SRT Dark Red Line

Dark Red Line สายสีแดงเข้ม
The elevated route under construction near Bang Sue Central Station
Overview
Type	Commuter rail
System	Bangkok Suburban Commuter Train
Status	Under Construction
Termini	Thammasat Maha Chai
Stations	36
Operation
Opened	2020 (est.) (Phase 1 Rangsit - Bang Sue) 2022 (est.) (Phase 2 Rangsit - Thammasat Uni) 2025 (est.) (Phase 3 Bang Sue - Hua Lamphong) 2029 (est.) (Phase 4 Hua Lamphong - Maha Chai)
Owner	State Railway of Thailand
Operator(s)	S.R.T. Electrified Train Company Limited
Technical
Line length	80.8 km (50.21 mi)
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification	Overhead lines
Operating speed	160 km/h (99 mph)
Route map km (SRT North/Northeast Rail Line) Future North Extension 32.6 Thammasat University 29.9 Chiang Rak Bangkok University 26.2 Khlong Nueng 22.6 Rangsit 19.9 Lak Hok 13.8 Don Mueang 11.8 Kan Keha 9.9 Lak Si (  MRL  Pink Line ) 7.1 Thung Song Hong 5.6 Bang Khen 4.1 Wat Samian Nari 2.6 Chatuchuk Light Red Line to Talingchan (and SRT South Rail Line) 0.0 Bang Sue Central  MRT  Blue Line   2.7 Sam Sen 3.7 Ratchawithi  ARL  To Suvarnabhumi   Light Red Line to Hua Mak (and SRT East Rail Line) 5.4 Yommarat 6.5 Yotse 7.5 Hua Lamphong  MRT  Blue Line   Future South Extension Chao Phraya River Khlong San  MRT  Purple Line   Wongwian Yai Talat Phlu  BTS  Silom Line   Taksin Chom Thong Wat Sai Wat Singh Bang Bon Rang Sakae Rang Pho Sam Yaek Phrom Daen Thung Si Thong Bang Nam Chuet Khok Khwai Ban Khom Maha Chai

The Dark Red Line is part of the planned SRT Red Line suburban railway system to serve the greater Bangkok Metropolitan Region which includes Bangkok Province and 4 adjoining provinces. It runs on a north–south axis and when completed will extend from Thammasat University's Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani Province to Maha Chai in Samut Sakhon Province. The line will eventually be nearly 87 km long.

In February 2009, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva secured a 24 billion baht (US$685 million) loan from the Japanese Government for the 67 km (42 mi) segment.^[1][2] The first Phase from Bang Sue to Rangsit was approved in 2010 but delayed due to a complicated 2.5 year contractual dispute. However, Phase 1 finally started construction in 2013. As of September 2017, 89% of civil works had been completed.

In May 2018, the SRT announced that the Dark Red line is finally scheduled to open in October 2020. Fares will be set at between 14-45 baht.^[3]

In July 2016, the Cabinet approved the first section of the southern extension from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong. However, the 10km 4 station northern extension from Rangsit to Thammasat University will be built first and is expected to be tendered by September 2018.^[4]

Progress

The 21.6 km, 9 station Rangsit to Bang Sue section finally started construction in May 2013 after new contracts were signed in January 2013.^[5] A construction period of 3 years was stated. Construction works were delayed by 2 months due to site access issues for the contractor and delays related to removing slum dwellers residing within the right of way. However, it was hoped that the use of some of the old Hopewell pillars would speed up the initial construction timetable.^[6] By the end of 2013, the project was only 3% done & already months behind schedule due to a longer timetable in removing the Hopewell Pillars.^[7]

In June 2014, the SRT requested an additional 8.14 billion baht to modify the Dark Red line to 4 tracks instead of 3, to accordingly redesign all stations and to provide for the longer platforms for the Bang Sue Terminal to cater for future HSR lines.^[8] 8.140 billion baht request is; 4.32 billion baht for Contract 1 (modifications to Bangsue Central to cater for High Speed trains); 3.35 billion Baht for Contract 2 (4th track and stations redesign) and 473 million baht for Contract 3.

It is worth noting that the budget for the 1st Phase of the Dark Red Line project have progressively increased due to numerous delays and further redesign of the project. From an initial 59.89 billion baht in 2007, to 75.55 billion baht in 2009 and to 80.38 billion baht in 2012. The additional requested 8.14 billion baht will increase the current budget to 88.52 billion baht.

As of September 2017, civil works progress was stated to be 88.63%.^[9]

New Intercity Terminal at Bang Sue (Contract 1)

Contract 1 of the project is for the construction of a new, 4 level Intercity Terminal to cater for all SRT Intercity Trains, SRT Red Line suburban trains and the yet to be built Airport Rail Link extension. The delayed contract process was finally signed in January 2013.^[10] In August 2013, the SRT sought extra funds for the project to be redesigned in order to extend upper level platforms to a 400-600m length in order to accommodate future planned High Speed Lines.^[11] (Funding was finally requested in June 2014 - see above section)

In March 2013, the new Intercity Terminal at Bang Sue station started construction. Between March and June, excavation works for the foundation of the Terminal were delayed by the unearthing of numerous World War II unexploded bombs which required safe removal by army Explosive Ordnance Teams.^[12][13][14] As of July 2014, construction was 10% behind schedule.

The New Terminal was originally scheduled to open by end of 2016 but the above-mentioned redesign work and other delays have resulted in an expected 2020 opening date. As of September 2017, construction progress of the station civil works was at 57.50%.^[15]

Rolling stock (Contract 3)

The 3rd contract for the Dark Red Line is for electrical and systems (E&S) and procuring EMU rolling stock. An overhead cantenary electrical system is specified. As of April 2014, only 2 bidders remained but one of the bidding consortium's was disqualified on due to the fact that one of the consortium members (Maru Beni Corp) had convictions for bribery in an Indonesian bidding process.^[16]

This left MHSC Consortium (Mitsubishi and Hitachi and Sumitomo) as the sole bidder qualified for the contract. However, their bid of 28,899 Million Baht was above the SRT median price of 26 billion baht which was however set in 2010. The MHSC Consortium argued that their bid reflects 2013 prices after the minimum wage increase of January 2012. Finally, after a 2-year delay in the bidding process, in July 2014 JICA approved the loan for Contract 3.^[17] However, the coup of May 2014 delayed finalization leading to further review and negotiations. By mid 2016, negotiations had concluded and Hitachi promised that all rolling stock for the Dark Red line would be delivered by 2020.^[18]

Line segments

• Bang Sue-Rangsit: 21.6 km (13.42 mi) (under construction)
• Rangsit-Thammasat: 10.0 km (6.21 mi) (planned for tender in 2018)
• Bang Sue-Hua Lamphong: 11.0 km (6.84 mi) (cabinet approved)
• Hua Lamphong-Bang Bon-Maha Chai: 39.0 km (24.23 mi) (planned)

List of stations

Code	Station Name	Thai	Express Train	City Train	Transfer	Location
Phase I
x	Thammasat University	มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ ศูนย์รังสิต	●	●		Pathum Thani
x	Chiang Rak	เชียงราก		●
x	Khlong Nueng	คลองหนึ่ง		●
x	Rangsit	รังสิต	●	●
x	Lak Hok (Rangsit University)	หลักหก (มหาวิทยาลัยรังสิต)		●
x	Don Mueang	ดอนเมือง	●	●	Don Mueang International Airport  ARL  (proposed)	Bangkok
x	Kan Kheha	การเคหะ		●
x	Lak Si	หลักสี่		●	MRL : Lak Si (under construction)  ARL  (proposed)[21]
x	Thung Song Hong	ทุ่งสองห้อง		●
x	Bang Khen	บางเขน		●	MRT : Bang Khen (proposed)  ARL  (proposed)
x	Wat Samian Nari	วัดเสมียนนารี		●
x	Chatuchak	จตุจักร		●	Mochit 2 Northern/Northeastern Bus Terminal
x	Bang Sue	บางซื่อ	●	●	SRT   MRT : Bang Sue  ARL  (proposed)[22]
Phase II
x	Pradiphat	ประดิพัทธ์		●	SRT	Bangkok
x	Sam Sen	สามเสน		●	SRT
x	Ratchawithi	ราชวิถี		●	SRT   ARL  (proposed)
x	Yommarat	ยมราช		●	MRT : Yommarat (proposed)
x	Yot Se	ยศเส		●	BTS : Yot Se (proposed extension)
x	Hua Lamphong	หัวลำโพง	●	●	MRT : Hua Lamphong
Phase III
x	Khlong San	คลองสาน		●		Bangkok
x	Wongwian Yai	วงเวียนใหญ่		●	BTS : Wongwian Yai  MRT : Wongwian Yai (phase 2 extension)
x	Talat Phlu	ตลาดพลู		●	BTS : Talat Phlu
x	Taksin	ตากสิน	●	●	BTS : Wutthakat
x	Chom Thong	จอมทอง		●
x	Wat Sai	วัดไทร		●
x	Wat Sing	วัดสิงห์	●	●
x	Bang Bon	บางบอน		●
Phase IV
x	Rang Sakae	รางสะแก		●		Bangkok
x	Rang Pho	รางโพธิ์	●	●
x	Sam Yaek	สามแยก		●
x	Phrom Daen	พรมแดน		●
x	Thung Si Thong	ทุ่งสีทอง	●	●		Samut Sakhon
x	Bang Nam Chuet	บางน้ำจืด		●
x	Khok Khwai	คอกควาย		●
x	Ekkachai	เอกชัย	●	●
x	Maha Chai	มหาชัย	●	●
Phase V
x	Tha Chalom	ท่าฉลอม				Samut Sakhon
x	Ban Chi Phakhao	บ้านชีผ้าขาว
x	Khlong Nok Lek	คลองนกเล็ก
x	Bang Si Kot	บางสีคต
x	Bang Krachao	บางกระเจ้า
x	Ban Bo	บ้านบ่อ
x	Bang Thorat	บางโทรัด
x	Ban Ka Long	บ้านกาหลง
x	Ban Na Khwang	บ้านนาขวาง
x	Ban Na Khok	บ้านนาโคก
x	Ket Muang	เขตเมือง				Samut Songkhram
x	Lad Yai	ลาดใหญ่
x	Bang Krabun	บางกระบูน
x	Mae Klong	แม่กลอง
Phase VI
x	Bang Kaphom	บางกระพ้อม				Samut Songkhram
x	Amphawa	อัมพวา
x	Wat Pleng	วัดเพลง				Ratchaburi
x	Pak Tho	ปากท่อ

See also

• Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
• SRT Light Red Line
• Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)
• BTS Skytrain
• Sukhumvit Line
• Silom Line
• Bangkok Metro
• MRT Blue Line
• MRT Brown Line
• MRT Grey Line
• MRT Light Blue Line
• MRT Orange Line
• MRT Pink Line
• MRT Purple Line
• MRT Yellow Line
• Bangkok BRT

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SRT Dark Red Line.

• "2Bangkok SRT Dark Red Line construction thread" Semi-regular updates, articles, pictures and commentary (In English)
• Airport Rail Link, BTS, MRT & BRT network map