The date is the birthday of the nation’s revered Queen Sirikit. The prime-minister noted that the grand opening would be a fitting celebration of the monarch’s anniversary in his broadcast ‘Returning Happiness to the People’ aired on Friday evening.
The Purple Line is 23kms long and connects Tao Poon in northern Bangkok to Bang Yai in Nonthaburi. The Transport Ministry and Bangkok’s public transport operators have already announced that fares will range from THB16 to THB40 and go up THB2 for every station.
The line is part of a project to update the Thai capital city’s transport options to the needs of 21st century commuters and tourists. Among other ongoing projects is a Blue Line extension. This will connect Hua Lampong, and the current terminus station for most intercity trains in Thailand, to Tha Phra via a Chao Phraya river tunnel.
Prime-minister Chan-ocha stated that work on the extension was almost three-quarters finished and a tentative inauguration date of April 2019 had been set. Travellers heading out of Bangkok by bus or train will find the ticket reservations service 12GO ASIA operates is hassle-free.
Thai PM confirms inauguration date for new Bangkok rail line
News in Asia
In his weekly address to the Thai people last week, Thailand’s prime-minister confirmed the launch date for a new Bangkok railway line. Prayut Chan-ocha said the Purple Line will open to paying passengers on 12 August 2016.