Significant expansion planned for Thailand’s Red Line rail network

The State Railway of Thailand‘s (SRT) Red Line electric commuter rail network is set to undergo a significant expansion, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. The Transport Ministry will put forth proposals for the construction of three extensions this week: the Taling Chan-Salaya extension, the Rangsit-Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus extension, and the Taling Chan-Siriraj extension.

The proposals will be presented once the ministry has received responses from the Finance Ministry, Budget Bureau and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council.

The first proposed extension will connect Taling Chan and Salaya, spanning a distance of 14.8 kilometres. The planned route includes six stations: Rama VI, Bang Kruai-Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Ban Chimphi, Kanchanaphisek, Sala Thammasop, and Salaya. The estimated cost for this extension is around 10.67 billion baht.

The Rangsit-Thammasat University Rangsit Campus extension, the second proposed extension, will cover 8.84km. This route includes four stations: Khlong Nueng, Bangkok University, Chiang Rak and Thammasat University Rangsit Campus. The estimated cost for this project is about 6.47 billion baht.

The third extension proposal is the Taling Chan-Siriraj extension, spanning 5.7km. This route plans for three stations: Taling Chan Floating Market, Charan Sanitwong, and Thon Buri-Siriraj. The cost estimate for this extension is 4.6 billion baht.

Bidding for these three expansion projects is predicted to take place this year, with construction slated to take 35 months, from 2025 to 2028. Services on these extensions are predicted to begin in 2028.

Deputy Minister Surapong also mentioned pushing for seven additional double-track railway upgrades. The cabinet has already greenlit the 167-kilometre Khon Kaen-Nong Khai railway, with an allocated budget of 29.7 billion baht. Bidding for this project is currently in progress, and construction is forecasted to begin later this year.

The SRT’s board has also approved three other projects. These include the 281-kilometre Pak Nam Pho-Den Chai railway upgrade valued at 81.14 billion baht, the 308-kilometre Thanon Jira-Ubon Ratchathani railway upgrade valued at 44.10 billion baht, and the 45-kilometre Hat Yai Junction-Padang Besar railway upgrade valued at 7.9 billion baht. The remaining projects will be presented to the cabinet this year, reported Bangkok Post.