Bangkok to Procure 51 New Metro Trains: Which Companies Will be the Suppliers?

Bangkok’s metro operator, BEM, has announced its intention to purchase 51 new trains for its metro network, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The selection of suppliers will be completed by the end of 2024, with the first trains expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2027.

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The new trains are intended for two metro lines: 21 trains for the existing Blue Line and 31 trains for the under-construction Orange Line.

As part of the current contract between BEM and the Thailand Mass Rapid Transit Authority, the western section of the Orange Line is being constructed, spanning 13.4 km. The completion of this project is scheduled for 2028.

Previously, trains for Bangkok’s metro were supplied by German company Siemens Mobility and Japanese manufacturer J-TREC.

Siemens began supplying electric trains from the inception of the Bangkok metro, including 35 trains for the Blue Line in 2017.

Since 2019, Japanese company J-TREC has been the supplier, offering trains at a 5% discount compared to Siemens.

However, the change in supplier led to increased maintenance costs, as BEM had to purchase additional spare parts from J-TREC.

It is expected that the new trains will be supplied either by Siemens or J-TREC, as choosing a third manufacturer would significantly raise maintenance and operational costs.

Photo: Siemens

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