The launch of Bangkok’s Purple Line South railway, a 23.6-kilometer route connecting Tao Poon to Rat Burana, has been postponed by nine months, pushing the opening to September 2029, according to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). This marks the second delay for the project, initially slated for completion in 2027.
Despite construction progressing ahead of scheduleโ47.95% completed and 7.85% faster than plannedโthe delay stems from unresolved issues surrounding the investment and operations model under the 2019 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act. Civil works across six contracts, valued at approximately 82 billion baht, include 14.29 kilometers of underground tracks with 10 stations and 9.34 kilometers of elevated tracks with seven stations. Construction is expected to finish by the end of 2027.
The MRTA plans to propose the project’s investment framework to its board by the second quarter of 2025 and to the Cabinet by the third quarter of the same year. A finalized contract for the operator is anticipated by August 2026, leaving the three years typically required for system installation and procurement of trains. However, the MRTA is exploring ways to expedite operations.
The new Purple Line South route will integrate with the existing Purple Line North, which runs 23 kilometers between Tao Poon and Khlong Bang Phai, creating a seamless 46-kilometer rail network with 33 stations. Negotiations are underway with Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM), the current operator of the Purple Line North, to expand its concession to cover the entire line.
Officials caution that differing views among agencies, such as the State Enterprise Policy Office and the National Economic and Social Development Council, could prolong decision-making. If disputes lead to delays, the project risks facing setbacks similar to the Orange Line East, which completed construction in 2023 but saw its launch delayed due to a three-year wait for an operator caused by legal disputes.
The MRTA emphasizes that avoiding such setbacks is critical to ensuring timely completion and operation of the Purple Line South.
