Long-awaited 1.2km missing rail link from Bang Sue to Tao Poon officially opens
The long-awaited 1.2 kilometre missing rail service between the Blue Line and the Purple Line was officially opened today by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Taopoon station.
The rail link will enable convenience for commuters to travel all the way on the original Blue Line from Hua Lamphong station to Bang Yai station in Bangkok’s neighbouring Nonthaburi province covering a total distance of 44 kilometres.
Currently the original Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue is 21 kilometres, while the distance from Bang Sue to Bang Yai is 23 kilometres.
The Purple Line which is an elevated line was opened to service last August but it attracted just 20,000 commuters a day from its target of 60,000-70,000 due to the missing 1.2 kilometre link.
Shuttle bus service was provided for commuters on the missing link instead.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) said the connection would see commuters rising to 100,000 a day on the Purple Line.
The connection of the the Blue Line and the Purple Line will enable people from the outskirt of Bangkok to travel right into the heart of the capital in just an hour.
The connection was made possible after Prime Minister Gen Prayut invoked Section 44 of the interim Constitution to resolve all legal and technical issues and accelerate the work process.
The use of Section 44 empowers relevant government agencies to bypass the state/private sector joint venture law and enabled contractor to start working on the missing link and complete in five months.
See the video at the link below.
Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/long-awaited-1-2km-missing-rail-link-bang-sue-tao-poon-officially-opens/
