Bang Sue Mega Station

[Nereus]

I went past this today on the Expressway. I think that there is more steel used in its construction than the Sydney Harbour Bridge! It is out of this World!
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Bang Sue mega-station to operate by January 2021

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... nuary-2021

Bang Sue Central Station, which is set to replace Hua Lamphong as the capital's main rail transport hub, will be operational by January 2021, says Worawut Mala, acting governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

He said construction of the station was expected to be completed by November of next year and the installation of the signal system should be wrapped up by mid-2020, followed by test runs in June.

Even after the new station enters service, he said, Hua Lamphong terminal would not be abandoned as it can still function as a railway station for the Red Line electric train project's extension linking Phaya Thai, Makkasan, Hua Mak and Hua Lamphong.

The Red Line project is divided into three contracts. The first, which is 77% complete, covers the construction of Bang Sue Central Station, Chatuchak terminal, a maintenance facility, and roads by the side of rail tracks and rail crossings.

The second contract, which is 99% complete, includes the laying of rail tracks between Bang Sue and Rangsit as well as bridges across the railways and a water drainage system. The third contract, which is 38% complete, deals with the installation of electrical and mechanical systems along the railway between Bang Sue and Rangsit.

Mr Worawut said the "Transit Oriented Development" concept would be applied to Bang Sue Central Station.
The subterranean floor of the station will be set aside as parking space that can accommodate 1,700 vehicles, he said. The ground floor will be used for ticket sales and reservations, contain a lounge for passengers as well as have commercial areas.

The first floor will consist of four platforms for Red Line trains as well as another eight platforms for long-distance train services. The second floor will accommodate 10 platforms for regional services while another two platforms could also be used to serve high-speed trains and airport rail link services in the future.

Mr Worawut said the station would also have a walkway linking the Bang Sue Red Line station with the Blue Line train service.

Construction of Bang Sue Central Station is now 60% complete, Mr Worawut noted.

The SRT is also seeking Transport Ministry approval for three Red Line extension projects, he said.
They consist of an 8.84-kilometre section between Rangsit and Thammasat University at a cost of 6.5 billion baht, a 14.8-km section between Taling Chan and Salaya at a cost of one billion baht as well as an 8.7-km section between Taling Chan and Siriraj Hospital at a cost of around 7.5 billion baht.

The ministry is expected to forward the projects to the cabinet for consideration in January.

Bang Sue Mega Station.jpg (61.88 KiB) Viewed 940 times

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edit: add another link:
https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/new ... shape.html

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/bang-s ... east-asia/

[Nereus]

MEA fully prepared for Central Bang Sue Station project

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/Recomme ... tional/350

Mr. Chaiyong Puangpongsakorn, Governor of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), together with Mr. Thanongsak Pongprasert, Deputy Governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), jointly announced the launch of the Power Station Construction Project for the Red Line Mass Rapid Transit System and the Phaholyothin Transport Hub (Central Bang Sue Station) to supply power to all lines running through the Central Bang Sue Station as well as to related development areas. The press conference was held at the meeting room of the Red Line Mass Rapid Transit System (Bang Sue - Rangsit), State Railway of Thailand, Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road.

Mr. Chaiyong Puangpongsakorn said that the MEA had realized the importance of the Central Bang Sue Station construction project in carrying out government policy, as well as the Red Line and the High-speed Railway, which pass through the station. In 2010, the MEA began working with the SRT in preparation for development of the power transmission system in the area around the station (the Transit Oriented District or TOD) to become a Smart City covering an area of more than 2,235 rai. The cooperation included construction of the Red Line Mass Rapid Transit System (Bang Sue - Rangsit) and all the high-speed rail lines that pass through the complex, which will serve as a future logistics hub for the ASEAN region. As a result, the MEA has proceeded with construction of the Bang Sue Power Station to accommodate all power transmission needs in the area. The total investment budget for the scheme is Bt1,275.75 million.

The Governor added that the MEA is speeding up construction of the Bang Sue Power Station in line with the implementation plans. The Bang Sue Power Station will have a capacity of 1,200 MVA (equivalent to about five times the power capacity of Bangpoo Industrial Estate). Estimates of total electricity consumption are split among the Red Line together with all high-speed railways passing through the Central Bang Sue Station, such as the Bangkok-Nong Khai High Speed Train, the high-speed railway seamlessly linking the three airports of Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao, and the Central Bang Sue Station totaling 300 MVA; other development areas arising from the Smart City project totaling 300 MVA; and supplies to surrounding areas outside of the project area totaling 600 MVA. Total power supplies are expected to be more than adequate for anticipated power demand.

Implementation of the project is being undertaken in two phases. The first phase will involve a power transmission capacity of 900 MVA. The second phase will be carried out when other rail lines are added, bringing the total power transmission capacity to 1,200 MVA. The MEA has also joined forces with EGAT to prepare a back-up power supply system in case of emergencies, which will link up with the high-voltage power transmission networks of more than three of EGAT’s nearby power transmission stations (Chaengwattana, North Phranakhon and Lad Phrao), as well as the power transmission lines from the MEA’s nearby sub stations. The back-up facilities will help increase the overall stability of the power supply system.

The MEA plans to implement the project over a 720-day period, from December 15, 2017 to December 5, 2019. Currently, construction is ongoing on the power station and is expected to be completed on schedule. Power supplies will be ready for the Bang Sue Central Station and the Red Line Mass Rapid Transit System (Bang Sue - Rangsit) project, scheduled for launch in June 2020. The MEA has also designed the power distribution system for surrounding areas, which will be completely underground to ensure power stability, safety and to ensure the beauty of the environment. In the future, the MEA will also connect the power transmission network to the advanced Smart Micro Grid system, which supports the use of green energy in line with the goal to reduce fossil fuel consumption and to develop the metropolis as a Smart City in accordance with government policy.

[Nereus]

Bangkok rail hub nears completion

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/19 ... completion

special report: Bang Sue Central Station set to open next year

After several decades of dormancy, Thailand's rail transport sector is entering a renaissance.

In the capital city, 10 mass transit projects are under construction. Across the nation, major railway projects are also underway, including the 308-kilometre dual-track railway from Nakhon Ratchasima to Ubon Ratchathani. Many municipalities -- from Chiang Mai in the North to Phuket in the South -- are also pushing plans to build their own rail systems.

However, none of these projects reflect Thailand's rail renaissance like Bang Sue Central Station, a "mega-station" that will replace the century-old Hua Lamphong Station as Bangkok's main rail hub.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) says Bang Sue Central Station will open in January 2021, along with the Red Line commuter rail.

"Once completed, Bang Sue Central Station will be the largest railway station in Asean. All diesel train services which terminate at Hua Lamphong will eventually be moved here, and the old train station will be converted into a museum," SRT deputy director Worawut Mala told the Bangkok Post.

CENTRAL RAIL HUB

Mr Worawut said the station will serve as a hub for rail transport, with platforms to accommodate diesel trains, electric commuter trains, as well as high-speed regional trains and the airport link between Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports.

The 15-billion-baht station is being built on 2,325 rai of land owned by the SRT. As it is envisioned as a hub, the station will be equipped with maintenance depots for both diesel and electric trains. Public utilities will be located there, while an elevated walkway will connect the station to the new Mo Chit Bus Terminal.

One of the highlights is a 186,030-square-metre (m²) memorial dedicated to King Rama V, known as the Father of Thai railroads. The king's statue will be surrounded by a 14,000m² pond with fountains. While the station itself is nearing completion, work on the memorial has yet to begin as it has to be approved by the Bureau of the Royal Household first. As such, it is unlikely the memorial will be completed in time for the station's opening.

The station's main structure consists of a three-storey building, not including the underground car park and the mezzanine level. Once completed, the building will be over 596 metres long and 244 metres wide. With a total usable floor area of 274,192m², the station will have a total of 26 platforms. It will also have enough parking space for 1,624 cars -- which is important to commuters as the station will be connected to the MRT's Blue Line.

"Ticketing windows, retail and food shops, waiting areas and the connection to the Blue Line will be located on the first floor," Mr Worawut said.

"The mezzanine will house more shops and control rooms, while four platforms dedicated for the SRT's Red Line suburban trains and eight platforms for diesel trains will be located on the second floor."

Meanwhile, he said, the third floor will have 10 platforms for regional, high-speed services and two platforms for the high-speed airport rail link.

"The central station will help ease railway congestion in Bangkok, as there is a bottleneck at Hua Lamphong station that forces diesel trains to take turns while entering and/or leaving the station," he said.

Red Line revival

Bang Sue Central Station will be a part of the SRT's Red Line suburban railways system. It will serve as the terminus of the 26km "Dark Red" service between Bang Sue and Rangsit, from which passengers can switch to the 15km "Light Red" service that runs to Taling Chan.

Civil works on the Red Line -- which began in January 2009 -- have been completed at a cost of 9.08 billion baht. the SRT is waiting for the signalling system to be installed and the train sets to arrive, Mr Worawut said.

By the end of the year, the government plans to find contractors to work on three extensions for the Red Line -- the 8.4km Rangsit-Thammasat Rangsit section, the 14km Taling Chan-Salaya section and the 8km section between Taling Chan and Siriraj Hospital. Combined, the contracts are estimated to be worth around 23.2 billion baht.

Once operational, the Dark Red service on the Red Line will provide a rail link between the northern and southern parts of Bangkok, while the Light Red service will link the city's eastern outskirts with the west.

"When the lines open in 2021, we expect to see around 208,000 commuters and travellers to pass through Bang Sue Central Station. By 2032, the number will increase to 396,000 per day," Mr Worawut said.

"Meanwhile, the Light Red and Dark Red services are expected to serve 86,000 and 130,000 passengers daily over the next 12 years."

3655092.jpg

above  More than 90% of work on Bang Sue Central Station is now complete. Once finished, it will be the largest and most modern railway station in Asean.

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3655096.jpg

Officially opened in 1916, Hua Lamphong will no longer serve as the city's main station once Bang Sue Central Station opens. photos by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

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[caller]

That should help with Bangkok's pollution levels!

That building, whilst impressive in size, doesn't do much for the eye. They could have made it a real landmark. But let's see the finished version first before making final judgement.

[Nereus]

That should help with Bangkok's pollution levels!

That building, whilst impressive in size, doesn't do much for the eye. They could have made it a real landmark. But let's see the finished version first before making final judgement.

Sorry, I cannot agree with that. That particular photo does not do it justice, you need to see it to appreciate it from an engineering structural point of view. It is definitely a "landmark"!

[caller]

That particular photo does not do it justice, you need to see it to appreciate it from an engineering structural point of view. It is definitely a "landmark"!

I've been past it loads of times on the tollway that almost kisses it. I can't argue about the engineering / structural point of view, which I agree is impressive, especially the sheer scale of it, but from an aesthetic point of view, it doesn't quite do it for me. In particular, the 'Grand entrance' just appears to have been bolted on to the main building and detracts from it's otherwise almost flowing lines (and I suspect a bit of cost saving has taken place with the roof). I wonder whether those commissioning the building wanted a 'grander' entrance than the architects had initially proposed? It's Thai designed by the way.

But one question for you if you know - is the building designed to self clean all the glass?

And I just get the feeling that it will go the way of Swampy and not be maintained to a high standard.

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[Nereus]

No idea how they are going to keep it clean. But aesthetics is purely a subjective matter, and compared with some of the downright hideous structures that have been built here, it is a great improvement. To say nothing of some of the faceless concrete structures painted bright pink that pollute the landscape, it can only be an improvement!

(and I suspect a bit of cost saving has taken place with the roof)

Ever tried to do the geometry involved with constructing a curved roof? It is much simpler and cheaper to build straight boxed girders.

[caller]

Ever tried to do the geometry involved with constructing a curved roof? It is much simpler and cheaper to build straight boxed girders.

I meant what I assume are the glass openings between each girder.

[buksida]

Construction of key transport hub Bang Sue Central Station completed
Civil construction of Bang Sue Central Station, which will serve as the hub of high-speed train connecting three airports (Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao), as well as the 10 stations of the Red Line urban train route, is now 100 percent complete.

The Red Line is expected to open for commercial use by November 2021. The Red Line that runs between Bang Sue and Rangsit stations will help shorten travel time between the city’s heart and urban areas to only 30 minutes thanks to the high-speed 120kph train.

It is expected to transport at least 272,500 passengers per day. Public test runs will start from March 2021 until the official opening in November. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and members of the Cabinet are scheduled to visit the Bang Sue Central Station on Tuesday and board the Red Line urban train in its full system test run.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30399620

[Thailightzone]

I drove past this place and it is gigantic. It would rival some of the worlds busiest airport terminals in size. And that's just what I could see from above. It has multiple lavels that stretch underground.