Construction of a light rail transit project in Phuket is scheduled to begin in 2020, and is expected to go into operation during 2023, according to Phuket Vice Governor Thavornwat Kongkaew.
The 60 km railway will link Phang Nga’s Thanoon station with Phuket’s Chalong junction on Chao Fa East Road. The route will pass the airport and make 23 stops of between 20 and 40 seconds each. The trip will take around 70 minutes. The project may involve the construction of several new underpasses.
The route will connect the airport with the T-junction with Thanoon railway station, and the first mainland town across the bridge. It will be built as the second phase of a large-scale project. Suggestions have been made that the new light rail transit project be integrated into Thailand’s rail network. Estimated at THB 39.4 billion (US$ 1.2 billion), the project is seen as a significant contribution to the local economy and is expected to promote tourism in Thailand and improve the traffic situation in Phuket in particular.