two options, would necessitate the expropriating of land. The existing Green Line, also known as the Sukhumvit Line, is an elevated rail line from Mo Chit in the Chatuchak District to Bearing in Bang Na District of Bangkok. In the southern expansion, the Green Line will be extended from Bearing to Samutprakarn. The northern expansion will include the extension of the line from Mo Chit to Khu Khot, via Saphan Mai. The Bearing-Samutprakarn section of the MRT Green Line project is in advanced stage of development. The extended line is scheduled to open for service in 2017. The 12.6km elevated line from Bearing to Samutprakarn will involve the construction of nine new stations along the route. The stations are designed to stand along the median of Sukhumvit road with few of them integrated with other mass transit lines. A 48-acre depot capable of housing 40 three-car trains will be built at the ending point of the route near Bang Pu. The Operation Control Centre (OCC) and administration buildings for the project will also be located in the depot area. The Bearing- Samutprakarn extension line is expected to serve up to 57,000 passengers a day when it is complete in 2017. Preliminary construction works of the project started in 2012. The estimated cost of the project is THB 24.54bn ($763.5m). A total of 16 stations have been identified for the Mo Chit-Khu Khot section of the MRT Green Line extension. The depot housing 36 trains and the OCC will be located near Khu Khot station. The Mo Chit-Khu Khot Green Line MRT project was estimated to cost THB 52.97bn ($1.6bn) in 2012. It is expected to be completed in 2018 or 2019. Both sections of the Green Line extension will be operated with 750V DC rolling stock with three to six cars.
(Sources: http://www.railway-technology.com/ and http://www.railwaysafrica.com/ – Photo: Diliff)
