The first three Japanese-made electric trains have arrived in Thailand.
Their test runs will begin next month along the long-awaited 23-kilometre Purple Line linking Nonthaburi and Bangkok.
The delivery of the trains ended uncertainty about the project going ahead as it was earlier postponed to 2016 due to delays caused by the severe floods in 2011.
Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL), the subway operator, bought the trains from a Japanese manufacturer in Yokohama where the trains were loaded onto a Thai-flagged vessel, Marine Department chief Chula Sukmanop said on Friday.
The ship reached Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri on Friday at 9am.
The three are among 21 trains, with a total of 63 carriages, to be delivered. They will be transported to the maintenance centre near Khlong Bang Phai Station in Nonthaburi where the test runs will begin.
Khlong Bang Phai is the first of 16 stations on the Purple Line. Others include Bang Yai market, Tha It, the King Rama III Bridge, the Nonthaburi Government Complex and the Public Health Ministry in Nonthaburi as well as Wongsawang Road and Tao Pun in Bangkok’s Bang Sue area.
BMCL said earlier the test runs will start in October after it receives the first three trains. The trial period will last six months and the company, which won the concession to operate the route, expects to launch the service on Aug 12 next year.
Meanwhile, authorities are still confident construction of the Thai-Chinese dual-track rail route will begin this year.
The latest time frame for construction to begin is December, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said yesterday.
Last week, during a meeting about the project between Thai and Chinese officials, Mr Arkhom did not pinpoint a construction date. A source, however, said the project may be delayed for up to nine months.
The 873-km rail route, made up of the Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi, Kaeng Koi-Map Ta Phut, Kaeng Khoi-Nakhon Ratchasima, and Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai sections, would link Thailand with Laos and run into southern China.