The general manager of UGL’s Hong Kong branch, Neil Heaton, said a tram system would suit Phuket as it is the cheapest option, and the easiest to build.
“The problem is Phuket’s limited road surface; we have to find room for the tram,” said Mr Heaton.
He suggested building the rail track on the ground in suburban areas, but raising it on piles in urban areas to solve the problem of limited ground space.
The project could be begun with a single track, he said, and expand to two or three if this is found necessary.
As an example of how this might be done he cited Hong Kong’s Light Rail Transit system, for which UGL has to date supplied 42 electrically-powered rail cars and set up signalling. It also maintains the cars it supplied.
Sirichai Prasertwaree, speaking for TRT, said it was not clear yet what type of joint venture would be established, as he had to study joint venture laws and regulations carefully.
TRT is already collaborating with BTS, which runs Bangkok’s Skytrain system, and State Railway of Thailand.
“We would like to build the Phuket Light Railway project and manage it ourselves. But with the restrictions imposed by Thai laws and regulations, we have to think about how we can do a thorough job,” Mr Sirichai said.
These restrictions include the rules governing the project study which, the 1995 Joint Venture Act stipulates, may be carried out only by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), a government body.
This means that a private JV wanting to build and run the system might not have full role in designing the project, including the system and the routes.
The OTP is to propose to the government that it provide budget of B30-40 million in 2014 for a new study on the Phuket light railway project.
In addition, it is possible that the Ministry of Transport (MoT) would want to run the light rail system after the construction is completed by private companies.
“After the meeting today, we may need to meet with the OTP or MoT for further discussions about the project,” Mr Sirichai said.