Blue, Purple electric railways now linked

BANGKOK, Aug 11 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ceremonially opened the 1.2-kilometer link between the Bang Sue station of the Blue Line and the Tao Poon station of the Purple Line. With the complete connection, passengers can ply between both stations within only about two minutes and with one change of a train and one time of payment at the Tao Poon station. The operator, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority maintains Purple Line fares at discounts until Jan 31 next year. The fares are 14-29 baht on weekdays and 15 baht on holidays. Gen Prayut said monorails would be built in east-west directions especially on routes of road traffic congestion. He also ordered the Transport Ministry to ensure smooth commuters’ transits between trains and buses. After the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister boarded a Blue Line train from Tao Poon to the Kamphaeng Phet station. Then he took his vehicle to the Sanam Chai station. There he got on a tramp through a tunnel under the Chao Phraya River to the Itsaraphap station and witnessed beautiful decorations in both new stations. (TNA)