FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Bangkok's Metro network - expansion plans & updates
Old Jan 9, 2017, 2:11 am
  #41  
Yappofloyd
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bangkok
Posts: 284
Originally Posted by transpac
Major rail links set for go-ahead

Congestion will test the patience of commuters as major construction work kicks off on 10 routes

In 2017, work on all 10 rail route projects and their extensions proposed by officials will have started. The rail lines will start going into service this year until all are in place by 2023, says Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.
There is a reason why I never put dates to lines where work has not started, they are meaningless. I can paste almost the exact same article from the Bangkok Post from 2013 basically saying the exact same thing, '10 lines will be under construction in 2014'.....as that was the plan at the time.

Like most public statements by officials there is little substance reflecting reality. There is no way that all of those lines will commence work this year and in 2018 as the Minister and the article suggests. Use it as a guide but ignore the dates.

Each porject needs to wait for govt approval (often with delays), then a tender, then the contract finally being signed before work actually commences. For other lines the process from approval to construction start has taken 3-5 years in some cases. Very rarely, has all occurred within 18 month timeframe.

Secondly, the construction dates on the graphic (which has a couple of errors) are most misleading and unrealistic. Almost as bad as Taksins 2005 election promise to build "10 new lines in 3 years". PM Samak then tried to up that one in 2008 by stating the whole network would be built in 2 years!

For example, the Pink and Yellow lines will definitely not be completed by 2020 even if they start work this year, it just will not happen. The MRTA states for both that a min 4 yr construction period is required. (Normally add at least 1 year to that).

Think about these facts;
All BTS exts opened 1-3 years later than planned (the Samut Prakhan ext is continuing that tradition)
The Purple Line was due to open in 2014 but didn't open until Aug 2016.
The Dark Red Line was due to open in 2016 but won't open until 2019 if the SRT pruchases rolling stock in time
The Blue Line was due to open in 2016 but reportedly won't open until 2019/20.

2017
The most realistic scenario is that work on the Orange line does start by mid 2016. The Pink and Yellow lines perhaps by the end of the year but it will depend on the current negotiations.

2018?
Thereafter;
- Purple Line southern extension (all set to go),
- Blue Line western ext (easy to continue with current contractor),
- the Airport Line extension (not mentioned) are the most likely for a start next year,
- SRT Dark Red Line ext Rangsit to Thammasat (all designed & lots of pressure to build it).

(No mention is also made of BMA Grey line nor the BTS ext from Bang Wah to Taking Chan - both which the BMA has advanced and has stated could start construction within the next 12-18 months).

I'd suggest that the Bang Poo and Lam Lukka final exts won't get started until 2019/2020 but let's wait and see what happens before then.

Step by step.....if those 3 lines all get started this year and another 2-3 approved in the next 12 months we will be doing very well.
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