The Thai Rak Thai Party yesterday trumpeted its mass-transit master plan for Bangkok, promising better and cheaper train services.

"The ruling party's mass-transit development plan will rely entirely on government investment in order to ensure a flat charge of Bt15 per trip for the whole network of electric train routes," the party's secretary-general, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, told a news media briefing.

Party deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan and caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal attended the briefing.

Suriya said Thailand was seeking Bt600 billion in loans with a 10-year grace period to finance the mass-transit system. The Japanese loans would be repaid in 30 years.

"Under the financial arrangement in the pipeline, the government will contract private operators to run the train services in a non-profit manner," he said.

Earnings are estimated at Bt33 billion a year and annual operating costs at Bt15 billion for the 10 routes, he said.

Cheap rail fares and efficient and safe services will boost commuter numbers. Money not spent by households on motor cars will fuel growth in the real-estate market, he added.

Suriya claimed that under the Thai Rak Thai plan, the rail network would provide overall coverage of 333 kilometres. The Democrat Party recently said it would build 139km of track.

He also said the rival plan would set rail fares at between Bt60 to Bt70 depending on the distance travelled.

He said the Democrat-proposed rail link to Suvarnabhumi Airport would cost Bt56 billion, while his party's idea would come in at just Bt26 billion.

Sudarat, the party's Bangkok chief, pledged to build all 10 rail routes, three of which are under way.

If the ruling party won the October election, construction would begin next year, she said.

The party will do away with concessionaires for train services so it can cap fares, she said.

Pongsak said construction of the new routes would be completed in four years, but might be delayed if voters opted for a rival plan.

Kesinee Jaikawang

The Nation