The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is looking at demolishing the Saphan Taksin Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) station to make way for construction of a double track.
The DRR then submitted a proposal with four possible solutions: Demolish the bridge curve to expand the space on the side and build more pillars underneath to support the additional weight; move the station to the middle of the bridge, but this option would lead to closure of the station for at least seven months; demolish the station and build a walkway to let commuters use the nearby Surasak station instead; take no action, which would continue delays in train service because of the need for track switching.
Thaweesak said his office initially saw the first and second choices as unlikely because pillar construction or moving of the station were both difficult, while the fourth choice of not taking any action would compromise the future transport system. Hence the office will study the third option in detail and discuss it with the deputy governor in charge before submitting the plan to the BMA governor.
Deputy Governor Amorn Kitchawengkul said that in his personal view, the best solution would be to scrap the Saphan Taksin station and build an automatic walkway for people to use the Surasak station instead. The walkway would take nine months to build, while demolishing the station would take six months, he said.
In the meantime, the BMA would build a 700-metre pedestrian “Skywalk” overpass to link the two stations, starting from the end of this year, he said.
