Hat Yai looking into ‘Sky Track’ monorail

Songkhla Governor Doladech Patanarat and Provincial Administrative Organisation chief executive Niphon Boonyamani were on hand recently as Assistant Professor Anek Siripanichkorn, director of KMUTT’s Institute of Scientific Technological Research and Services, and WGI executive director Sean Goh signed an agreement.
The monorail, with cars running on lithium batteries, is in response to the government’s “Thailand 4.0” policy and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ ambition to develop 90 “smart cities”.
“Songkhla welcomes new technology to develop the province in ways that conserve energy and the environment,” Doladech said. 
“This transportation system will provide convenience and improved efficiency for residents, tourists and entrepreneurs and help develop our economy and tourism.”
Goh said WGI was pleased to fund the feasibility study, which would identify “good points and bad points without affecting the existing transportation system” and “limit the disadvantages of some of transport technology that can destroy the environment”. 
“Because every car on the Sky Track has a lithium battery, cars can be added during peak periods and taken away when they’re not needed. This saves energy and operating costs and the environment.”
Niphon thanked the private sector for its interest in “investing and bringing modern technology for mass transportation to Hat Yai while conserving the environment”. 
“With tourism and the airport expanding, mass transport that provides convenience is important,” he said. “This study will support the city’s development policy by identifying whether the monorail can improve traffic flow and convenience without harming the environ or affecting the existing transportation system.”
Anek explained that the Sky Track would feature “cars hanging from the rail”. 
“Each car can go along the normal traffic lanes as the poles and the rail are not too big, so they won’t affect normal traffic.”