Route Extension
In 2002, cabinet of then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra amended a law in order to allow a private firm to finance the cost of operating the train system, while the government would take care of all the civil engineering work. On 18 October 2005, with no approval from the central government forthcoming, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) decided to complete the 2.2 km Silom Line route extension (Krung Thonburi Station and Wongwian Yai Station) using its own budget. Construction began on 13 December 2005 with completion originally expected within a year, but problems with tendering for the signalling system repeatedly pushed back the schedule, with the extension finally opening on 15 May 2009. However, Saphan Taksin Station (originally designed to be only a temporary station), and the river crossing itself, has only one track, which has caused repeated delays during rush hour.
A second extension from On Nut Station to Bearing Station started construction in 2007, and was opened on 12 August 2011.
Further extensions have been proposed from Mo Chit Station to Saphan Mai Station, from Bearing Station to Samut Prakan Province, from Wongwian Yai Station to Bang Wa Station and from National Stadium Station to Phran Nok Station. The viaduct from Wongwian Yai Station to Bang Wa Station is already built, while the other two have not started with construction yet. BMA plans to allocate 55.6 billion baht to complete the first two by 2012.
Further extension for the BTS can be summarized as follows:
- Under construction:
- Wong Wian Yai – Pho Nimit – Ratchada-Ratchaphruek – Wutthakat – Bang Wa (terminating at Phetkasem Road) – 5.25 km Under Construction, to open in 2013.
- Bearing – Samut Prakan Province – 10.6 km Signed contract with Ch. Karnchang. Construction started April 2012, to open in 2015.
- Planned:
- Mo Chit – Saphan Mai – 11.4 km.
- National Stadium – Yot Se (terminating at Bamrungmueang Road) – 6.8 km.
- Samut Prakan (Bang Ping) – Bang Pu.
- Bang Na – Suvarnabhumi Airport (terminating at future South Passenger Terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport, light rail train). Start construction in 2014 and to be open in 2017.
- Saphan Mai – Khlong 6.
Read more about this topic: BTS Skytrain
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