Bangkok's Subway Depot Finished, but No Service Until 2003 by Phairath Khampha 9 February 2002 Concessionaire slow in buying the trains Work on a six-billion-baht subway depot for the Mass Rapid Transit Authority was finished on Rama IX road but the service would be delayed for a year. Chukiart Potayanuwat, MRTA's construction director, said the SNMC joint venture had finished the depot in October 2001. MRTA hired the group for 6,239 million baht. Work started in late 1998. Prime Minister's Office Minister Somsak Thepsuthin presided over a ceremony marking the end of the depot project on February 7, 2002. Mr Chukiart said the depot was the first contract to be completed in the 20km subway project, running from Hua Lampong to Bang Sue. Others would finish soon. The job of laying the tracks was almost over. A joint venture of SNC Lavalin and Ch Karnchang Plc was doing that for three billion baht. Work on subway tunnels and underground stations was almost done as well. Still underway were interior decoration, ventilation, water supply, and lighting for underground buildings. Mr Chukiart said efforts by the subway concessionaire Bangkok Metro Co Ltd to buy subway trains and operating systems were behind schedule. That would delay a partial start of the subway service from late 2002 to late 2003.