Canadian engineer Bombardier Transportation has won two contracts to build monorails in Bangkok.
The company announced yesterday that it had been hired by two clients, Northern Bangkok Monorail and Eastern Bangkok Monorail, to finance and build the two systems using its Innovia 300 system. It will also operate them for 30 years.
The Khae Rai-MinBuri, or Pink, northern line will stretch for 35km and operate with 42 trainsets; the eastern Lat Phrao-Samrong, or Yellow, eastern line will run for 30km and use 30 trainsets. Trains will run at speeds up to 80 km/h with a maximum capacity of about 28,000 passengers an hour in each direction.
Bombardier did not give values for the contracts, but both lines were originally expected to cost 55 billion baht ($1.6bn) each.
Richard Hunter, president of Bombardier’s Southeast Asian branch, said in a press statement: "Our driverless Innovia system offers energy efficiency, sleek design, spacious interiors and inter-car walkthrough for superb comfort and enhanced safety as well as rubber tires for minimised noise and a smooth ride. It is well suited to the high-capacity requirements of the Thai capital."
Bombardier will design and supply the mechanical and electrical elements for the two lines, and deliver 72 four-car Innovia 300 trains. It will also supply its Cityflo 650 automatic train control technology for driverless operation. The contracts include providing the project management, systems engineering and integration, testing and commissioning for the new trains and systems.
The trainsets will be made at the joint-venture Puzhen Bombardier Transportation Systems in China.
Bombardier is also committed to the development of Thailand’s future talent and is working with two universities on railway engineering degree programmes.
Image: The Innovia 300 monorail (Bombardier)
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