The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board has instructed the railway agency to reassess the Red Line electric train extension project due to concerns over a proposed design alteration that could potentially affect the planned high-speed Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airport link.
Deputy governor of the SRT, Anan Phonimdang, conveyed that the board apprehends that relocating a train station within the 25.9km extension might present obstacles to the anticipated high-speed rail connection linking Bangkok to Rayong.
Of particular focus is the intended relocation of the Ratchawithee station from its original site near Ban Ratchawithee to an area neighboring Ramathibodi Hospital, with the addition of a skywalk that connects the station to the hospital premises.
The proposed shift in station location would bring the Red Line extension project in close proximity to the high-speed rail system and entail an additional cost of 400 million baht to the estimated total project value of 44.15 billion baht.
Anan remarked, “The board seeks a detailed rationale for the design alteration and the outcomes of discussions with the private company responsible for constructing the high-speed train system, as current information is deemed inadequate.”
The SRT is mandated to elucidate the advantages brought about by the station relocation and ascertain any potential impacts on the high-speed rail infrastructure. The board necessitates the submission of comprehensive documentation to assure the absence of forthcoming issues.
These deliberations are slated for consideration at the SRT board meeting scheduled for the next month, Anan disclosed.
He further elucidated that passenger competition between the two transportation systems could be discounted, given that the high-speed train service does not make a stop in the Ratchawithee locale. Passengers opting for the electric train will thus need to disembark at Phaya Thai station and switch to the Red Line.
The Red Line electric train extension project, endorsed by the cabinet in July 2016, has encountered minimal advancement. Project design modifications are still being fine-tuned by the SRT, and the station relocation will necessitate a fresh environmental impact assessment (EIA).
The high-speed airport link construction will be undertaken by Asia Era One, a consortium led by the CP Group. In 2018, the consortium secured the bid to construct the system valued at 224.5 billion baht.
Several factors, including repercussions from the Covid-19 pandemic, have contributed to delays in the project. Negotiations are underway to adjust sections of the contract to ensure the smooth completion of the route.
