The Railway Authority of Thailand (RAT) has proposed to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to finalize the bidding for Bang Sue land, valued at 10 billion baht, for SCG-Central. They are expediting the clearance for the subsidiary company to manage the Red Line, explaining the fare will range from 14 to 45 baht, with ‘Rangsit’ designated as an Interchange station and outlining the investment plan for the second phase of the dual-track project.

Mr. Worawut Mala, the acting governor of the Railway Authority of Thailand, revealed that the establishment of the subsidiary company for asset management is currently in progress and is expected to be set up within the next year. The development of the commercial area at Bang Sue Central Station will begin with Plot A, covering 32 rai and costing 11 billion baht. A joint venture committee meeting under Section 35 is scheduled for today, October 26. If approved, the proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Transport and the SRT for further action, with the bidding anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2019.

According to reports, Plot A will be the first area at Bang Sue Central Station to be put up for bidding. The physical layout will have railway tracks running through the middle of the area, thus dividing the commercial space into two sides, which may be developed gradually. However, it is expected to be operational by early 2021 when the Red Line suburban train service begins. Recently, Siam Cement Group (SCC) and Central Group have expressed interest in this area due to its strategic location for both companies.

Mr. Worawut further stated that the establishment of the subsidiary company for train operations has been postponed to 2019, as it is necessary to wait for the restructuring of the subsidiary company that will manage the Airport Rail Link for another two years after signing the three-airport project contract. Therefore, by late next year to 2020, there will be an accelerated training program for a large number of personnel to prepare for the Red Line service from Rangsit to Bang Sue, expected to commence in January 2021. Initially, it is anticipated that passenger volume will reach breakeven at 80,000 passengers per day in the first year, with fares based on electric train pricing averaging 34 baht per trip, starting from 14-15 baht and not exceeding 45 baht. The RAT believes that Rangsit Station will have a high passenger volume, necessitating its development into a major station with connections to other public transport systems, and expects that passenger numbers will surpass those of the Airport Rail Link.

Additionally, Mr. Worawut mentioned the progress of the dual-track railway project, Phase 2, with a budget of 400 billion baht. The Ministry of Transport is currently proposing the project for consideration by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). It is expected that the proposal will be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of this year, with pricing gradually opening in the first quarter of next year, depending on which routes the NESDB selects.

However, from the RAT's perspective, the routes deemed most viable for investment are primarily in the northeastern region, as they can transport both passengers and goods, linking with the Thai-Laos Special Economic Zone and connecting with logistics routes in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), such as Thailand-Laos-China. Examples include the dual-track railway from Khon Kaen to Nong Khai, covering 174 km with a budget of 26 billion baht, and the dual-track railway from Jiran-Chumphon to Ubon Ratchathani, covering 309 km with a budget of 37 billion baht, as well as the new dual-track railway from Ban Phai to Nakhon Phanom. In the southern region, the focus is on extending routes to increase passenger capacity to support tourism, such as the dual-track railway from Chumphon to Surat Thani, covering 167 km with a budget of 24 billion baht, and the dual-track railway from Surat Thani to Songkhla, covering 324 km with a budget of 57 billion baht, among others.

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