Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway

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Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway
Overview
StatusUnder Construction[
Rayong
Stations9
Service
TypeHigh-speed rail
Operator(s)Asia Era One Company Limited
History
Planned opening2029
Technical
Line length220 km (140 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Operating speed160 km/h (urban route)
250 km/h (inter city route)

The Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway, officially known as the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Project (

China Railway Construction Corporation Limited
(CRCC).

This project is part of the Eastern Economic Corridor of Thailand.

History

A HSR line to the eastern seaboard was first proposed in 1996 but there was no progress for over a decade. In 2009, the government requested the

Ban Chang District
.

During 2017, OTP and the Ministry of Transport in consultation with the SRT agreed that by extending the line to terminate at Don Mueang it would effectively include the long delayed extension of the

Makkasan Station to Don Mueang Airport as part of the project. The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EEC Office) in October 2017 finalised previous OTP plans to build the 10 station Eastern HSR line linking Don Mueang Airport, Bang Sue, Makkasan, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chonburi, Si Racha, Pattaya, U-Tapao Airport, and Rayong. In early-2018, the section to Rayong was excluded due to environmental and safety concerns and it was decided that the line would terminate at U-Tapao Airport.[4]

The SRT stated that the first tenders for the Eastern HSR line are expected to be tendered by May 2018 with a four month auction period before the contract is awarded.[5] The cost of the project was estimated to be over 200 billion baht, of which the Thai Government would fund 123 billion baht and the private sector estimated to contribute 90 billion baht.[6][7]

Impact

Trains on the route are projected to have a speed of 250 kilometres per hour over the 220 km distance when it opens. According to Kanit Sangsubhan, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office, tourist numbers will increase by eight percent due to the train. "It will handle 15 million passengers in the next five years, 30 million passengers in the next 15 years and 60 million passengers in the next 20 years," Mr Kanit said. Without specifying a time frame, he said the route will generate a return of 700 billion baht. It is expected to create 19,000 new jobs in the EEC according to the Employers Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry.[8]

Construction contracts and progress

Two rival consortia vied for the airport link contract.

Bangkok Expressway and Metro, won the project with a 224 billion baht bid in December 2018. Their winning bid is valid until 8 November 2019. Until 16 October 2019, the consortium had refused to sign the contract, citing land expropriation and eviction problems and the consortium's request that the government share the risk in the project.[8] Negotiations were further complicated by the resignation of the entire board of the State Railway.[10] On 16 October 2019, news reports announced that the CP consortium intends to sign the rail deal on 25 October.[11][8] The project was eventually approved in October 2019 as a public private partnership between the Thai government and Charoen Pokphand/China Railway Construction Corporation. The assets will revert to state ownership after 50 years.[12]

Service

Local connections

Station Thai Intercity Route Urban Route Type Distance (km) Transfers Location
Don Mueang
 ดอนเมือง ● ● elevated -20.122  
Northeastern HSR Line
Don Mueang, Bangkok
Krung Thep Aphiwat กรุงเทพอภิวัฒน์ ● ● ground level with elevated platforms -6.375  
Blue Line
Chatuchak, Bangkok
Phaya Thai พญาไท ● elevated 0.179  SRT  Light Red Line
 BTS  Sukhumvit Line
Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Ratchaprarop
 ราชปรารภ ● elevated 0.982  
Orange Line
Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Makkasan
 มักกะสัน ● ● elevated 3.000  
Blue Line
Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Ramkhamhaeng
 รามคำแหง ● elevated 7.399  SRT  Light Red Line
Suan Luang, Bangkok
Hua Mak
 หัวหมาก ● elevated 12.305  
Yellow Line
Suan Luang, Bangkok
Ban Thap Chang
 บ้านทับช้าง ● elevated 17.267  SRT  Light Red Line
Prawet, Bangkok
Lat Krabang
 ลาดกระบัง ● elevated 23.498  SRT  Light Red Line
Lat Krabang, Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi
 สุวรรณภูมิ ● ● underground 28.812
Samut Prakan
Chachoengsao ฉะเชิงเทรา ● ground level with elevated platforms 64.839
Chachoengsao
Chonburi ชลบุรี ● ground level with elevated platforms 113.449
Chonburi
Si Racha ศรีราชา ● ground level with elevated platforms 136.119
Chonburi
Pattaya
 พัทยา ● ground level with elevated platforms 160.929
Chonburi
U-Tapao อู่ตะเภา ● underground 196.410
Rayong

Extension

A future phase 2 extension could extend as far as Trat however a 2020 feasibility study raised questions about its value.[13]

References

  1. ^ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2493950. Bangkok Post. 2023-01-29
  2. ^ "Rayong added to high-speed rail link". Bangkok Post. 13 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Military government set to link 3 airports-Work on 'super link' is tipped to begin in September". Bangkok Post. 25 January 2016.
  4. ^ "EEC high-speed railway to steer clear of Rayong on safety fears". Bangkok Post. 14 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Auction for train contracts in April". Bangkok Post. 28 February 2018.
  6. ^ "New govt 'won't halt airport fast rail plan'". Bangkok Post. 9 March 2018.
  7. ^ Apisitniran, Lamonphet (20 March 2018). "Pitch set for airport rail link". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Apisitiran, Lamonphet; Theparat, Chatrudee (14 October 2019). "Holding up the train". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  9. ^ "CP, BTS groups set to bid for airport link high-speed railway". The Nation. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  10. ^ "SRT board members in mass resignation". The Nation. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  11. ^ Leesa-Nguansuk, Suchit; Hongtong, Thodsapol (16 October 2019). "CP set to ink airport link deal". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Thailand gives green light for US$7.4 billion high-speed rail link between Bangkok and Pattaya". SCMP. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Cold water poured on rail projects". Bangkok Post.
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