Connected subway stations in Bangkok to be opened within six months

BANGKOK, February 15 (TNA) - The Thai Cabinet has approved the construction of a connected section between the Tao Poon and the Bang Sue underground train stations in Bangkok by Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM), with its completion set over the next six months. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told journalists that the Cabinet made the decision at its weekly meeting on February 14. Arkhom said the Cabinet authorised the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to draft a contract in which BEM is hired with a state budget of 918 million baht to construct the one-kilometre connected subway station, linking the Tao Poon with the Bang Sue Stations, together with putting in a good place its automatic signals. According to the minister, the contract is expected to be signed on February 16 and the construction has been set to be completed within six months to be opened for public services by August 2017. The minister noted that the move is based on an order issued by the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) late last year to facilitate public transport for the section, linking the Blue Line, Bang Sue-Hua Lampoang Station, with the Purple Line, Bang Yai-Bang Sue. (TNA)