Integration on track

Re: “Let’s get on the same track”, ( BP,

Sept 17).

Whilst it is welcome news that 35 new trains are to be bought for the Blue Line, considering the major expansion plans now agreed for both the Blue Line and the Purple Line, there is a misconception in RH Suga’s letter. The station at Tao Poon is a “vertical” station (in the manner of the Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof ) where two lines cross each other in a perpendicular alignment, with the Blue Line running East-West and the Purple Line running North-South. Connections between the two are made by lifts or escalators, so there is no possibility of one train completing the whole journey.

The so-called “missing link”, now completed, was simply a one kilometre section of the already agreed Blue Line extension, connecting Bang Sue with Tao Poon. The westbound northern extension of the Blue Line from Tao Poon towards Tha Phra is already begun and can be seen from the platforms at Tao Poon. The southern extension (also begun, and also running westbound through tunnels towards Tha Phra, completing the circular section of the Blue Line) will run from Hua Lamphong towards Bang Wa with a possible westbound extension to Buddha Monthon Sai 4.

Meanwhile, the southbound extension of the Purple Line from Tao Poon via Wang Burapha (where it will connect once again with the Blue Line) has also recently been agreed.

On its inaugural day, I had the pleasure of travelling all the way on a single ticket from Klong Bang Pai station in Nonthaburi on the Purple Line to Phetchaburi station on the Blue Line, with a simple escalator/lift connection at Tao Poon. Substantial progress is now being made towards an integrated system for all Bangkok. MICHAEL STUART