Marubeni and Toshiba Build Purple Line in Bangkok

Ch. Karnchang Public Company Limited (CK) has contracted Marubeni and Toshiba to deliver rail systems and maintenance service for the new 23km passenger mass transit railway, the Purple Line.

Under the contract, the new line will be supplied with power distribution equipment, signalling and control systems and telecommunications.
In addition to delivering maintenance service for a period of ten years, both companies will equip the Purple Line with rolling stock that includes a total of 63 cars.
The cars will be manufactured by Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC), a member of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Group.
As part of a ten-year contract with Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (BMCL), both companies will collaborate with JR East to set up a maintenance service company in Bangkok to provide BMCL with support and services.
The Purple Line is the first Bangkok rail network line to implement Japanese rolling stock. It was developed by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme funded by Japanese Government yen credits.
The new railway line, which is currently being built by CK, and will be operated by BMCL from Bang Yai in Nonthaburi Province, north-west of Bangkok, to Bang Sue in the south of the city.
With operations expected to begin in 2016, Bangkok’s second mass transit line will contribute towards easing the city’s traffic issue.
In addition to Bangkok’s rail construction project, Marubeni have previously supplied full turnkey rail systems in Venezuela, the Philippines and Dubai, while Toshiba provided its services for Taiwan High-Speed Rail.