RING ROAD/ RING RAILWAY NEWS 2001-2002 Ring Road/Ring Railway Main Ring Road/Ring Railway News 2003 Ring Road/Ring Railway News 2002-2001 Routes for the Ring Railway - translated and summarized from Matichon, July 15, 2002 Sanan Tohthong (BMA Deputy City Clerk) who is now chairman of the Bangkok Ring Railway Project committee told correspondents from Dailynews and Matichon that Krungthep Thanakhom (Bangkok Bank) had proposed four routes for the Bangkok Ring Railway but the details are not clear enough. However, Krungthep Thanakhom submitted details on two feasible routes after submitting the study results to the committee on July 11, 2002: Route one - 80-km ring from Chao Phraya River (Poochao Samingphrai Pier) to go along Poochao Samingphrai Road, turn left to Sukhumvit at Poochao Intersection and then turn right to Thepharak Road, turning left to Sri Nakharin Road at Sanam Daeng Intersection, Rama IX, Pradit Manootham Road (Ekkamai - Ram Indra Road, parallel with Ram Indra - at Narong Expressway), Ram Indra Road, Chaeng Watthan Road, Tiwanon Road, Pathum Thani Bridge, Highway 345, Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road before ending up at the Industrial Ring Road. Route two - 120-km from Chao Phraya River (around Phrapadaeng) to Bang Krajao (the green island in Chaophraya - between Klogntoei Port and Phra Padaeng which now becomes a public park with orchards belonging to local people) turn left to Sukhumvit at Poochao Intersection and then turn right to Theparak Road, turning left to Sri Nakharin Road at Sanam Daeng Intersection, Rama IX, Pradit Manootham Rd. (Ekkamai - Ram Indra Road, parallel with Ram Indra - at Narong Expressway), Ram Indra Road, Chaeng Watthana Road, Tiwanon Road, Pathum Thani Bridge, Highway 345, Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road before ending up at Industrial Ring Road. When Krunthep Thanakhom comes up with the conclusion (the final ring route) for the preliminary studies, the committee will submit it to a full committee consisting of SRT, OCMLT, BMA Traffic and Transportation Bureau, BMA Civil Works Bureau, BMA City Planning Bureau, and BMA Treasury Bureau to make a comprehensive analyses of the pros and cons and an environmental assessment of the project, especially the land utilities due to the fact that this ring will cover Bangkok and vicinity. If the full committee approves the final route of this project, BMA will start a study on the project details including construction techniques, budget, the investment plan, as well as the management for the final ring. Governor negotiating with JBIC for loan for Skytrain Ring Road Project - translated and summarized from Thairath Daily, May 20, 2002 & Matichon Daily, May 20, 2002 Governor Samak Sunthoravej told the press that he submitted details of the Skytrain Ring Project to JBIC representatives in Japan so as to speed up the process to obtain JBIC loans to finance the project. If BMA follows through the normal process, it will take at least 18 years to realize the project. Therefore, the BMA governor submitted the project details directly to JBIC. After the negotiation, JBIC representatives told Governor Samak that JBIC has strong interest in the project since it is a transportation project necessary for the Bangkok suburbs with little environmental impact. The next step will be for JBIC officers in Bangkok to collect data and assess the feasibility of the project. If the negotiations with JBIC are successful and the process runs according to plan, BMA will be able to start the project by the end of 2002. Where the Skytrain Ring Road sections have to go across the Chaophraya river, Governor Samak said that BMA wants to construct a Skytrain bridge below the new bridge across the Chaophraya River at Pakkret instead of underwater tunnels since the bridge is much cheaper than an underwater tunnel. The new bridge across the Chaophraya River at Pakkret is a project of the Highway Department, with 40% funding from BMA. The normal process states that BMA must ask OCMLT to study the project details and then OCMLT will submit the study results to the cabinet for approval which is a time-consuming processes. Commentary by Wisarut: If BMA wants to put Skytrain pillars on the foundations of the new bridge at Pakkret, BMA and Highway Dept. have to lay very strong foundations to ensure that they can handle huge trucks and the bridge for skytrain (with 10-meter-wide double tracks) without problems. If BMA wants to go along Krunthep bridge, the Skytrain Bridge would have to be high enough to accommodate ships from the Royal Navy and cargo ships. More commentary: The route could be changed to pick as many passengers as possible even though the preliminary route for Ring Road starts from Bang Plee, and then goes along the Eastern section of Kanjanaphisek Outer Ring Road to Lam Lookka and then turns left to Patumthanee via Future Park, Wat Sadet, Nonthaburi Bridge (AKA Nuan Chawee Bridge) and Pathumthanee Provincial Hall, Highway No. 345, Bang Bua Thong Intersection, western section of Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road, Bang Bon, Rama II Highway, Bang Pakok, Bukkhalo, Krungthep bridge, Rama III, Chong Nonsee, Klong Toei, Watsaphan, Bang Chak Refinery, Bang Na, Sanphawut (Naval Ordinance), Samrong and ends up at Bang Plee. Four ring railway routes must be approved by the end of March 2002 Samak's commuter ring project delayed - Japanese government said approvals from NESDB and OCMLT needed Governor Samak feels confident that the suburb ring railroad will be approved Japanese keen on the Bangkok Ring Railroad EDITORIAL : BMA train plan is off the rails Premier Ju Rong Ji declines Samak's proposals for $2 billion Skytrain Samak preparing for the 80-km Bangkok Ring Mass Transit System