Japan will begin producing the electric trains that will be used in the Purple Line that links Bang Yai with Bang Sue in a matter of weeks so that the train cars can be delivered before the end of this year, according to Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong.
The Japanese assembly line for the trains will commence operation late this month or early next month, and the finished trains will be delivered at a date which will allow train service on the Purple Line to commence by early 2016, said ACM Prajin.
The Transport Minister also spoke of potential Thai-Japanese collaboration in railways investment, saying that Japan is currently provided with three investment choices.
The first choice is the Bangkok-Chiang Mai 'north-south' route.
The second choice is the Mae Sot-Mukdahan 'east-west' route, which Japan had previously expressed interest in. Investment in the Mae Sot-Mukdahan route could involve either making improvement to an existing 1 metre gauge rail line or development of a new 1.435 metre 'standard gauge' rail line.
The third choice will involve investing in multiple rail lines that link Bangkok with Kanchanaburi, Bangkok with Chachoengsao and Aranyaprathet District, and Bangkok with Chachoengsao and Laem Chabang Port.
ACM Prajin explained that investment in the latter choice will provide the linkage for the east-west economic corridor running through lower Thailand, linking Dawei Port in Myanmar to Cambodia and southern Vietnam.-VNA
The Japanese assembly line for the trains will commence operation late this month or early next month, and the finished trains will be delivered at a date which will allow train service on the Purple Line to commence by early 2016, said ACM Prajin.
The Transport Minister also spoke of potential Thai-Japanese collaboration in railways investment, saying that Japan is currently provided with three investment choices.
The first choice is the Bangkok-Chiang Mai 'north-south' route.
The second choice is the Mae Sot-Mukdahan 'east-west' route, which Japan had previously expressed interest in. Investment in the Mae Sot-Mukdahan route could involve either making improvement to an existing 1 metre gauge rail line or development of a new 1.435 metre 'standard gauge' rail line.
The third choice will involve investing in multiple rail lines that link Bangkok with Kanchanaburi, Bangkok with Chachoengsao and Aranyaprathet District, and Bangkok with Chachoengsao and Laem Chabang Port.
ACM Prajin explained that investment in the latter choice will provide the linkage for the east-west economic corridor running through lower Thailand, linking Dawei Port in Myanmar to Cambodia and southern Vietnam.-VNA
