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Khon Kaen Transit System – The proposed light rail transit (LRT) in Khon Kaen

June 9, 2020 By James Clark Leave a Comment

Khon Kaen Transit System

The Khon Kaen Transit System (KKTS) is a proposed light rail transit (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Khon Kaen Khon in the Isaan region of Northeast Thailand.

A BRT system of 4 lines was proposed in 2012, and in 2015 the plan was changed to convert the North-South Red BRT line into a light rail line. In 2016 the Thai government approved the project, and in 2017 the Khon Kaen Transit System Co. established to operate the line.

The 22.6-kilometre Red Line will have 17 stations from Samran in the north to Tha Phra station in the south. The light rail line will be integrated with the high-speed railway station that will connect Bangkok to Vientiane and the China-Laos railway.

The light rail plan has been spearheaded by the Khon Kaen Think Tank (KKTT) Group – a local group of entrepreneurs that envisage Khon Kaen as a regional hub and smart city.

Khon Kaen is not a tourist city, so the group are looking to turn the city into a hub for meetings and events. Building a light rail would also make the city attractive as a place to live outside of Bangkok. In the future the group also plan to sell rail technology to other cities.

The city would also benefit as a railway hub if the proposed railway of the East West Economic Corridor is built. Khon Kaen would become a major crossroad city of Thailand, with direct railway connections to Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.

Work on the light rail was due to begin at the end of 2018, but it is currently stalled and has not begun construction. It is not known if the other BRT lines would also be converted to LRT lines in the future.

Links and Resources

Transit Website: kkts.co.th
Developers: khonkaenthinktank.com
News: skyscrapercity.com

Images

Khon Kaen Central Station interior
[Khon Kaen Central Station interior]

Khon Kaen Central Station
[Khon Kaen Central Station.]

Light rail at Khon Kaen Central Station
[Light rail at Khon Kaen Central Station.]

LRT platforms
[LRT platforms.]

Khon Kaen Station garden
[Khon Kaen Station garden.]

Khon Kaen Station and skywalk
[Khon Kaen Station and skywalk.]

Khon Kaen Station
[Khon Kaen Station.]

Khon Kaen Station parking
[Khon Kaen Station parking.]

Khon Kaen University Station
[Khon Kaen University Station.]

Kudkwang Station
[Kudkwang Station.]

Sam Liam Intersection Station
[Sam Liam Intersection Station.]

Prathu Muang Station (City Gate Station)
[Prathu Muang Station (City Gate Station).]

LRT at Central Plaza
[LRT at Central Plaza.]

News Archive

2022

Khon Kaen to trial light rail network – [07/03/22]

2020

Khon Kaen rail gets S Korean guidance – [24/09/20]
“The Khon Kaen Smart Mobility plan, a blueprint for the light rail city train, is one of 12 projects where the South Korean government will offer consultation to help bring it in line with global transport city standards.”

2019

All aboard Thailand’s decentralization train – [21/04/19]
“A group of provincial entrepreneurs, academics and hoteliers in Khon Kaen are bypassing Bangkok to privately develop a light rail line.”

2018

Khon Kaen gears up electric rail project – [02/12/18]
“Publicly-funded scheme to offer 15 baht flat rate.”

Khon Kaen light rail plan set – [11/09/18]
“Private firms to be hired for construction.”
Khon Kaen LRT Concept

2017

‘Khon Kaen Model’ displays real promise – [13/12/17]
“The backbone of the Khon Kaen urban development plan is the construction of a 26-kilometre light rail transit line to solve traffic congestion and increase the value of real estate along the line.”

Citizens taking initiative in Khon Kaen – [01/09/17]
“A think tank formed by local entrepreneurs has propelled smart city plans for the northeastern province.”
Khon Kaen LRT

Khon Kaen rail bids set for year end – [24/07/17]

2016

Khon Kaen Smart City (Phase:1) LRT North-South Line, infrastructure funds from private alternative urban development model for Thailand and beyond [PDF] – [29/09/16]
“Khon Kaen urban development (KKTT) Co,.Ltd. Associate with Khon Kaen University and 6 local Governments.”
Khon Kaen Transit Map

2012

Khon Kaen transit map of 4 BRT lines, posted 17/02/12.

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Filed Under: Thailand, Urban Rail Transit Tagged With: khon kaen, light rail, thailand

About James Clark

James Clark is the editor of Future Southeast Asia and is currently based in Ho Chi Minh City. Follow his travels at nomadicnotes.com and on Twitter at @nomadicnotes

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