The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) board on Tuesday hired Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM) to connect Bangkok's Blue Line and the new Purple Line that reaches Nonthaburi province by March next year.
The Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue and the Purple Line from Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district to Tao Poon area of Bangkok was structurally connected between Bang Sue and Tao Poon stations, which are about 1km apart.
BEM will start the Purple Line service this Saturday but electric trains from Nonthaburi must stop at Tao Poon station as the service between there and Bang Sue is part of an extended Blue Line link. The MRTA has yet to officially find a concessionaire for this link.
Under the board's resolution on Tuesday, MRTA governor Peerayudh Singpatanakul said BEM would install electric and signalling systems on the 1km link between Tao Poon and Bang Sue, then test them by September and start running trains on the link by March next year.
The MRTA would hire BEM for 693 million baht for the connection. Pending that, electric train commuters must travel on shuttle buses or conventional trains between Tao Poon and Bang Sue stations.