Phuket light rail to be completed by ‘about 2023’, says Vice Governor

PHUKET: Construction of the Phuket light-rail project will start in 2020 and be completed by ‘about 2023’, Phuket Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew told a meeting of officials yesterday (Aug 29).

Construction of the Phuket light-rail project will start in 2020 and be completed by ‘about 2023’, Phuket Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew told a meeting of officials yesterday (Aug 29). Photo: PR Dept

The startling revelation came at a meeting called by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which has been entrusted with the B39.4-billion project, in order to gain feedback from officials from across the island.

“The set up of the public-private venture required for the project is currently in the review stage. In 2020, the construction will start. Then the whole project will open for service in 2023, approximately,” V/Gov Thawornwat said.

Phase 1 of the project will cover 42 kilometres, from Phuket International Airport to Chalong Circle.

Phase 2 will extend 16km, from the airport turnoff on Thepkrasattri Rd (intersection of Route 402 and Route 4026) to Tha Noon in Phang Nga province.

“There will be 24 stations,” V/Gov Thawornwat said. “Nineteen of them will be ground-level stations, one will be elevated and one station will be underground.”

V/Gov Thawornwat said, “Today we have come to hear the opinions of the various government agencies and leaders of the local administrations to ensure that the project completed is in line with the objectives.

“The MRTA is responsible for the implementation of this project, which will assist in the island’s the economic expansion and support tourism transport options for Thais and foreigners.

“It will also help to alleviate traffic problems in Phuket,” V/Gov Thawornwat said.

For a double track light rail over 43 km a lot of land has to be bought/confiscated to lay the tracks. If that process goes the same time way as around the small Chalong circle for that very slow little underpass project than it will take 10 years time, and 10 governors/vice governors further. But let's keep dreaming.

To convenience of Phuket Governors and Vice Governors is: They never can held accountable for their official governmental press statements. By the moment, years ahead, when it is the time to do so they aleady long time gone. It is matter of thai phantom of the thai Phuket opera. Governor jobs suffer job inflation.

Ah well at least we know the vice governors maths skills, seems he fits in perfect with all the other people in charge on the island! 3 years to complete, that's the best joke ever! Please remind him constantly of that timescale! haha

How about starting with the basics. There is no proper sewage treatment system on the island and yet they keep trying to push this stupid train that nobody will use. The traffic chaos that the construction will cause would be monumental. If they ever did start this, it would take 10 years to build. That silly little half-underpass at the airport turn is still not finished after two years.

24 stations? 19 ground level + 1 elevated + 1 underground = 21 stations. And completed 'about' 2023? What a wet time-nonsense. They just started 2 years hearings. A simple 2 lane Chalong underpass takes already 4 years + to build. Are they going to use that same super slow construction company?

Phuket light rail to be completed by ‘about 2023’, says Vice Governor

Phuket light rail to be completed by ‘about 2023’, says Vice Governor

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