The Phuket Light Rail is a proposed light rail transit system for the island of Phuket in Thailand.
The plan is for the railway to start at the airport in the north of the island, travel south to Phuket Town and end at Chalong. The total length would be about 40km. In the future, the line could be extended north from the airport to neighbouring Phang Nga Province.
A plan for a light rail or monorail in Phuket was first proposed in the mid-2000s, and the project was approved in 2015. Since then there have been annual announcements of its impending commencement, with more changes and cost increases every year.
The project has been controversial for its cost and route choice, which doesn’t serve any of the popular beaches on the west coast. It also runs at grade on highways and streets, potentially causing more traffic problems. The route has since been modified to include more tunnels and elevated sections to avoid traffic.
The most recent update has Phase 1 beginning in 2023 and completed in 2026 at a cost of B35 billion ($1.13 billion USD).
Phase 2 would continue from the airport to Phang-Nga province. In the future, this could possibly connect to a Phang Nga-Surat Thani railway.
In May 2021 the government announced that it would scrap the rail plan for an automated rapid transit (ART) bus system instead.
In February 2023 it was announced that the first phase of the mass transit system would be built to support the Phuket’s bid for the 2028 Specialised Expo.
Phuket Light Rail Maps
[Phuket Light Rail Map, via Phuket9.]
Stations
S01 Phuket International Airport
S02 Thalang
S03 Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon Monument
S04 Koh Kaew
S05 Phuket Bus Terminal
S06 Phuket Rajabhat University
S07 Tung Ka
S08 Meung Kao (Old Town)
S09 Clock Tower
S10 Bang Neow
S11 Phuket Public Library
S12 Saphan Hin
S13 Sakdidet
S14 Dao Rung
S15 Wichit
S16 Chaofa (East)
S17 Palai
S18 Ban Koak Tanod
S21 Tha Chalong Intersection
Links and resources
lrt-phuket.com – Information in Thai, now offline (view archive).
News Archive
2023
Phuket tram project expected to start in about two years – [01/10/23]
“The Thai Minister of Transport vowed to make trams happen in Phuket City. However, the project will be after an ongoing road expansion construction project finishes which will take about 2 more years.”
Phuket gets $1bn electric-transit jolt for expo bid – [19/02/23]
“The Mass Rapid Transit Authority is ready to start building the first phase of its planned mass transit system in Phuket to support the island province’s bid for the 2028 Specialised Expo, it said on Sunday, adding that it expects to spend 35 billion baht on the first phase of the system.”
MRTA to consider alterations to Phuket light rail project – [17/02/23]
“Officials from the Mass Rapid Transport Authority (MRTA) will be in Phuket next week to conduct a series of “small group meetings” with local residents about the Phuket light rail project, the MRTA announced through Facebook today (Feb 17). The publication was then shared by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket).”
2022
Phuket light rail project derailed once again – [17/10/22]
Phuket Light Rail Plans: Mass transit system seen as key to post-COVID recovery – [19/09/22]
2021
MRTA to go ahead with Phuket ART project to fix traffic congestion – [09/11/21]
“The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) will hold a public hearing session for the construction of Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system in Phuket province on Nov 12 at Royal Phuket City Hotel in Muang district.”
2020
Tram U-turn a big letdown – [18/05/21]
Trams out, buses in for thrifty Phuket – [15/05/21]
“Phuket has swapped its planned tram system for an automated rapid transit (ART) bus system and saved 15 billion baht in the process.”
2020
Phuket’s tram plan may be replaced with electric bus rapid transit – [06/11/20]
Phuket Rail goes through its first public hearing, with a few modifications – [26/08/20]
“Phuket’s light rail/tram, and much-discussed, public transport system has had a round of public consultations to take the project to the next level. At one stage the route started in Phang Nga province but now it’s had a ‘haircut’ and will only run from the Phuket International Airport to Chalong Circle, a distance of some 42 kilometres.”
Phuket light rail running another two years late – [25/08/20]
“Construction of the Phuket light-rail project is now expected to begin in 2023 and open to serve passengers in 2026”.
Tram route modified to lessen impact on traffic – [24/08/20]
2019
Phuket Light Rail project hits a few speed bumps – [12/12/19]
“The Phuket Light Rail (Phuket Tram) project has hit a few hurdles and has been shelved, apparently temporarily, whilst some further studies are conducted into the ambitious public transport project. The proposed tram route was proposed to start at Phuket Airport and finish at the Chalong Intersection, with a total of 21 stations along the way.”
Phuket light-rail bids set for mid-2020 – [02/12/19]
“Bidding for construction of the light-rail system in Phuket is likely to take place in the middle of next year, according to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).”
Phuket light-rail budget B34.8bn for Phase 1 only, expected to jump 10% – [22/06/19]
“The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has revealed that the budget for Phase 1 of the Phuket light-rail project is likely to require a 10% increase.”
Final design for Phuket Light Rail wrapped up next week – [07/06/19]
“A final design of light rail (tram) project in Phuket should be concluded by next week as a dispute over how the rail structure will be laid is close to being settled.”
Call for extra B2bn for Phuket light rail project blurs budget figures – [31/05/19]
“Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) Governor Pakapong Sirikantaramas yesterday (May 30) revealed that the Phuket light-rail project needed an extra B2 billion to be brought to completion.”
The 35 billion baht white elephant – Phuket’s light rail – [22/01/19]
“Spending 35 billion baht on infrastructure that few will use, is planned on the least useful route and will cause mayhem for a 3-5 year build time is a waste of money.”
MRTA to call bids for Phuket mass transit in Q3 – [11/01/19]
2018
Phuket light-rail budget jumps B594mn, to B40bn – [27/11/18]
“The estimated budget required for building the Phuket Light Rail system has jumped by more than B500 million, according to announcement issued by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP).”
Phuket light-rail up open to public by 2023, assures official – [29/10/18]
Traffic safety raises concerns in Phuket light-rail plans – [19/09/18]
“With just 12 days to go until the end of his tenure as Governor of Phuket, Norraphat Plodthong yesterday (Sept 18) said that construction of the Phuket light-rail project was expected to commence in 2020.”
Bangkok’s MRT given the green light to run Phuket and Chiang Mai light rails – [12/09/18]
2017
Bids for Phuket light-rail to open next year – [25/10/17]
“It has been confirmed today that bids for Phuket’s long-awaited light-rail system will open next year.”
Six tunnels touted in revamped Phuket light-rail plans – [08/02/17]
“The revised plans for the decades-in-coming Phuket light-rail project shown to local residents this week now include six tunnels for the rail cars to pass through in order to avoid causing more traffic woes on the island.”
2016
Phuket Governor’s China visit shines light on light-rail options – [28/12/16]
“A four-day fact-finding mission to China to inspect light-rail cars by Phuket Governor Chockchai Dejamornthan and an entourage of officials and media has provided a glimpse into what Phuket’s long awaited light-rail system might look like.”
Governor calls for Phuket light rail project to start in 2017 – [27/07/16]
Thailand plans Phuket Airport rail link – [29/02/16]
“The Thailand Transport Ministry is seeking cabinet approval for a 60km, Baht 25bn ($US 701m) railway linking Phuket International Airport to the Chalong intersection.”
B2bn light rail system in the works for Phuket – [18/01/16]
“A light rail system worth more than 2 billion baht will be constructed between Phuket International Airport and Chalong intersection to boost the country’s tourism in the South.”
2015
Phuket gets nod for B23.5bn light rail – [20/11/15]
“The Ministry of Transport has green its approval for Phuket to build the long-awaited light-rail system from Tha Noon in Phang Nga all the way south to Chalong Circle at a cost of B23.5 billion.”
Phuket light-rail construction ‘two years away’, says transport head – [18/06/15]
“The Director-General of Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), Peraphon Thawornsupacharoen, revealed today (June 18) that construction of Phuket’s light-rail project could start within two years, if everything goes according to plan.”
2014
Details of light rail tram system for Phuket revealed – [04/06/14]
“Work on Phuket’s long-awaited light rail tram project may start within three years, after the official route and type of transport system were officially confirmed at a public hearing yesterday (June 3).”
2012
HK financier interested in light rail project – [05/04/12]
“Representatives of a Hong Kong-based investment company met Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha today (April 5) to express their interest in putting money into the light rail project in Phuket.”
Phuket monorail plus tunnel gains backing from Patong mayor – [05/04/12]
“Patong Mayor Pian Keesin gave his tacit support to a bidder for Phuket’s light rail and Patong tunnel projects”.
Light rail bidders keep coming – [07/06/11]
“Korean Kim Chang Ha of the firm Global Business Leaders met Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha and said he would welcome involvement in Phuket’s light rail project.”
2006
Phuket Light Rail Transit – [18/05/06]
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