BANGKOK — Another mass transit electric train line, the Orange Line, connecting the western and eastern routes, will be added in Bangkok after being delayed for 4 years due to legal disputes.
On July 18, the signing ceremony of the joint investment contract took place at Meeting Room 2, 9th floor, Building 1, MRTA, for the Orange Line MRT project, Bang Khun Non – Min Buri (Suwinthawong) section, between the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM).
Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, who presided over the signing ceremony, said that this signing marks an important starting point where both public and private sectors will fully collaborate to complete the construction of the Orange Line faster than planned.
He emphasized that the MRTA must closely supervise the construction, maintain the highest safety standards, and seriously implement measures to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, especially in the Rattanakosin Island area, which is a conservation area.
The Orange Line construction should have started several years ago, since the MRTA issued an invitation for private sector participation in a public-private partnership (PPP) on July 3, 2020. Later, there was a mid-process adjustment of private sector selection criteria, along with an announcement to cancel the bidding, causing private companies to file petitions with the Administrative Court for review.
Therefore, even though the bidding process was completed and BEM was granted the right to manage the project, they still couldn’t sign the contract.
On June 12, 2024, the Supreme Administrative Court dismissed the case and upheld the lower court’s decision, stating that the invitation for joint investment in the project, the documents for private sector selection, and the adjustment of technical proposal criteria were not unlawful. The court approved the winning bidder to proceed with the project.
The joint investment contract, which was signed on July 18, 2024, is for the design and construction of the eastern section of the Orange Line, valued at 96 billion baht (2.64 billion US dollars). The second contract is worth 32 billion baht (881 million US dollars), includes:
- Electrical and mechanical system installation
- A 30-year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract for both the eastern and western sections of the Orange Line under the PPP Net Cost model.
BEM states that the key timeline targets are:
- Signing of the PPP contract on July 18, 2024
- Commencement of construction within Q1/2025
- Beginning of track system installation for the eastern section and partial operations in the latter half of 2028
- Completion of construction for the western section and full service launch by 2030
The Orange Line MRT project, Bang Khun Non – Min Buri (Suwinthawong) section, has a route connecting eastern and western Bangkok, with a total distance of 35.9 kilometers.
The eastern section (Thailand Cultural Centre – Min Buri (Suwinthawong)) spans 22.5 kilometers with 17 stations (10 underground stations and 7 elevated stations). The western section (Bang Khun Non – Thailand Cultural Centre) spans 13.4 kilometers with 11 stations (all underground stations).
Orange Line Stations
The Orange Line MRT, from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Min Buri (Suwinthawong), spans 22.5 kilometers with 17 stations, divided into 10 underground stations and 7 elevated stations as follows:
- Thailand Cultural Centre Station
- Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) Station
- Wat Phra Ram 9 Station
- Ramkhamhaeng 12 Station
- Ramkhamhaeng Station
- Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Station
- Ramkhamhaeng 34 Station
- Lam Sali Intersection Station
- Si Burapha Station
- Khlong Ban Ma Station
- Sammakon Station
- Nom Klao Station
- Rat Phatthana Station
- Min Phatthana Station
- Keha Ramkhamhaeng Station
- Min Buri Station
- Rom Klao Intersection Station
In addition to these 17 stations, the Orange Line MRT eastern section also has main stations that connect with three other rail lines:
- Connects with the Blue Line at Thailand Cultural Centre Station, allowing travel between Hua Lamphong Station – Bang Sue Station – Lak Song Station
- Connects with the Yellow Line at Lam Sali Intersection Station, allowing travel between Samrong Station – Lat Phrao Station
- Connects with the Pink Line at Min Buri Station, allowing travel to Nonthaburi Civic Center Station”
The western section, running from Bang Khun Non to Thailand Cultural Centre, spans 13.4 kilometers and comprises 11 underground stations, as follows:
- Bang Khun Non Station
- Sirisaj Station
- Sanam Luang Station
- Democracy Monument Station
- Lan Luang Station
- Yommarat Station
- Ratchathewi Station
- Pratu Nam Station
- Ratchaprarop Station
- Din Daeng Station
- Pracha Songkhro Station
Witthaya Phanmongkol, Deputy Governor (Operations) and Acting Governor of MRTA, said that MRTA plans to expedite the opening of services for both the eastern section before May 2028 and the western section before November 2030.
Sombat Kitjalaksana, Managing Director of BEM, said that BEM’s strength lies in its partnership with CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited, which has experience, knowledge, and expertise in civil works and electrical system procurement. They have the ability to manage risks that may arise from large-scale project implementation. Therefore, he is confident that the construction will face no obstacles and will be able to open for service within 6 years.
“It is estimated that in the first year of the eastern section’s opening in 2028, there will be approximately 150,000 passengers per trip per day. When the entire route is open, both eastern and western sections, it is expected to serve about 400,000 passengers per trip per day,” he said.
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