Thailand to spend over US$19 billion for six more MRT rail lines

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) of Thailand is to make immediate plans to develop six additional mass rapid transit (MRT) rail lines that should be operational by 2020. The lines will measure a length of 200 kilometres and entail US$19.16 billion in combined investments. The move was spurred by a forecast that suggests some three million passengers a day will use the MRT rail system in Bangkok by 2020.
August 24, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The 6449 Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) of Thailand is to make immediate plans to develop six additional mass rapid transit (MRT) rail lines that should be operational by 2020. The lines will measure a length of 200 kilometres and entail US$19.16 billion in combined investments. The move was spurred by a forecast that suggests some three million passengers a day will use the MRT rail system in Bangkok by 2020.

Currently, commuter rail users take up a mere 10 per cent of the overall mass-transit system in Greater Bangkok due to the limited number of lines. MRTA's Governor, Yongsit Rojsrikul, says it would be able to reach break-even point faster as a result of the new proposed lines and increasing volume of users. In order to lower the investment cost of the government, MRTA planned to use sites along its routes to churn out additional income. Having been set up some 20 years ago, MRTA only has a single 20-km electric line.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Connected vehicles - potential to transform US transportation
    April 12, 2013
    There’s a new face in the driving seat at the US Department of Transport’s ITS Joint Program Office. Fortunately, as Robin Meczes finds out, he’s no learner driver… Ask Kenneth Leonard why he wanted his new job as director of the ITS Joint Program Office, and his answer comes back without a second’s delay. “The potential to save lives, reduce injuries and help people enjoy a more efficient transportation system is the kind of challenge that makes me want to come to work each morning,” he says. “In my opinio
    Read More
  • Strike action prompts commuters to try something different
    June 2, 2014
    David Crawford highlights responses to transit disruption on both sides of the Atlantic. Shortly before workers at San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) began a lengthy round of pay and conditions-related strikes in summer 2013, impacting on the daily lives of 400,000 communities, online ridesharing group Avego publicised a new web address: bartstrike.com. By the start of the following week, Avego was encouraging stranded commuters to download its smartphone app by offering them the chance in a raffle
    Read More
  • Syracuse models post-industrial revival for US cities
    August 13, 2015
    A connective corridor in Syracuse, New York State, could be a model for other post-industrial cities, as David Crawford discovers. The aim of the city of Syracuse’ 5.6km-long Connective Corridor in Onandaga County in upstate New York is to create a model ‘complete street’ for use in wider regeneration schemes. Key transport-sector components are traffic calming, high-quality transit with accessible passenger information, plus walkability and bike-friendliness.
    Read More
  • Russia estimates earnings of US$12.77 billion from truck tolls
    July 30, 2012
    According to the Russian Ministry of Transport, the budget's net discounted income from the new heavy truck federal road passage fee will amount to US$12.77 billion per year. As reported here last month, the Ministry has prepared a government draft decree that will require all commercial vehicles over 12 tons to pay a toll for each kilometre driven on federal roads. A unified fee collecting operator will be set up, which will equip all heavyweight vehicles with on-board units. The devices will determine the
    Read More

Highlighted Content