BANGKOK, 22 March 2013 The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is set to proceed with the much-anticipated plan to construct the dual-track railway system, tentatively around the end of the year.
SRT Governor Prapat Chongsanguan revealed on Thursday that the construction of the dual-track railway system on 6 routes is anticipated to commence within this year.
The planned routes, which have received green light from the Cabinet, include the 187-kilometer Jira-Khon Kaen line, the 148-kilometer Lop Buri-Paknam Po line, the 132-kilometer Map Kabao-Jira line, the 165-kilometer Nakhon Pathom-Nong Pladuk-Hua Hin line, the 167-kilomter Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon line and the Kaeng Khoi-Klong 19 line.
Mr. Prapat stated that all routes have passed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) while the contractors are anticipated to be found before the end of 2013.
In addition to these lines, the SRT is planning to invest more in existing electric rail routes in Bangkok and nearby provinces, such as the Airport Link ad the Rangsit-Thammasat Red Line train.
He added that all extension projects are to be completed within 7 years, with funding drawn from the government’s 2-trillion-baht infrastructure mega projects.
