Pattaya City is set to enhance its public transport infrastructure with the introduction of a new monorail system known as the Red Line. A recent feasibility study has identified the monorail as a boost to the city’s transport efficiency and economic growth. Stretching 17.37 kilometers, the proposed Red Line will feature ten stations along a route that traverses key areas of the coastal city.
The route will commence at Thappraya Intersection, progressing through major thoroughfares, including Thap Phraya Road and Jomtien Second Road, and will extend to the Eastern National Sports Training Center. This alignment was detailed during the second public hearing on the project, which drew considerable interest from local business owners.
The choice of a monorail system was dictated by its minimal spatial demands on existing roadways, making it a suitable option given Pattaya’s dense urban layout and its prominence as a tourist destination. Despite these benefits, the study also noted the higher costs associated with constructing and maintaining a monorail system.
To facilitate this development, the study recommends a public-private partnership (PPP) model, a collaborative investment approach between the government and private entities. The strategic move is expected to leverage both public oversight and private efficiency, driving forward Pattaya’s ambitious urban transport project.
