RING ROAD/RING RAILWAY NEWS 2003 Ring Road/Ring Railway Main Ring Road/Ring Railway News 2003 Ring Road/Ring Railway News 2002-2001 Theories about why Ch. Karnchang appears to win the contract for the Southern Kanchanaphisek Expressway - translated and summarized from Thairath, December 30, 2003 There was a declaration of bidding for the Southern Kanchanaphisek Expressway on Dec 29, 2003 at 10 AM at the Expressway Authority. The middle price was: 15.899616316 billion baht The bidding prices for each company is: 1. Ch. Karnchang PCL -> 15.609619000 billion baht -> 2.5% financial fee of actual loan and MLR - 2% interest rate for loan. 2. Italian Thai Development PCL -> 16.31089499 billion baht -> 2.5% financial fee of actual loan and MLR - 1.25% interest rate for loan. 3. VIjitphan Construction Co.Ltd. -> 16.443130702 billion baht -> 2.5% financial fee of actual loan and MLR - 1.25% interest rate for loan. 4. Krungthon Engineer Co.Ltd. 16.602334184 billion baht -> 2.5% financial fee of actual loan and MLR - 1.25% interest rate for loan. However, it's not finalized yet since the ETA Board would like to check if all the companies have followed the bidding rules... even so Ch. Karnchang PCL has the upper hand. After wining the bid, the ETA Board will submit the results to the ETA Board of Directors to make a final approval -> which is supposed to be done by the end of Jan 2004. This expressway has to be done in 30 months to be ready for the Suvannabhum Airport. Many insiders said Ch. Karnchang has won the bid since government wants to make a settlement on the compensation to BBCD ([the expressway project] held by Ch. Karnchang PCL) at a price lower than the current 6.255 billion baht [the settlement they won in civil court which the government vows to fight to the Supreme Court] and the other three will bidders will function as subcontractors so they all will be playing a collusion game. However, some said that since the interest rates will head upward after the economic recovery, the three companies do not want to take a risk on a higher borrowing price (interest rates) and looming construction cost. Matichon vs Suriya - translated and summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi Correspondents from Matichon (October 10, 2003) have pointed out irregularities with the canceling the deal with Bilfinger to construct the Southern Section of Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road (which would connect with eastern part of Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road as well as the Bangna - Bang Pakong Expressway). They have targeted Transportation Minister Suriya for attempting to replace a consortium of companies with a single Thai supplier. 1. Claim: We can save 5.3 billion baht by not going though a turnkey system. Reality: Look at the bidding for the new expressway which is going to bid soon. 2. Claim: Asking MOTC to find the way to handle the financial support. Reality: A big lie since eventually MOTC will have to invite the private sector to finance the project to cut down public debts which requires 20 billion baht to be paid from the national coffers. 3 Claim: Calling a new bid will make the project faster and ready for the Suvannabhumi Airport opening. Reality: Another big lie--This Southern section will be done after the airport opening if the airport opens as claimed on September 29, 2005. 4) The ETA are very inept. They have to invite those "Highway Dept gangs" to be in the majority in the bidding and approval board. However, ETA will have to shoulder the 20 billion baht debt if anything goes wrong. 5) Claim: Barring foreign contractors as well as alliances is explicitly stated: In jobs with the credit line of more than 16 billion baht--no joint venture allowed! Reality: Baloney! Lots of Contradictions! The companies to handle the 1-km bridge with a speedy delivery are foreign contractors, but Mr. Suriya (Transportation Secretary) bars those foreign companies from handling such projects as well as barring joint ventures which allow competitive bidding. There seems to be a hidden agenda to allow only local big guns to bid on the project. A typical cause of corruption and collusion. Insiders gave more details to Matichon Daily (October 13, 2003) that Mr. Suriya has told the following lies to the public: 1) Mr. Suriya's claim: Medium-side contractors united together as a consortium is very inefficient and untrustworthy and are not creditworthy compared with the big contractors. Reality: If the consortiums of the medium size contractors were not creditworthy, the banks would have never have granted credit lines of 16 billion baht for the deal in the first place. 2) Mr. Suriya's claim: Consortiums of medium-size contractors is simply a case of subcontracting. Reality: The consortium of medium-size companies is just a way to allow medium-size contractors that have specialized expertise to handle the big project without trouble. Even the big contractors have to rely on the medium and small contractors to handle projects section by section. Even worse, the big contractors demand down payments from the medium and small contractors to be allowed to handle the sections of the big project, increasing construction costs. 3) Mr. Suriya's claim: Foreign contractors will use credit lines from foreign banks, increasing external debts. Reality: Even the old consortium for the Thai-German Ring Road that Suriya terminated used loans from the Bank of Ayutthaya and never used foreign loans at all. Furthermore, joint ventures and consortiums make it much harder for those in power to extort, bribe, and take kickbacks since they have to negotiate with the entire consortium about funds to pay them. This is compared to a single big contractor which is a lot easier to get a kickback from because only the insiders will know the truth. More on ring road projects Commentary by Wisarut: Mr. Suriya as well as the Highway Dept. will come under the microscopes. The press like Matichon Group (Matichon Daily, Prachachart Tuhurakij, and Khao Sod Daily) will hunt you down to the end of the earth if they suspect kickbacks... Details of the Bangkok Ring Railway - Prachachart Thurakij, August 7-10, 2003 [The Bangkok Ring Railway was a pet project of Bangkok Governor Samak that first surfaced as a campaign promise and then a proposal in early 2001. It was presented as a deal already negotiated by Samak himself with interests in Japan (and then China) with repeated demands that the government accept the entire project right away with no need to call for competing bids. Last week the governor commented that most of his proposals had been stalled and he did not intend to do anything in his last year of office (Twilight of the Bangkok Governor - The Nation, July 26, 2003 The governor said he did not want to put further effort into solving the problems. "I don't have to do anything next year," he said. "People are going to criticize me anyway. And I don't have anything to worry about, even my popularity..." ). This might be the last gasp for the ring railway. More about ring railways and ring roads. A map that accompaied the article below is here.] Translated and summarized from Prachachart Thurakij, August 7-10, 2003: Now that the economy is back from recession, traffic jams are going to be worse due to the increasing numbers of cars on the street--currently at the rate of 800 new cars a day. The mass transit system must be expanded to meet the demand. One of the interesting new projects to deal with traffic jam is the Bangkok Ring Railway even though this project is not in the 300 billion baht package of Premier Thaksin. Krungthep Thanakhom Director (Mr. Sathian Wongwichian) explained the Bangkok Ring Railway Project as follows: The Bangkok Ring Railway Project is a ring mass transit system between Ratcahdaphisek Inner Ring Road and Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road with a total distance of 82.5 km--72.8 km will be elevated, 4 km will be a subway and underwater tunnel, and 5.7 km is at grade. There would be two main depots to handle the rolling stock of the Ring Railway: 1) Northeastern Depot - 23-rai area between Nawamin Road and Serithai Road in Buengkum District--not far from Grand Sport Stadium in Patthama Wikorn Village. 2) Southwest Depot - 18-rai area between Pracha Uthit Road and Phutthaboocha Road--not far from Bang Khunthian Canal, Godmother Thubthip Shrine. This one is in an orchard in Bang Mod commune of Ratboorana. This project has been designed in the way to support but not compete with other projects. This project will have very strong benefits for those who live in the suburbs. The Bangkok Ring Railway rolling stocks will follow Skytrain specifications which can be described as follows: Type : Heavy Rail, 3-car formation - 750 V third rail supply with air-conditioning Body: Stainless Steel 1) Motorized cars - for both ends - 3 meters wide, 23 meters long, 4 meters high -> carrying 299 passengers a car 2) Non-motorized cars at the center - 3 meters wide, 22 meters long, 4 meters high -> carrying 325 passengers a car Maximum Speed: 80 km/hr Traveling Speed: 40 km/hr (due to the longer distance between each station) Operating time: 5am to midnight - in line with the subway Operating Headway: 6 minutes for normal time and faster for rush hour The environmental assessment is done and ready to be submitted to the cabinet. If the cabinet approves the project, construction could be started immediately after picking the concession holder as well as the contractors. The list of 37 stations for Bangkok Ring Railway - 35 elevated, 1 underground, 1 at grade going clockwise according to the map from Krungthem Thanakhom Co.Ltd. 1) Bang Khen - Bangkhen Intersection and Bangkhen Railway Station 2) Kaset - Kasetsart University 3) Lad Plakhao - Lad Plakhao Road - a short cut linking Chokchai 4 Road (Ladphrao 53), Ram Indra Road, and Senanikhom Road (Phaholyothin 32) together (there are several suburb villages there) 4) Maiyalarp - Soi Maiyalarp - a shortcut linking Ram Indra Road and Kaset-Nawamin Road 5) Satree Witthaya 2 - a famous girls' high school in Thailand - a branch from the original Satree Witthaya at Democracy Monument 6) Lam Jiak - Lam Jiak Canal 7) Patthamawikorn [Nuanchan] - Patthama Wikorn Village [or Nuanchan Intersection] - The northern depot of 23 rai will be not far from Grand Sport Stadium 8) Inthararak - Inthararak flea market 9) NHA - National Housing Authority - the state enterprise handling the construction of houses and apartments and the setup of the suburb villages and communities for those who cannot afford housing from the private sector. NHA HQ is already surrounded by the villages NHA has set up. 10) Bang Kapi - a busy area with The Mall, Tawanna Plaza (the 2nd Panthip), Carrefour, and Happyland flea market, a van and BMTA bus terminal. This will be a busy interchange with an Orange line at Lam Salee and Yellow Line at Bang Kapi. 11) Krugnthep Kreetha - Intersection to SEAP Game villages as well as the suburb villages, B Grimm Group HQ, Unico Golf club and Ba Prasart Museum not far from the interchange 12) Hua Mark - Hua Mark Railway station, Jusco Srinakharin 13) Sri Nut - the intersection where Sri Nakharin and Onnut intersect - close to Onnut Post Office 14) Seacon Square - a station between SEACON Square (the biggest mall in Thailand) and Seri Center (the 3rd Panthip) 15) Sri Udom - the intersection where Sri Nakharin and Udomsuk intersect - close to Rama IX Park 16) Sri Iam - Wat Sri Iam temple - the place where Srinakharin intersects Banga-Trad Highway, close to Central City Bangna and Bang Na Distric Office 17) Sri Nakharin - a station near Carrefour and Macro - the first station in Samut Prakarn 18) Sri Thepha - intersection and flea market 19) Thepharak - a station near Theparak Intersection - needs either skybridge linking Thepharak station with Samrong Nuea Station of Skytrain or a new station for convenient interchange 20) Poochao Samingphrai - not far from Poochao Saming Phrai Intersection, Food Lion and Samrongtai Post Office 21) Bang Nangkreng - a short cut canal from Poochao Samingprai to Wat Bang Nangkreng - surrounded with factories. The last station before the underwater tunnel under the Chao Phraya, not far from Poochao Saming Phrai pier (a pier opposite to Phra Padaeng) 22) Nakhon Khenkhan (Phra Padaeng) - The main street of Phra Padaeng, and the only underground station near Phra Padaeng intersection 23) Pracha Uthit - the main road to KMUTT (King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi) - the only station at ground level - needs to be high enough (about 3 meters) to withstand flooding - the first station in Thonburi 24) Bang Mod - near Phutthaboochai Road (a road to Wat Phutthaboocha), Thonburirom Park and Godmother Thabthim shrine. The 18-rai southern depot will be there. However, the depot must be far from the shrine and temple since compensation for temples and shrines is always very high (building new ones as replacements). 25) Rama II - On Rama II Highway 26) Wat Singh - Watsing Railway Station of Maeklong Railway 27) Bang Wah - Interchange with Blue line subway and Greenline Skytrain - will become Southern Bangkok Transportation Center 28) Bang Waek - Bangwaek Canal - needs feeder vans to pick up passengers 29) Bang Phrom - Bang Phraom Canal - needs feeder vans to pick up passengers 30) Talingchan - near Taliingchan Junction - between Chimplee Road and Borom Ratchachonnanee Road (a road from Pinklao to Nakhon Chaisri) 31) Mahasawat - Mahasawat Canal - a canal which separates Talignchan from Bang Kruay - the last station in Thonburi 32) Song Ploo - a temple in Bangkruay 33) Bang Oy Chang - a temple near Rama V Bridge 34) Rama V Bridge - a new bridge, the station is in Nakhon In side 35) Tiwanon - Intersection between the bypass road and the Pracharat Road near Big C Nonthaburi 36) Kae Rai - an intersection near Rok Suang Ok Hospital and Tesco Lotus 37) Ngam Wongwan (Phongphet) - the last station in Nonthaburi near The Mall Ngamwongwan, Bang Lamphoo Department Store Note: for 2 Depots, the most likely development is the home office and highrise residential buildings since it is in the suburb areas. Commentary by Wisarut: Feeder vans to pick up those in suburb villages are still on demand since the ring does not cover all corners of Bangkok even though the government is going to limit the number of vans in Bangkok. Integrated ticket systems and Sky bridges linking malls, superstores, discount stores, as well as Skytrain, Subway and Railway stations must be in the investment package if BMA wants to ensure that the number of daily passengers will reach 1 million a day. BTSC and BMCL would have a good change to win the bid since both of them could use the rolling stock available in the depots to run the system while they could order a second batch (6-car formation) from Siemens as well as other firms to serve busy routes (e.g. Sukhumvit Line). Even if they don't order more trains, they have to invest on the interchanges--especially at Bang Wah which will become a busy interchange, Kaset, Samrong Nuea, Tiwanon [for Northern extension of the Blue line], Lam Salee [Orange line], Phra Padaeng [Orange line - not an interchange, but a sky bridge]. Southern outer ring road has hidden agenda - translated and summarized from Matichon Daily, July 2, 2003 The insiders from MOTC have told the Matichon corespondents that the reason for Minister Suriya choosing the public-private sector joint venture process instead of a JBIC loan and government bonds is that the minister may apply for a special procurement process to speed up the project so it can be completed by October 2005 to serve the NBIA. Minister Suriya claimed that a JBIC loan has too many strings attached (requires Japanese contractors and equipment). Government bonds increase public debts as well. So a joint venture in which the private sector pays for the construction first and uses the revenue from the tolls to pay itself back. However, such a joint venture is considered a "turnkey process" in disguise since the turnkey processes have become an anathema due to the Hopewell scandal. Industrial Ring Road to be complete in 2005 -translated and summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi from Thairath, June 26, 2003 The progress on Industrial Ring Road is going on at a snail's pace (2% done) due to slow settlement of land expropriation after signing the contract on October 1, 2002. Nevertheless, the Provincial Highway Department (the owner of Industrial Ring Road project) has expropriated nearly 100% of the needed land and the contractor has been to the construction sites and is starting casting concrete reinforced pillars. After a long initial protest the owners of the land along the Industrial Ring Road have seen the benefits of the project so they decided to settle with the Provincial Highway Department. There are three contracts for this project 1) Southern section -> from Poochao Samingphrai Road to pass Phetra Pier and end up at the interchange at Phetchahueng Road The bridge for this section will be 398 meters long. The interchange is not far from Bang Krachao - a green island with orchards between Klong Toei and Phra Padaeng which will now become a public park and allow the owners of the orchards to take care of the park. 2) Northern section -> from the gate of Rawee Village (a suburb village in Rama III area) on Rama III Road (Chong Nonsee Road) to Wat Dan in the Bangkok side and the Subbhanava Warehouse on the Phrapadaeng side - and will end up at the interchange at Phetchahueng Road. The bridge for this section will be 326 meters long. 3) Phetchahueng Interchange and Western section - the Interchange for the first two sections with a bridge to link Suksawat road--a main road from Wongwian Yai (a downtown for those who live in Thonburi side of Bangkok) to Fort Chulachomklao - the Naval fort rich in history (it was fired upon during the Paknam Incident in July 1893) The contractors have been casting 36% of the support pillars - and said that the first pillar will go up in August 2003 and the first bridge pylon will be raised in July 2004. The Northern-Southern will be open for service in July 2005 (1 year late) and the Western section will be open in October 2005. After moving Phetra pier to the new site, the owner of Phetra pier and the owners of Ajinomoto Pier have expanded their piers to facilitate transportation between Phrapadaeng side and Poochao Samingphrai side. The owner of Phapradaeng pier (in front of the District office) also renovated and expanded their pier to facilitate the traffic for small cars and prevent another tragedy like the recent incident when a car fell from the ferry and drowned a female driver. These are the details, but a Post article suggests the government has not determined how to pay for this project yet. More on the Ring Railway hearing - May 28 , 2003 Wisarut Bholsithi has more information about the public hearing on the Bangkok Ring Railway from Thairath Daily (May 26, 2003). The following is additional information not in the Matichon Daily (May 25, 2003) article. 1) About 200 villagers attending the first public hearing. 2) The break even point for investment will be about 30 years after opening. 3) Almost all attendees said this Bangkok Ring Railway must be built now. 4) Many attendees said convenient interchanges with Skytrain and Subway are too critical to be left out of the package since many people go back and forth between their homes in Bangkok suburbs and the city center. Therefore, integrated ticket systems with convenient interchanges are a must. 5) Some of those who want to have the Bangkok Ring Railway immediately said they do not care about the interchanges since they rarely go downtown ... or even travel very far away (from Kaset to Phrapadaeng at one end and Phaseecharoen to Bang Kapi at the other end). Just getting it done as soon as possible would be fine for them. 6) Many of attendees said the retail prices of the tickets should be cheaper than the Skytrain since they cannot afford to pay for 30-day passes, 3-day passes, 1-day passes (which are a cheaper price/trip, but people have to pay large sums of cash), stored value cards or even 40-baht tickets ... Commentary by Wisarut: I would like to remind those who attended the hearing that: 1) The interchanges with Skytrain are too vital to be left out. Therefore, the extensions to Kaset, Samrong, and Bang Wah are should be ready by the time of the opening of the system in 2010 (2009 according to Thairath). 2) The grading sections should about 3-4 meters high with excellent drainage to ensure that the ring railway will function even during the flood time. The prevention of soil erosion for the grading sections are also in need to prevent accidents during the rainy season. 3) Break even in 30 years? Not such a good deal. If they want the Bangkok Ring Railway to break even as soon as possible it must have Skytrain extensions, convenient interchanges with park and ride facilities, and integrated ticket systems (with passes - 1 day, 3 day, 30 days and student passes) will ensure that the system will break even faster than expected. 4) If they want to attract foreigners invest on this project, long-term concessions (30-60 years) are a must-- but with condition for system integration with Skytrain. Otherwise, it will not attract any foreign investors at all. Public Hearing for Bangkok Ring Railways - translated and summarized from Matichon Daily - May 25, 2003 The first public hearing for the Bangkok Ring Railway project was held at Rama IX Park at 10am on May 24 and hosted by Governor Samak and the BMA Traffic Office Board of Directors. There were 300 villagers from the Bangkok suburbs attending the public hearing. Governor Samak said that this project will need about 41-58 billion baht to implement the system with distance a of 82.5 km and 37 stations. The public sector will invest 80% and private sector will invest 20% on systems. Of the public investment the central government will invest 65% (thus 52% of the total) and the local government will invest 35% (thus 28% of the total). Even though the project will cause noise, dust, vibration, and visual impact during the construction and probably visual impact after construction, the benefits for this project outweigh the environmental impact. After the public hearing, Governor Samak said he will submit the plan to Premier Thaskin to approve the budget. If the cabinet approves the plan, construction will be started by the end of 2005 to be done in 2010. There are some foreign investors who are keen to invest on this project. Matichon correspondents have interviewed those who attended the public hearing and here is what they said: 1) Miss Phornthip, Wiriya (30, maid from Prawet District) "Interesting Project. However, BMA and the central government have to be very careful before signing the contract with foreigners. Otherwise, it will be a concession sell-out! If it is possible, the whole 82.5-km system should be a subway." 2) Miss Anakkamol Khaiwkham (25, from Ram Indra Km.8, Kanna Yao District) "Bangkok has lots of traffic jam on all routes--especially the inbound route. Skytrain and Subway must be expanded and ticket prices should be lower than the Skytrain." The Bangkok Ring Railway will go along the following route: 1) Starting at Kaset Intersection to go along Kaset-Nawamin Road (the new road which has lots of restaurants and Bangkok suburb villages) to reach Nawamin Road at Nuan Jan Intersection 2) Turns right to go along Namamin Road to Bangkapi Intersection via the NHA Housing and Apartment (NHA is the National Housing Authority--a state enterprise which handles the construction, lease, and distribution of cheap apartments for those who cannot afford to pay for houses developed by private real estate companies) 3) After reaching Bang Kapi, the route will go along Sri Nakharin Road to Nam Daeng Intersection (in Samut Prakarn) passing by Seacon, Seri center, Carefour, etc. 4) After that, it will go along Thapharak Road to Thepharak Intersection before turning right to Poochao Samingphrai Intersection at Poochao Samingphrai Intersection. 5) It will go along Poochao Samingphrai and to an underwater tunnel to Phra Padaeng and then go along Nakhon Khuen-khan Road (main street of downtown Phra Padaeng) to Nakhon Khuen-khan Intersection. 6) The route will go along the proposed Suksawat-Rama II road (a new shortcut to Rama II Highway which passes through the villages around Thung Khru before ending up near Bang Mod Hospital and turning to Nakhon Khuen Khan Intersection from the T Intersection to the X Intersection) 7) After that, the route will go along the proposed Rama II - Phetkasem Road which passes though Chaikul village and goes across Mae Klong Railway to the route between Wat Sai and Wat Singha (but closer to Wat Sai) before ending up at Phetkasem Road at Phaseecharoen District office. (Rama II - Phetkasem road is a new short cut) 8) After that the route will go along Phetkasem Road to Bang Wah (Interchange with Skytrain and Subway in the future) before turning left to Phetkasem - Rattanathibet Road (will be open in 2004). 9) The route will go along the Phetkasem-Rattanathibet Road and pass though Talingchan Junction until it reaches Wat Song Ploo Intersection. 10) After that, the route will go along Tiwanon-Kanchanaphisek outer Ring Road to go across Rama 5 Bridge to go along Tiwanon Road to Khae Rai Intersection. 11) After that, the route will turn right to go along Ngam Wongwan Road to end up at Kaset Intersection Notes on the 37 proposed stations 1) Kaset - If the Northern Extension of the Skytrain is allowed to reach Kasetsart University instead of just ending up at Ratchyothin Intersection, it will be a busy interchange as Siam Station. However, it is necessary to expropriate the land for construction and demolish the Kaset flyover to make the way for Kaset interchange. 2) Bang Khen - intersection with Bangkhen Railway Station allowing those who ride SRT commuter trains to go to downtown Bangkok and those who live in downtown Bangkok to catch a train to the North and Northeast. 3) Phong Phet - near Phongphet flea market, and Phentphet 4) Ngam Wongwan - near Banglamphoo Department Sore and The Mall Ngam Wongwan - needs to have a foot bridge to connect the stations with the department store. 5) Khae Rai - near Tesco Lotus (Khae Rai) and Rok Sugn Ok hospital 6) Rewadee - a short cut to Sanambin Nam Road. 7) Tiwanon - should have a connection with Big C Tiwanon by expropriation of mechanic shops around the corner 8) Wat Nakhon In - the foot of Rama 5 Bridge connected with Chaophraya Express boat at Phiboon Songkram 2 Pier (a pier before Nonthaburi Pier) 9) Bang Oy Chang - an intersection between Bang Kruay - Sai Noy road (the road that is where Bang Buathong Railway was before 1942) and the (recently opened) Tiwanon-Kanchanaphisek Road. 10) Wat Song Phloo - an intersection between Phetkasem - Rattana Thibet Road and Tiwanon - Kanchanaphisek Road 11) Talingchan - not far from Taling Chan Junction for the Southern Railway - allowing those who want to go to Southern Thailand and those Southerners who want to go to Ram Khamhaeng University to go there. However, it needs a long foot bridge to link the Junction with the station. 12) Bang Wah - Interchange with Skytrain if BTSC are allowed to extend from Taksin Intersection to Bang Wah and the Southern extension of Skytrain - may need to expropriation to allow system integration. 13) Phaseecharoen - Phaseecharoen District - interchange with Southern extension of MRTA Blue line Subway 14) Ekkachai - Ekkachai Road -near Thonburi district court 15) Rama II - Rama II Highway near Bangmod Hospital 16) Pracha Uthit - Near Prachauthit 33 (a shortcut between Pracha Uthi Road to Suksawat Road), and King Mongkut University of Technology, Thonburi (privatized university). 17) Nakhon Khuenkhan - Intersection between Suksawat road and Nakhon Khuenkhan Road - should be underground - Interchange with Southern extension of the Orange line subway 19) Phra Pradaeng - district office, the main bus terminal, and ferry pier in downtown Phra Padaeng. Underground 20) Poochao Saming Phlai - the opposite pier to Phra Padaeng 21) Thepharak - a section between Poochao Saming Phrai Intersection and Thepharak Intersection -> Interchange to Skytrain for Samrong extension. 22) Sri Thepha, Sri Thapha Intersection - near Sri Thepha flea market 23) La Salle - Sukhmvit 105 24) Sri Udom - an intersection between Sri Nakharin and Udomsuk Road (Sukhumvit 103) to Rama IX Park 25) Seri center - a giant mall near Seri villa and a short cut to Rama IX Park 26) Secon Square - a giant mall rival to Central Lad Phrao and another Panthip for Southern Bangkokians. 27) Sri Nut - Intersection between Sri Nakharin Road and Onnut Road (Sukhumvit 77). 28) Hua Mark - Intersection between Phatthankarn and Sri Nakharin - near Hua Mark Railway station and Jusco Phatthanakarn ... needs a good interchange to SRT Eastern railway to NBIA 29) Krungthep Kreetha - the village initially for the 1959 SEAP Game athlete village before selling out 30) Lam Salee - a busy intersection in Ram Khamhaeng Road - Interchange with MRTA Orange line subway 31) Bang Kapi - busy intersection near the Mall Bang Kapi, Happyland flea market, Tesco Lotus bang Kapi - needs connections to the stores and market to allow convenience. Land expropriation is a must. 32) Sri Boorapha - Intersection to Serithai Park - a new park surrounding Klong Chan lake 33) Inthararak - Inthararak curve near Inthararak flea market 34) Pho Kaeo - a short cut to Lad Phrao road 35) Nuan Jan - end of Kaset - Nawamin Road 36) Sua Yai - interchange between Kaset - Nawamin and Pradit Manootham Road and the 3rd stage expressway 37) Lad Pla Khao - interchange to the villages from Lad Pla Khao (Ram Indra Km 2), Senanikhom (Phaholyothin 32) Wang Hin intersection and Chokchai 4 (Lad Phrao 53) More commentary by Wisarut: Direct connections with piers, shopping centers, Skytrain stations, Subway stations, are so vital that they must be in the package. The rates should be at par with Skytrain so that the integration of tickets with Skytrain is possible. 60 billion baht may not be enough if you include the direct connections, the integrated ticket systems, escalators, elevators, and even park and rides. 80 billion baht is closer to reality. Those who want the whole ring as subway system do not realize that the construction costs will shoot up to 170-180 billion baht - enough to fund the new airport expansion to the full capacity of 100 million passengers a year. Feeder buses still in need since there are missing areas the Bangkok ring railway cannot serve on its own - even with Skytrain and Subway. Integrated ticket systems with vending machines which can accept Thai banknotes - especially vending smart cards like those used in the Singapore MRT. Singapore MRT has already retired the magnetic cards to replace with smart card systems. Samak unveils plan for 82km ring railway - Bangkok Post, May 25, 2003 This article doesn't tell much--it is being reported as if it is a brand new project... Choosing the Rama 5 route for the 82-km ring railroad - translated and summarized from Thairath, February 14, 2003 Describing the route Thaweesak Lordpraphan (Director of Transportation Department, BMA Traffic and Transport Office), told the press that the most feasible route for the 82-km Bangkok ring project is the route along Rama 5 Bridge, then along the bypass to Kae Raiand, then along Ngam Wongwan until Kaset Intersection. After that, it should go along Kaset Nawamin Road until it reaches Nawamin Road. After that, it will go along Nawamin Road to Bang Kapi and then Sri Nakharin Road to Thepharak (a part of the Yellow Line - from Bangkapi to Thepharak). From Thepahrak Road it should continue to Poochao Saming Phrai to Petra Pier before going across the Chaophraya on the Industrial Ring Bridge to Suksawat. Then, it turns left to Suksawat Interchange to go along Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring to Rattnathibet Road and then right to Wat Nakorn In - Outer Ring road to complete the ring. The total distance will be 82.5 km and have 37 stations. Reasons for the route The reason for this route: engineering feasibility, suitable areas for construction, and passing through the communities around Bangkok suburbs, such as: 1) Communities along Kaset-Ngam Wongwan Road-Khae Rai are very dense and there is a real estate boom along Kaset-Nawamin Road -> the pillars of the Expressway are the only obstruction. Rama 5 Bridge is already there even though the road is not all done yet. 2) Communities around Bangkapi-Lam Salee are also very dense and there are lots of traffic magnets around the area such as Seri Center on Sri Nakharin Road. Order of construction Therefore, the section from Thepharak-Sri Nakharin-Hua Mark must be done first--after the Samrong BTS extension becomes a reality (after 2007). Kaset to Bangkapi must be done next--after the BTS extension from Mochit to Kaset become a reality (after 2010). The section from Kaset to Rama 5 Bridge and the section from Lam Salee must be done only after BMA negotiates with SRT to allow them to put pillars across the Northern Railway (Bang Khen Station) and Eastern Railway (Hua Mark Station). Then the section from Poochao Samingphrai to Suksawat (Phrapradaeng) should be executed. The section from Bang Khae to Rattnathibet and Rama 5 Bridge should be done last. After finalizing the route, the board will submit the plan to Krungthep Thanakhom to deal with investment and construction details. Krungthep Thanakhom will have three months to deal with the detail studies and submit the details back to the board for a public hearing. Unsuitable routes The other three routes considered unsuitable are: 1) Pakkret - Chaeng Watthana - Ram Indra - Eastern Ring Road - Thepharak - Poochao Samingphrai - Southern Ring Road, Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road - Pakkret Reasons: Eastern Ring Road is a toll road - passing through a green belt - Southern Ring Road not conceived yet even though the route has reached Suk Sawat - bridge across Chaophraya in Pakket is not conceived yet. 2) Pathumthani (Route345) - Lam Lookka - Nimit Mai - Minburi - Eastern Ring Road - Thepharak - Poochao Samingphrai - Southern Ring Road - Kanchanaphisek Road - Rattnanathibet - Lad Lum Kaeo - Route 345 - Pathum Thani Reasons: Pathumthani (Route 345), Lam Lookka, Namit Mai are too far away - Southern Ring Road not conceived yet even though the route has reached Suk Sawat. 3) Chaeng Watthana - Ram Indra - Nimit Mai - Thepharak - Poochao Saming Phrai - Phet Kasem - Ratthana Thibet - Chaeng Watthana Reasons: Bridge across Chaophraya in Pakket is not conceived yet - Namit Mai is too far away. Governor Samak flying to Japan at the end of Feb to negotiate with JBIC for a loan to construct the Ring Skytrain