Oh and another update I should post (haven't checked here for a few months) is that in the first week of Dec Cabinet approved the purchase of 7 new, 4 car sets for 4.86 billion baht. (The 2nd time Cabinet has approved this purchase).

Given that the SRT & MOT has wasted nearly 18 months since the money was first allocated it is going to be many, many more overcrowded journeys to endure before we see new rolling stock. (In fact one of the current 9 sets is out of action)

SRT is looking at CNR, Chinese and Siemens trains. Much disquiet about the CNR possibility. However, any none Siemens purchase would also involve changing the singalling system from a Siemens system ot an open system to allow other rollling stock.

Related to that issue is that the HSR line to Rayong will use the ARL. However, with the 2.2 trillion baht funding bill of new metros and HSR lines having lapsed with the dissolution of parliament in Dec, nothing will progress on the HSR front for some time. The current political battle has resulted in 3 new metros line which were to be tendered in late 2013 being delayed to at least 2014 (Pink lin, Orange line and the ARL ext to DMK - though with the former two there were also some design issues to resolve).