SRT Dark Red Line


The SRT Dark Red Line is part of the planned SRT Red Line suburban railway system to serve the greater Bangkok Metropolitan Region which includes Bangkok Province and 4 adjoining provinces. It runs on a north–south axis through Bangkok. When fully completed, the line will extend from Thammasat University's Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani Province to Maha Chai in Samut Sakhon Province for a full length of nearly 87 km.
Construction started in 2013 and was originally due to be completed within 3 years. By the end of September 2019, civil works were almost fully complete at 99.56%
In May 2018, the SRT announced that the Dark Red line should finally open in October 2020. Fares will be set at between 14-45 baht. However, more recently the SRT has stated that the new Intercity Terminal at Bang Sue will not open until early 2021 and this is likely to be the date for the line to start operations.
In July 2016, the Thai Cabinet approved the first section of the southern extension from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong. However, the 10km 4 station northern extension from Rangsit to Thammasat University will be built first and was originally expected to be tendered by September 2018. This was delayed and then due to be tendered in the 2nd half of 2019. However, the tender has yet again been further delayed until 2021 as the Transport Minister has requested that the new Department of Railways investigate conducting PPP tenders for this extension.

History

In February 2009, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva secured a 24 billion baht loan from the Japanese Government for the 67 km segment. The first Phase from Bang Sue to Rangsit was approved in 2010 but delayed due to a complicated 2.5 year contractual dispute.
The 21.6 km, 9 station Rangsit to Bang Sue section finally started construction in May 2013 after new contracts were signed in January 2013. A construction period of 3 years was stated. By the end of 2013, the project was only 3% done & already months behind schedule due to a longer timetable in removing the Hopewell Pillars. In June 2014, the SRT requested an additional 8.14 billion baht to modify the Dark Red line to 4 tracks instead of 3, to accordingly redesign all stations and to provide for the longer platforms for the Bang Sue Terminal to cater for future HSR lines. 8.140 billion baht request is; 4.32 billion baht for Contract 1 ; 3.35 billion Baht for Contract 2 and 473 million baht for Contract 3.
It is worth noting that the budget for the 1st Phase of the Dark Red Line project have progressively increased due to numerous delays and further redesign of the project. From an initial 59.89 billion baht in 2007, to 75.55 billion baht in 2009 and to 80.38 billion baht in 2012. The additional requested 8.14 billion baht will increase the current budget to 88.52 billion baht.

Route Alignment

Initially, the SRT Red Line will run from the new Intercity Terminal at Bang Sue north for 26 km via Don Mueang to terminate at Rangsit in Pathum Thani Province. The line will then be extended a further 10 km north from Rangsit to Thammasat University's Rangsit campus. From Bang Sue the line will be extended 11 km south via Phaya Thai to terminate at Hua Lumphong station. The final section of the line will run south east from Hua Lumphong for 39 km to Maha Chai in Samut Sakhon Province via Wong Wian Yai along the current Maha Chai railway alignment.
When completed the SRT Red Line will run from Thammasat University's Rangsit campus in Pathum Thani Province to Maha Chai in Samut Sakhon Province for a total of 87 km.

Construction Progress: Phase 1 Bang Sue to Rangsit

The 26 km, 9 station Bang Sue to Rangsit section finally started construction in May 2013 with a scheduled construction period of 3 years. Construction works were delayed by 2 months due to site access issues for the contractor and delays related to removing slum dwellers residing within the right of way. However, it was hoped that the use of some of the old Hopewell pillars would speed up the initial construction timetable. By the end of 2013, the project was only 3% done & already months behind schedule due to a longer timetable in removing the Hopewell Pillars.
In June 2014, the SRT requested an additional 8.14 billion baht to modify the Dark Red line to 4 tracks instead of 3, to accordingly redesign all stations and to provide for the longer platforms for the Bang Sue Terminal to cater for future HSR lines. 8.140 billion baht request is; 4.32 billion baht for Contract 1 ; 3.35 billion Baht for Contract 2 and 473 million baht for Contract 3.
As of September 2017, civil works progress was stated to be 88.63%. By the end of September 2019 civil works were almost fully complete at 99.56% and Electrical and Signalling installation was at 45.60%. By July 2020, S&E installation was at 80%.

New Intercity Terminal at Bang Sue (Contract 1)

Contract 1 of the project is for the construction of a new, 4 level Intercity Terminal to cater for all SRT Intercity Trains, SRT Red Line suburban trains and the yet to be built Airport Rail Link extension. The delayed contract process was finally signed in January 2013. In August 2013, the SRT sought extra funds for the project to be redesigned in order to extend upper level platforms to a 400-600m length in order to accommodate future planned High Speed Lines.
In March 2013, the new Intercity Terminal at Bang Sue started construction. Between March and June, excavation works for the foundation of the Terminal were delayed by the unearthing of numerous World War II unexploded bombs which required safe removal by army Explosive Ordnance Teams.
As of July 2014, construction was 10% behind schedule.
The new Bang Sue was originally scheduled to open by end of 2016 but the above-mentioned redesign work and other delays have resulted in an expected 2020 opening date. As of September 2017, construction progress of the station civil works was at 57.50%. By the end of September 2019 civil works were at 86.01% and the new Bang Sue station was expected to finally open in January 2021.

Rolling stock (Contract 3)

The 3rd contract for the Dark Red Line is for electrical and systems and procuring EMU rolling stock. An overhead catenary electrical system is specified. As of April 2014, only 2 bidders remained but one of the bidding consortium's was disqualified on due to the fact that one of the consortium members had convictions for bribery in an Indonesian bidding process.
This left MHSC Consortium as the sole bidder qualified for the contract. However, their bid of 28,899 Million Baht was above the SRT median price of 26 billion baht which was set in 2010. The MHSC Consortium argued that their bid reflects 2013 prices after the minimum wage increase of January 2012. Finally, after a 2-year delay in the bidding process, in July 2014 JICA approved the loan for Contract 3. However, the coup of May 2014 delayed finalization leading to further review and negotiations. By mid 2016, negotiations had concluded and Hitachi promised that all rolling stock for the Dark Red line would be delivered by 2020. The contract specifies 25 EMUs consisting of ten 4 car sets and fifteen 6 car sets for 130 cars in total.
In late September 2019 the first 2 sets of rolling stock were shipped from Japan and both arrived in Thailand at Laem Chabang port on 12 October 2019 for shipment to Bangkok. By March 2020, 5 sets had been delivered.
As of July 2020, 13 sets - 7 of the 6 car sets and 6 of the 4 car sets - of the total 25 sets of rolling stock had been delivered with a further 2 sets due to be delivered by August 2020.

Future extensions

Construction segments based on M-Map:
PhaseSegmentLengthProgress
IRangsit-Bang SueUnder construction
IIThammasat University-RangsitCabinet Approved
IIIBang Sue-Hua LamphongCabinet Approved
IVHua Lamphong-Bang BonPlanned
VBang Bon-Maha ChaiPlanned
VIMaha Chai-MaeklongSuggested
VIIMaeklong-Pak ThoSuggested

There is a future extension that is not included in M-Map, but is included in information brochures.
PhaseSegmentLengthProgress
TBAThammasat University-Phachi Junction Railway StationUnknownUnknown

Phase II Rangsit-Thammasat University: (planned for tender in 2021)

The 10 km, 4 station was approved by Cabinet in 2016 and was expected to be tendered by September 2018. The extension to Thammasat University was then to be tendered in the 2nd half of 2019. However, the tender has further been delayed until 2021 as the Transport Minister has requested the new Department of Railways to investigate conducting PPP tenders for this extension.

Phase III Bang Sue-Hua Lamphong: (cabinet approved)

The 11 km, 7 station southern extension to Hua Lumphong station was approved by Cabinet in 2016. However, the northern extension to Thammasat University will be built before this section.

Phase IV & V Hua Lamphong-Bang Bon-Maha Chai: (planned)

The last section of the line will run south east from Hua Lumphong to Maha Chai in Samut Sakhon Province via Wong Wian Yai along the current Maha Chai railway alignment.

Potential extension from Maha Chai to Ratchaburi?

The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning have studied the improvement and construction of the Mae Klong railway line Which will be constructed through Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi provinces. It will use a bypass route in Samut Sakhon Province by deviating from the original train line for about 31 km. Between Ban Khom Railway Station and Khlong Chak Railway Station, the line will be elevate across Ekachai road And deviate along the route of Rama II Road around the km 26 + 800 to the 32 + 160 km and then divert to the left to go straight to connect with the original train line.
From Samut Songkhram the suggested route will be constructed across the Mae Klong River. A third option is expected to be in use, which is to bypass Samut Songkhram city By diverging from the original train line about 66 km after passing Bang Kraboon Railway Station, which will be an elevated railway along the National Highway No. 325 to cross the Mae Klong Canal And Highway 325 at the intersection to Damnoen Saduak District, approximately 40 + 850 km and crossing the Mae Klong River
It will then revert to ground level and end at Pak Tho Railway Station, Ratchaburi which will build a train parallel with the royal highway number 3093 and will have 3 more new railway stations in this section. Expected total value of this project is approximately 42,243 million baht.
When completed, it will be a new southern railway line, which will help shorten the original train route, which originially runs through Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi before going to Pak Tho Station. The new Southern Railway will reduce the distance by about 43 kilometres and the aim of the project also includes the development of the Southwest Transport Center.
However, as of 2016 this planned southern extension is very unlikely to be built as when Cabinet approved the northern extension to Thammasat University and the Southern extension to Hua Lumphong, only the original project scope to Maha Chai was referenced.

List of stations

CodeStation NameThaiExpress TrainCity TrainTransferLocation
Phase II - Northern extensionPhase II - Northern extensionPhase II - Northern extensionPhase II - Northern extensionPhase II - Northern extensionPhase II - Northern extensionPhase II - Northern extension
RN13Thammasat Universityมหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์
ศูนย์รังสิต		●●Pathum Thani
RN12Chiang Rakเชียงราก●Pathum Thani
RN11Bangkok Universityมหาวิทยาลัยกรุงเทพ●Pathum Thani
RN10Khlong Nuengคลองหนึ่ง●Pathum Thani
Phase IPhase IPhase IPhase IPhase IPhase IPhase I
RN09Rangsitรังสิต●●Pathum Thani
RN08Lak Hok หลักหก ●-
RN07Don Mueangดอนเมือง●● Don Mueang International Airport Bangkok
RN06Kan Khehaการเคหะ●Bangkok
RN05Lak Siหลักสี่●: Lak Si Bangkok
RN04Thung Song Hongทุ่งสองห้อง●Bangkok
RN03Bang Khenบางเขน●: Bang Khen Bangkok
RN02Wat Samian Nariวัดเสมียนนารี●Bangkok
RN01Chatuchakจตุจักร● Mochit 2 Northern/Northeastern Bus TerminalBangkok
RCENBang Sueบางซื่อ●●
: Bang Sue		Bangkok
Phase III - Southern extensionPhase III - Southern extensionPhase III - Southern extensionPhase III - Southern extensionPhase III - Southern extensionPhase III - Southern extensionPhase III - Southern extension
RS01Pradiphatประดิพัทธ์●Bangkok
RS02Sam Senสามเสน●Bangkok
RS03Ratchawithiราชวิถี●Bangkok
RS04Yommaratยมราช●: Yommarat Bangkok
RS05Yot Seยศเส●: Yot Se Bangkok
RS06Hua Lamphongหัวลำโพง●●: Hua LamphongBangkok
Phase IVPhase IVPhase IVPhase IVPhase IVPhase IVPhase IV
RS07Khlong Sanคลองสาน●Bangkok
RS08Wongwian Yaiวงเวียนใหญ่●: Wongwian Yai : Wongwian Yai Bangkok
RS09Talat Phluตลาดพลู●: Talat PhluBangkok
RS10Taksinตากสิน●●: WutthakatBangkok
RS11Chom Thongจอมทอง●Bangkok
RS12Wat Saiวัดไทร●Bangkok
RS13Wat Singวัดสิงห์●●Bangkok
RS14Bang Bonบางบอน●Bangkok
Phase VPhase VPhase VPhase VPhase VPhase VPhase V
RS15Rang Sakaeรางสะแก●Bangkok
RS16Rang Phoรางโพธิ์●●Bangkok
RS17Sam Yaekสามแยก●Bangkok
RS18Phrom Daenพรมแดน●Bangkok
RS19Thung Si Thongทุ่งสีทอง●●Samut Sakhon
RS20Bang Nam Chuetบางน้ำจืด●Samut Sakhon
RS21Khok Khwaiคอกควาย●Samut Sakhon
RS22Ekkachaiเอกชัย●●Samut Sakhon
RS23Maha Chaiมหาชัย●●Samut Sakhon
Phase VI Phase VI Phase VI Phase VI Phase VI Phase VI Phase VI
xTha Chalomท่าฉลอมSamut Sakhon
xNok Lekนกเล็กSamut Sakhon
xSi KotสีคตSamut Sakhon
xBang Krachaoบางกระเจ้าSamut Sakhon
xBan Boบ้านบ่อSamut Sakhon
xBang ThoratบางโทรัดSamut Sakhon
xBan Ka Longบ้านกาหลงSamut Sakhon
xBan Na Khwangบ้านนาขวางSamut Sakhon
xBan Na Khokบ้านนาโคกSamut Sakhon
xBan Ket Muangบ้านเขตเมืองSamut Songkhram
xLad Yaiลาดใหญ่Samut Songkhram
xBang KrabunบางกระบูนSamut Songkhram
xMae Klongแม่กลองSamut Songkhram
Phase VII Phase VII Phase VII Phase VII Phase VII Phase VII Phase VII
xBang Khan ThongบางขันทองSamut Songkhram
xPlai Phong PhangปลายโพงพางSamut Songkhram
xWat PlengวัดเพลงRatchaburi
xPak Thoปากท่อSRT Southern lineRatchaburi

Route Districts & Provinces