Phuket: Tram service planned for 2021

The Government has officially announced that its tramway project will be opened in 2021.

An advantageous service for Pattaya city

Nicknamed “The South’s Pearl”, Phuket is located at 862 kilometres of South Bangkok. It represents the largest area of Thailand, divided into 3 neighbourhoods: Muang Phuket, Kathu and Thalang.

Last Saturday, Mr Chokchai Dejamornthan, Phuket’s Governor, confirmed that a tramway service will be created within the 3 coming years. Indeed, the construction will begin in 2018 and will be finished in 2020. The official launching is scheduled for 2021.

The 60km long tram service is estimated at 23.5 million bahts, will count 23 stations and will go from de Tha Noon station in Phang Nga to Chalong, the intersection of Muang area. The line will be constructed along the streets and will also pass by Phuket’s International Airport et Thep Kasattri.

“The principal objective of our this project is, of course, to support Phuket’s economy by easing its access to inhabitants and tourists while facilitating the traffic,” declared Chokchai Dejamornthan.

In order to acknowledge the public opinion, two meetings will be held on the 6 and 7 of February to discuss this decision. The first one will take place at Thalang’s Office and the second one at Tambon Wichit Municipality.

The OTP (Traffic Police Planning) will present the feasibility study as well as the roads adjustments and tunnels to build. As a matter of fact, the public opinion and its feedbacks will be important in the development of this new project.

Some details still need to be reviewed concerning the local structures such as the International Airport station of Phuket. The latter will be constructed directly in the airport.

Developing new infrastructures

Besides this project, the Minister of Transports, Mr Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, also mentioned the construction of 5 tunnels in Phuket to make the traffic easier.

The construction of these in Dara Samut and Sam Kong are already finished while the construction of Bang Khu’s tunnel is completed at 70%.

Each year, Phuket attracts millions of tourists from all over the world and today, expatriates are in great number also, especially retired people.