PRINCESS Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand opened Bangkok’s Mass Rapid Transit Purple Line on August 6 2016 with an inaugural trip on the 23.5km line from Tao Poon to Khlong Bang Phai station in the district of Bang Yai, where the opening ceremony took place.
The Baht 60bn ($US 1.7bn) project was implemented by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, which was financed with a Japanese ODA loan.
MRTA awarded a contract in 2013 to Bangkok Metro Public Company (BMCL) for both the provision of the railway systems and operation of the 16-station line.
Ch Karnchang, Thailand, which is a shareholder in BMCL with MRTA, was responsible for the civil works while a joint venture of Marubeni and Toshiba was selected for the railway systems package which included rolling stock, power supply systems, signalling and control systems and communication systems.
Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-Trec), a subsidiary of East Japan Railway Company (JR East) has supplied a fleet of 21 three-car Sustina trains, which will be maintained by a local JR East subsidiary for the first 10 years of operation.
In November 2013 Marubeni/Toshiba Joint Venture awarded D&P a Turnkey Subcontract for the Rolling Stock and Track Maintenance Equipment for the Purple Line in Bangkok.
The following equipment was supplied under this Subcontract
1. Underfloor Trainset Lifting System
2. Movable Lifting Jacks Rail Mounted (Set 12)
3. Movable Lifting Jacks (Set 4)
4. Overhead Bridge Crane 100kN
5. Overhead Bridge Crane 20kN
6. Trainwash Plant
7.Parts Washer and Bogie Wash Facility
8. Drying Oven
9.Sand Blasting Equipment
10. Painting Equipment
11.Brake and Compressor Test Equipment (9-12 Bar)
12. Traction Motor Test Facility
13. Electronic Workshop (Complete)
14.Vehicle Door Test Stand
15. Train Air Conditioning Module Repair
16. Bogie Preload Stand
17. Damper Test Stand
18. Spring Test Stand
19. Hi-Rail Maintenance Vehicle
20. Flat Wagon
21. Rail/Road Shunting Vehicle
22. Rail Mounted Rail Grinding and Reprofiling Machine
23. Defect Rail Inspection Equipment Self Propelled Rail Mounted Vehicle
24. Infrastructure Maintenance Vehicle
25. Underfloor Wheel Lathe
26. Hydraulic Wheel Press (2000kN)
27. Bearing Removal Equipment (450kN)
28. Bogie and Wheelset Workshop Equipment (Complete)
29. Bogie Work Stands
30. Magnetic Particle Inspection Equipment
31. Ultrasonic Test Equipment
32. Trackwork Equipment and Hand Tools (Complete)
33. Pallet Storage System (Complete)
34. Two-Tier Shelving System
35. Tool Storage System (Complete)
36. Battery Charging (Complete)
37. Inspection Platforms (Complete)
38. Bogie Turntables
39. Re-Railing and Rescue Equipment
40. Rail Mounted Self Propelled Ultrasonic Rail Test Vehicle
41.Maintenance Platform
42. Compressed Air System c/w Piping
43. Portable Train Weighing Scales
