Thailand to operate three more rail routes within next five years

BANGKOK, August 5 (TNA) – After a long delay due to political changes in the country, three more mass transit rail routes are expected to be launched in Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces in the next five years which could help improving urban communication and easing traffic congestion, said Chula Sukmanop, director-general of Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning. The Office has projected that the first phase of the so-called purple route from Bang Yai in Nonthaburi province to Bang Sue in Bangkok of which its civil works have completed about 60 per cent now could offer full services to commuters in October 2015, Chula said. Total distance between Bang Yai and Bang Sue is 23 kilometres. The second phase of this route runs between Bang Sue and Ratchaburana in the city’s Thonburi side has total distance of 19.8 kilometres. Total construction investment for the entire route is about 126.6 billion baht while it is estimated that average daily commuters for this route is 96,600. The second route is the so-called blue route from Hua Lampong to Bang Kae in Thonburi of which its construction is expected to complete in 2017. Construction of the green route from Bearing Station to Samut Prakan province is also projected to complete in 2017, said Chula. He said his office has projected that some of the 57 per cent of people who owned cars in Bangkok and surrounding provinces now would switch to travel by public transportation once those three mass transit rail routes are operated as they could save travelling time. (TNA)