Purple line progress

BANGKOK, 2 June 2014: Test runs of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand Purple Line will begin December 2015, one year ahead of schedule, according Thailand’s National News Bureau.
The rapid transit line will serve commuters living in Bangkok and Nonthaburi province, northeast of the city, an area that is now a major residential area for city workers.
The 23.5 km route starts in Bang Yai, crosses the River Chao Phraya and ends at Bang Sue station where the MRTA’s underground links commuters to downtown business districts.
A Japanese-funded public-private partnership, the line will be operated by the MRTA, with Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-Trec), a subsidiary of JR East, supplying 63 metro cars and Marubeni and Toshiba supplying E&M services as part of a November 2013 contract covering 10 years of maintenance.
There will be 16 stations along the train’s elevated route.
Work is also progressing on the red line rail link that also starts at Bang Sue and heads north along a 35 km route to Rangsit and the sprawling Thammasat University complex north of the city. It passes Don Mueang Airport and will be an important part of fast-train system to link the northern airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport on the eastern side of the Thai capital.
Due to be completed in five years the red line is one section of a proposed rail link between the two airports that would cover a distance of 50 km. The Airport Link between Suvarnabnhumi Airport and the city’s downtown Makkasan railway station is already operational and is used by thousands of commuters and tourists daily.
A section between the Airport Rail link and Bang Sue the junction where the red line will start is still in the blueprint stage, meaning the two ends of the system could be ready and running before the 12-km mid or joining section is built.

Sourced: ttrweekly