Thread: Cabinet approves five Bangkok rail lines

BMA to close Saphan Taksin station to ease bottleneck
Thanatpong Kongsai
June 1, 2012

Plans to spend Bt670m on walkway to Surasak Station Kanittha Thepchorn,

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to close down the Saphan Taksin Skytrain station in order to ease the bottleneck over its stretch across the Chao Phraya River.

"The BTSC has agreed to cooperate," Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

He unveiled the plan at a time when the BMA decision to award a Bt190billion contract to BTSC, the current operator of the Skytrain system, via Krungthep Thanakom (KT) is under intense scrutiny. KT is the legal investment arm of the city administration.

BTSC has a 30year concession for the original network of the Skytrain system, which has a combined length of 23.5 kilometres and 23 stations, including Saphan Taksin. Only after its concession expires in 2029, will all properties related to this original system belong to BMA.

"BTSC has the right to not cooperate, but it is willing to help. This is a reason why we have been working closely with BTSC all along," Sukhumbhand said.

The Bangkok governor and the BMA have recently faced severe criticism as to why it awarded such a big contract to BTSC without holding a public bidding. Under the 30year contract, the BTSC will provide the operations and maintenance services for two Skytrain extension routes for 30 years in addition to another 13 years from 2029 for the original network.

"We have to stick together because problems will sometimes arise and cooperation from the operator is needed for efficient solutions," Sukhumbhand said.

He said the Bangkok Council has already approved a budget of more than Bt670 million for installing an additional track on the area used by the Saphan Taksin Station, as well as constructing a 700metre Skywalk in addition to moving walkways for the convenience of passengers who will have to take the Skytrain from the Surasak Station instead.

"We will ensure that commuters continue to enjoy convenience. With the Skywalk and moving walkways, it will only take them five minutes to get from the Saphan Taksin Station to Surasak Station," he said, adding that about 4,000 commuters used the Saphan Taksin Station daily.

While there are two train tracks for most stretches of the Skytrain system, the portion across the Chao Phraya has just one track due to limited space, thus causing a bottleneck.

Sukhumbhand said that the BMA had initially sought permission from the Department of Rural Roads to expand the Taksin Bridge in order to make way for an additional track, but the department had said it was not possible.

"To find space for the additional track on our own, we will have to use the area currently occupied by the Saphan Taksin Station," the Bangkok governor said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaipiboon said the BMA would inform a BTSC coordination committee of the answer it had received from the Department of Rural Roads and present its plan to close down the Saphan Taksin Station.

"After that, we will seek permission from the interior minister to go ahead with this plan," he said.

In a related development, the House committee on anticorruption yesterday invited representatives of the Sasin Management Consulting (SMC) and the Council of State to testify over the controversial BTSC contract.

Led by Pheu Thai partylist MP Pol LtGeneral Wiroj Paoin, the committee is looking into allegations that the contract is mired with irregularities.

KT hired SMC as a consulting firm earlier this year. SMC executive Thana Siriwallop explained that the scope of the consultancy contract did not cover the estimated figure of Bt6.4 billion, which BMA claims it will save from awarding the 30year contract to BTSC.

"We have just looked at the proposal submitted by the BTSC to determine whether it is appropriate," Thana said, adding that KT had also hired other consulting firms before SMC stepped in early this year.

Chanis Klaisang from the Council of State said if a private company did not earn any other form of income from the contract apart from the money paid by the BMA, the contract would not fall under the PublicPrivate Partnerships Act.

Pheu Thai MPs believe that the contract might be in violation of this act.

nationmultimedia.com

DSI defends its right to probe BMA skytrain-extension deal - The Nation

DSI defends its right to probe BMA skytrain-extension deal

THE NATION June 13, 2012 1:00 am


The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) came out in defence yesterday of its authority to look into the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's extension of the BTS Skytrain service.

It delivered a detailed statement responding to the BMA's questioning of its jurisdiction in the case.

Speaking at a news conference, director-general Tharit Phengdit likened the BMA’s tit-for-tat statement against the DSI over the issue as an under-performing soccer team finding fault with the referee, instead of improving its team performance or correcting its wrongdoings.

He said the BMA's constant aggressive remarks and written statements against the DSI and its agents in charge of the case could be regarded as harassment against state officials, which was a felony. However, the DSI would not take action against the BMA on these grounds.

The BMA complained that the DSI was unlawfully proceeding with the issue without completing the case within 30 days and handing it over to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. This was the procedure when it handled a corruption case involving fire trucks many years ago.

Tharit agreed that the 30-day deadline complied with a corruption case under the anti-bid-rigging law, but said the BTS matter was also in line with another law and the investigation was not yet complete.

Tharit said neither the BMA, the Bangkok Mass Transit System operator nor Krungthep Tanakom, a BMA-founded business agency that runs the BTS extended service, had contacted the DSI about giving testimony in a session scheduled for next Monday.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaiphibool earlier submitted a petition to Ombudsman Sriracha Charoenphanich about the DSI missing the 30-day deadline, two days after it had expired on June 10.

Sriracha accepted the petition and said it would take three to six months for Parliament's Ombudsman Office to start its own inquiry.

Price of MRT pink line rises to bt54 billion - The Nation

Price of MRT pink line rises to bt54 billion

The Nation September 26, 2012 1:00 am

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand has raised the investment estimate for the Pink Line (Khae Rai to Min Buri) from Bt38 billion to Bt54 billion because of an increase in the number of planned stations from 24 to 30 and higher land prices, MRTA governor Yongsit Rojanasrikul said.

He said the MRTA board would propose the project |for Cabinet approval next month.

Once approved, the authority will start construction next year and target completion for 2017. The fare will be a flat Bt20 for the whole Pink Line, he said.

The route from Khae Rai in Nonthaburi province to Min Buri district in Bangkok is 34.5 kilometres long.

Yongsit said the MRTA was considering buying about 300 train carriages for Bt60 million each or Bt18 billion in total. These would be used for the Pink Line and the Yellow Line, which will run from Lat Phrao to Samrong.

MRTA to stage four Green Line contract bids | Bangkok Post: news

MRTA to stage four Green Line contract bids

• Published: 23/12/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The board of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) will conduct bidding for contracts to build the Green Line electric rail route next year.

The 19km route from Mor Chit to Saphan Mai and Ku Kot would be built at a cost of 26.5 billion baht, MRTA chairwoman Ratchanee Treepipatkul said yesterday.

The MRTA board reached its decision on the bidding at a meeting on Thursday, she said.

The construction of the rail line will be spread over four contracts.

The first contract is for the construction of the first section of the Green Line, from Mor Chit to Saphan Mai. The second is for the next section of the route, from Saphan Mai to Ku Kot.

This section, which has the highest price tag of the four contracts, is valued at 16.4 billion baht.

The third contract is for the line's maintenance and repair centre and its train parking building.

The final contract is for the electric rail track system.

The MRTA's board has also agreed to stick to its initial decision to construct the Pink Line from the Kae Rai area via the central government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road to Min Buri.

This means the cost of constructing the 34.5km line would be capped at 58.6 billion baht, Ms Ratchanee said.

She said there had been an alternative proposal that the line run further to Muang Thong Thani along Suwinthawong Road without passing Min Buri market.

The board did not agree with this, she said, regarding the original plan as the best option.

However, the board has ordered a feasibility study for a shuttle bus service to bring commuters to the Pink Line's stations from nearby areas, Ms Ratchanee added.

Red Line commuter rail contracts signed | Bangkok Post: news

Contracts signed for Red Line stations

• Published: 31 Jan 2013 at 15.52
• Online news: Local News

State Railway of Thailand on Thursday signed a 21-billion baht contract for the construction of stations on the new Red Line rail linking Bang Sue and Rangsit.

Italian Thai Development Plc is contracted to build six stations -- Bang Khen, Thoong Song Hong, Lak Si, Karn Kaeha, Don Mueang and Rangsit-- and to construct the foundations for the planned future Wat Samian Nari and Lak Hok stations.

The construction blueprint provides for the use of about 50% of the existing concrete pillars built for the failed Hopewell project. The SRT has already hired a consulting firm to survey the usability of these existing structures.

The total value of the contract is 21.235 billion baht with completion scheduled in 2016.

Transport Minister Chatchart Suthipan said he instructed the SRT governor to speed up this Red Line rail project, including the extension of the line to two more stations, Thammasat University Rangsit and Navanakorn.

He urged the rail authority to construct planned future stations at the same time as the above two stations. It would help to reduce cost per station by 10-20% compared to calling for tenders at a later time as earlier planned.

The SRT is also instructed to ensure better access to the stations to avoid the problems that arose with the Airport Rail Link, which is subject to many commuter complaints about inconvenience, he said.

The construction of this project must also take into account traffic planning.

He said construction of this section of the Red Line will take about three years. It was expected to be a main commuter route for people in the suburbs travelling in to the city, with an expected 30,000-40,000 passenger trips per hour.

Asked about plans for a high-speed railway, Mr Chatchart said the idea is to allow the private sector in provinces along the planned route to enter the bidding process to construct and develop the stations, where they would be allowed to integrate other property developments like hotels or shopping malls. The private sector would have to share the revenue with the SRT.

"This concept has initially been agreed to by the prime minister so the SRT should consider carrying out the project with a construction timeframe for the high-speed train that may need at least four years," he said.

Bangkok's Skytrain Plans $1.5 Billion IPO
P.R. VENKAT And GAURAV RAGHUVANSHI
Cynthia Koons contributed to this article.

After years bogged down in cost overruns, Bangkok's Skytrain has become a lifesaver for commuters in the gridlocked city. Now it is looking to raise $1.5 billion from an initial public offering through a business trust it hopes can raise funds for expansion beyond the center of Bangkok.

If successful, the IPO, Asia's biggest so far this year after the China-focused real-estate investment trust of Mapletree Investments Pte, could also provide a road map for other cash-strapped transport operators.

BTS Group Holdings PCL, BTS.TH +0.61% operator of the elevated-train system, began gauging investor appetite Friday, according to a person familiar with the situation.

BTS, controlled by the family of Thai property investor Keeree Kanjanapas, said last year that it will set up a fund of between 50 billion-60 billion baht ($1.68 billion-$2.02 billion) to buy railway and toll road assets.

Since entering service in 1999, the Skytrain, which now covers 23.5 kilometers, has helped transform the densely populated central Bangkok, a city notorious for its traffic and home to nearly 11% of Thailand's population. It carries more than 530,000 passengers each day.

A booming regional economy is fueling rapid urbanization across cities in Asia, driving mass transport infrastructure investments. In January, Singapore announced plans to build two new mass transit rail lines while Indian cities such as New Delhi and Bangalore are building new rail networks. Train services in those cities are run by government-backed companies.

In recent years, Bangkok's Skytrain has added a handful of new stations but needs to be extended even further amid worsening congestion, exacerbated by the government's recent tax incentives to spur car sales. The government plans to expand rail coverage in greater Bangkok to 508 kilometers by 2029, from 79.5 kilometers now.

Skytrain operator BTS hopes to use the proceeds from the IPO to finance new mass-transit projects. The business trust will purchase a stream of Skytrain transit-fare revenue from BTS, providing trust unit-holders with a steady dividend payout.

As with many rail infrastructure projects, BTS had a challenging financial start. It was debt-laden for years and further saddled with operating losses, and led to a court-supervised rehabilitation program that ended in 2008. BTS in 2010 completed a backdoor listing after Mr. Keeree's listed property company bought nearly all of BTS, renaming the developer BTS Group Holdings.

BTS aims to list BTS Rail Mass Transit Growth Infrastructure Fund, as the entity will be called, by mid-April, the person with knowledge of the company's plans said, adding that premarketing for the IPO will continue for two weeks with investor meetings planned across Asia, Europe and the U.S.

According to local rules, the operator must pay at least 90% of its adjusted net profit as dividend to its unit holders. Morgan Stanley MS -1.53% and UBS UBSN.VX -3.10% are the international bookrunners for the proposed IPO, while Phatra Securities will be the local manager of the sale.

Adithep Vanabriksha, a Bangkok-based deputy chief investment officer at Aberdeen Asset Management Co., ADN.LN -0.72% says that the Skytrain business is quite attractive, having shown "good organic growth."

"There should be quite a lot of investor interest" in the listing, he said, helped by the strength in the local market and as people seek higher-yielding investments.

online.wsj.com

Japan group to build train system in Bangkok

TOKYO, Nov 03, 2013 (AFP) - A Japanese consortium will build an urban transit system in Bangkok, as part of Japan's drive to expand exports of railway infrastructure to the rest of Asia, a report said Sunday.

East Japan Railway, trading house Marubeni and electronics giant Toshiba have landed the deal, at an estimated price of around 40 billion yen ($405 million), the business daily Nikkei reported.

Under the deal, ordered by Bangkok Metro Public Co., the consortium will construct a new 23-kilometre (14-mile) rail line in the Thai capital, the daily said, adding the rail operation is set to start in 2016.

The Japanese group will supply 63 train cars and build the power grid, signals and rail yards as well as 16 stations for the project.

It will also provide maintenance services under a 10-year contract and about 20 technicians with operational expertise will be stationed in Bangkok, the report said.

Japanese railway operators are expected to broaden their reach overseas by joining forces with heavy-industry manufacturers and trading houses to promote comprehensive services, Nikkei said.

East Japan Railway will aim now to win a contract to build a high-speed train line between Malaysia and Singapore, the report said.

Another Japanese train operator, Central Japan Railway, has already provided technology for renovating the automatic train control system of Taiwan's super-express train service, Nikkei said.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Metro, which runs an intricate subway network in the Japanese capital, has been cooperating in an urban train project in Hanoi, the daily said.

thestar.com.my

Court rejects Hopewell's Bt12m claim against govt
March 13, 2014

The Central Administrative Court has overturned an arbitrator's order that the government pay a private firm about Bt12 billion over the now-abandoned Hopewell Project.

The court decision is based on a technicality, as it found that Hopewell (Thailand) petitioned the arbitrator too late.

The firm demanded the large amount of compensation from the Transport Ministry and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), accusing the two agencies of unfairly cancelling its contract in 1998.

"By law, the parties in the conflict must petition the arbitrator within 60 days or the Central Administrative Court within five years since the termination of contract took place," the court announced Thursday.

Although the arbitrator had accepted the complaint from Hopewell (Thailand) and delivered a ruling in its favour, the Central Administrative Court yesterday ordered nullification of the arbitrator order.

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