MRT might fix ‘missing link’ between Purple and Blue lines that never should have existed

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) board will consider allowing the agency to directly negotiate with operators of the Blue Line to try to find a way to run two extensions that would fix the so-called missing link problem between the Blue Line and the new Purple Line.

Currently, there is a 1-kilometer gap between the Blue Line’s Bang Sue station and the Purple Line’s Tao Poon station. Officials previously suggested running a shuttle bus between the two stations when the Purple Line opens in August.

Some Bangkokians have given this missing link the nickname of the “tooth gap.”

There will be three buses, which will run every 5 minutes. They are meant to hold 240 people each.

Yodyuth Boonyathikarn, the Board’s chairman, said that the idea for talks to happen directly between Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM) came from a panel studying the Joint Public-Private Partnership Act, known as PPP law.

If the board approves the proposed talks, the idea will move to the Public-Private Partnership Committee to approve later this month.

Direct talks between the two groups could begin after that.

Yodyuth also announced that the MRTA is trying to locate an operator for their extended routes (Bang Sue-Tha Phra and Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae) as soon as possible.

If BEM gets a contract for Tao Poon-Bang Sue service, it could start running later this year, according to Yodyuth.

Under the tentative plan, the Purple and Blue Lines would be linked at Tao Poon station when the extension opens in 2019, Bangkok Post reported.

Until then, prepare yourself for a train-bus-train situation or train-motorcycle taxi-train one, whatever suits you.

Related:

Date set: MRT Purple Line to open Aug. 6

First look at the new MRT Purple Line (PHOTOS)



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