On Monday May 23rd, 2016 at Chadra Ballroom, Siam Kempenski Hotel, Bangkok, Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister, together with M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Governor of Bangkok, chaired the Contract Signing Ceremony for the Supply 46 New 4-Car Trains (consisting of 184 railcars), valued at THB 11 Billion. Guest of honour was General Yodyuth Boonyatikarn, Chairman of the MRTA Board of Directors, Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand. Also present at the contract signing between the companies, representing Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Ltd. Was Mr. Keeree Kanjanapas, Chairman of BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited, together with Mr. Wang Junzheng, Secretary of Changchun Municipal CPC Committee, Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. (CRRC) and Dr. Roland Busch, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG.

The procurement of the new trains has been divided between two contracts, with 22 Trains to be supplied by Siemens and 24 Trains by CRRC. When launched into passenger service, the new trains will provide the necessary additional capacity to support the increasing ridership of the BTS SkyTrain System, which now provides up to 900,000 trips per day on the existing Sukhumvit Line from Mo Chit to Bearing stations and the Silom Line from National Stadium to Bang Wa stations, running a total distance of 36.25 kilometers. The new trains will also provide passenger service on new line extensions to Samutprakarn and Ku Kot, currently in construction, running additional distances of 13 and 19 kilometers respectively.

The new trains to be supplied by CRRC and Siemens, will feature the latest available technology, similar to existing trains. However further improvements will be made to enhance efficiency and accessibility. Major train components will be sourced from leading international suppliers, as well as from local suppliers for interior equipment, such as stanchions, chairs and handstraps, to be incorporated in the final assembly. The first batch of new trains will arrive in early 2018 and the rest delivered in 2020. Following delivery and final commissioning of all new trains, trial running will be carried out prior to introduction into passenger service.

When the BTS SkyTrain first commenced passenger operation in 1999, the BTS fleet consisted of 35 trains in a 3-car configuration, totaling 105 railcars produced by Siemens. Currently the company operates a total of 52 trains in a 4-car configuration, having since added 35 new c-cars produced by Siemens and 17 new 4-car trains produced by CRRC, making a total fleet of 208 railcars. The original BTS lines ran a distance of 23.5 kilometers and have subsequently been extended from Saphan Taksin to Bang Wa on the Silom Line, a distance of 7.5 kilometers and from On Nut to Bearing on the Sukhumvit Line, a distance of 5.25 kilometers. The lines now run a total distance of 36.25 kilometers and serve 34 stations.

After the current procurement phase has been completed and all vehicles commissioned, BTSC will have expanded its fleet to 98 electric 4-car trains, totaling 392 railcars, with sufficient passenger carrying capacity to service the future travel needs of Bangkok commuters. The new trains will be put into passenger service on the Silom Line from National Stadium to Bang Wa, running a total distance of 14 kilometers and on the Sukhumvit Line from Ku Kot to Samutprakarn, running a total distance of 55 kilometers. The expanded fleet is expected to accommodate the increasing patronage demands of the lines over the next decade at least.

Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister, offered his congratulations to all parties on the signing of the contract for the supply of the new trains, which demonstrates close cooperation between government and private agencies in mass transit development. The quick and efficient transportation of people from suburban areas into the city contributes to both energy saving and passenger safety, in accordance with the government's policy to fund infrastructure for the sustainable economic development of the country.

M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra said "BMA would like to express its sincere gratitude to the government and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, for prioritising the convenience and safety of passengers by allowing BMA to acquire the operation of the Green Line Extension to Samutprakarn and Ku Kot. BMA intends to schedule the first trial run on the Samutprakarn extension at Samrong Station in December 2016 and to operate passenger service in early 2017, with the rest to be opened later. In addition, the government and related organizations have approved BMA to operate other lines, such as the Grey Line, Golden Line, and LRT to Suvarnabhumi Airport.”

In this regard Mr.Wang Junzheng, Secretary of Changchun Municipal CPC Committee, CRRC, and Dr.Roland Busch, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in ongoing mass transit mega-projects in Thailand. They are confident in the stability of the Thai economy and the major opportunities for the private sector arising from the government’s strong policy on funding infrastructure development. Both CRRC and Siemens wish to assure everyone that they committed to manufacturing trains to the highest standards, in order to ensure safe and reliable passenger services.