The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has postponed the planned test run of the first station of the skytrain's southern extension from Bearing to Samrong by four months to March 1.
The postponement from the Dec 5 schedule is necessary because City Hall and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) had yet to settle debts involving the transfer of the extension between them, according to Thai media.
While the BMA owns the Green Line, the southern extension was financed by the MRTA because it is beyond the capital. But in August this year, authorities allowed City Hall to take over the extension for commuters' conveniences. As a result, the BMA will have to pay the MRTA for the costs.
The Commission for the Management of Road Traffic last week ordered the BMA to pay around 3.5 billion baht to the MRTA by April 1, 2017, when control over the operation of the Green Line extension linking Bearing and Samut Prakan is transferred from the MRTA to City Hall.
The BMA informed the Transport Ministry that the test run of the 1.2-kilometre route had to be postponed.
A ministry’s source also said besides the financial issues, track work had yet to be finished. It is 98% complete now and should be done by Dec 20.
However, the structure construction is fully completed and is being inspected before delivery. It should be ready for transfer by the end of January next year.
The southern extension of the Green Line is a joint project between the Transport Ministry, the BMA and the MRTA to develop the 12.8km southern extension from Bearing to Samut Prakan with nine stations. The whole extension should be opened for service by 2017.
The nine stations (E15-E23) are: Samrong, Pu Chao Saming Phrai, Erawan Museum, Naval Academy, Samut Prakan City Hall, Srinagarindra, Phraek Sa, Sai Luat and Kheha Samut Prakan.
The extension project is estimated to cost around 21.4 billion baht. Of this amount, around 17.5 billion baht is long-term loans while around 3.5 billion baht is paid for land ownership transfer costs and fees.