Rail transport in Bangkok
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Rail transport was introduced to Bangkok in 1893, and the national railway network was developed during the 20th century. Modern rapid transit in Bangkok includes several rail systems: the BTS Skytrain which opened in 1999, followed by the MRT, Airport Rail Link and SRT Red Lines.
History
Bangkok's first rail line was the private Paknam Railway linking Bangkok to Samut Prakan which opened in 1893. The national railway network was subsequently developed and first opened in 1896, linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima and then expanding to reach Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani and Su-ngai Kolok.
Electric trams served the city from 1894 to 1968. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, King
Although proposals for the development of rapid transit in Bangkok had been made since 1975,[1] leading to plans for the failed Lavalin Skytrain, it was only in 1999 that Thailand's first rapid transit system, the BTS Skytrain, began operation.
The underground MRT subsequently opened in 2004, the Airport Rail Link began operation in 2010, and the SRT Red Lines began trial operation in 2021.
Inter-city and high-speed rail
Bangkok is the location of the
High-speed rail
There are multiple planned high-speed rail lines in Thailand. The Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed railway and Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway are under construction as of 2023. The Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal will act as a future hub for all high-speed services.
Commuter Rail
In addition to long-distance services, the SRT also operates a few daily commuter trains running from and to the outskirts of the city, and the newer electrified SRT Red Lines.
Mass Rapid transit (Metro Train System) in Bangkok
Bangkok is currently served by four rapid transit systems: the BTS Skytrain, the MRT, the Airport Rail Link, and the SRT Red Lines.
System | Began operation | Lines in operation | Lengths in operation | Stations in operation | Operators |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BTS Skytrain | 1999 | 3 | 100 km (62[2].2 mi) | 63 | BTSC under concession from BMA |
MRT | 2004 | 4 | 135.9 km (84.4 mi) | 107 | BEM (Blue Line and Purple Line)
Eastern Bangkok Monorail (Yellow Line) under concession from MRTA
Northern Bangkok Monorail (Pink Line) under concession from MRTA
|
Airport Rail Link | 2010 | 1 | 28.6 km (17.8 mi) | 8 | Asia Era One under concession from SRT[3] |
SRT Red Lines | 2021 | 2 | 41 kilometres (25 mi) | 14 | SRT |
Total | 10 | 275.55 km (171.22 mi) | 162 |
BTS Skytrain
The Skytrain consists of three lines, totalling 70.05 kilometers (43.53 mi):
MRT (Metro)
The MRT system opened in July 2004, and currently consists of four lines, the
Although initial passenger numbers were low, these systems have become indispensable to many commuters. The BTS reported an average of 392,167 daily trips in 2010, while the MRT had 178,334 passenger trips per day. However, relatively high fare prices have kept these systems inaccessible to a portion of the population. The Pink and Yellow monorail lines opened in 2023.
Airport Rail Link
The Airport Rail Link, opened in August 2010 after many delays, connects the city centre to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan Province to the east. It is operated by the SRT, and offers services between the airport and Makkasan where it connects with Phetchaburi Station of the MRT. It terminates at Phaya Thai Station, where it connects to the BTS. Its eight stations span a distance of 29 kilometres (18 mi).
SRT Red Lines
The Red Line Mass Transit System Project is a commuter rail system serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Construction began in January 2009 and free public trial operation began on 2 August 2021, with full commercial service beginning on November 29, 2021 when
Lines in operation
Line | System | Stations | Length | Terminus | Daily ridership | Began operation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial part | Last extension | ||||||
Sukhumvit line |
BTS Skytrain | 47 | 53.58 km (33.29 mi) | Khu Khot ↔ Kheha | 910,866[4] | 1999 | 2020 |
Silom line |
14 | 14.67 km (9.12 mi) | Bang Wa |
2021 (infill station) | |||
Gold Line | 3 | 1.8 km (1.1 mi) | Khlong San |
8,091[4] | 2020 | – | |
Blue Line | Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) | 38 | 47 km (29 mi) | Tha Phra ↔ Tao Poon ↔ Lak Song | 498,709[4] | 2004 | 2019 |
Purple Line | 16 | 23.6 km (14.7 mi) | Tao Poon |
76,171[4] | 2016 | – | |
Yellow Line | 23 | 28.7 km (17.8 mi) | Samrong ↔ Lat Phrao | 43,954[4] | 2023 | ||
Pink Line | 30 | 34.5 km (21.4 mi[5]) | Nonthaburi Civic Center ↔ Min Buri | 2023 | |||
Airport Rail Link | Airport Rail Link | 8 | 28.6 km (17.8 mi) | Suvarnabhumi |
76,097[4] | 2010 | – |
Dark Red Line | SRT Red Lines | 10 | 26 km (16 mi) | Bang Sue ↔ Rangsit
|
27,337[4] | 2021 | – |
Light Red Line | 4 | 15 km (9.3 mi) | Bang Sue ↔ Taling Chan
| ||||
Total | 238.95 km (148.48 mi) |
Future expansion
The entire Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region consists of eight main lines and four feeder lines totalling 508 kilometres (316 mi) to be completed by 2029.
New lines under construction are the Orange Line and an extension to the Purple Line and extensions to the Airport Rail Link.
Rolling stock
Line | Class (family[a]) | Image | Manufacturer(s) | Manufactured in |
---|---|---|---|---|
Silom line
|
EMU-A1 (Modular Metro) | Siemens Mobility SGP Verkehrstechnik |
Austria Germany | |
EMU-A2 | Siemens Mobility Bozankaya |
Turkey | ||
EMU-B1 and EMU-B2 | CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles | China | ||
EMU-B3 | CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles | |||
Blue Line | EMU-IBL (Modular Metro) | Siemens Mobility | Austria | |
EMU-BLE (Modular Metro) | Austria Germany | |||
Airport Rail Link | Modified Class 360 (Desiro) | Germany | ||
Purple Line | S24-EMU (sustina ) | Japan Transport Engineering Company | Japan | |
Dark Red Line | 1000 series (AT100) | Hitachi Rail | ||
Light Red Line | 2000 series (AT100) | |||
Gold Line | INNOVIA APM 300 | Bombardier Transportation CRRC Nanjing Puzhen |
China | |
Pink Line | INNOVIA Monorail 300 | |||
Yellow Line |
Ticketing and fare rates
MRT Blue line
There are many types of stored value cards separated by passengers' age. Elder card is for over 65 years olds and provides 50% discount from the full fare. Student card is for under 23 years olds and provides 10% discount from the full fare. Child card is for under 14 years olds and under 120 cm tall and provides 50% discount from the full fare. Adult card is for everyone doesn't provide any discount from the full fare.
The fare rates are counted by the number of stations, starting from 16 Baht for a station, increasing by 2-3 Baht for each station up to 42 Baht for 17 stations.[6]
MRT Purple line
Use the stored value cards as MRT Blue Line. The fare rates start from 15 Baht for a station, increasing 1 Baht for each station up to 29 Baht for 15 stations.[7]
For the passengers that don't have cards, the fare rates start from 17 Baht for a station, increasing 2-3 Baht for each station, then reach the maximum values at 42 Baht for 11 stations.[8]
Airport Rail Link
For the city line, the fare rates start from 15 Baht for a station, increase 5 Baht for each station up to 45 Baht for 7 stations.[9]
BTS
BTS (not to be confused with K-pop group) has its own stored value cards called "Rabbit card". There are 3 types of Rabbit card: adult, student, and senior, with 100 Baht initial stored value.[10]
BTS fare rates start from 16 Baht. The costs is based on the distance travelled. Travelling between Wongwian Yai - Bang Wa stations, On-Nut - Bearing stations cost 15 Baht. 15 baht will also be added when travelling between these stations to the other station on the main line. There are now currently free access between Khu Khot - Mo Chit stations, and Bearing - Kheha stations which will not cost any money.
See also
- Rail transport in Thailand
- Rapid transit in Thailand
Notes
- ^ If applicable only
References
- ^ Rujopakarn, Wiroj (October 2003). "Bangkok transport system development: what went wrong?". Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies. 5: 3302–15.
- ^ "BTS Skytrain", Wikipedia, 2024-01-23, retrieved 2024-02-02
- ^ "CP-led group to take over airport link". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "นิวไฮ! "ศุกร์ 11 ส.ค." ผู้โดยสารใช้บริการรถไฟ-รถไฟฟ้า 1.72 ล้านคน". เดลินิวส์ (in Thai). Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ "รายละเอียดโครงการ – โครงการรถไฟฟ้าสีชมพู" (in Thai). Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ "Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited". www.bangkokmetro.co.th. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- ^ "Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited". www.bangkokmetro.co.th. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- ^ "เอาตารางราคา ค่าโดยสารรถไฟฟ้าสายสีม่วงมาให้ดูครับ (จากแผ่นพับ)". Pantip (in Thai). Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- ^ Rotfaithai.Com. "Rotfaithai.Com Forums-viewtopic-แอร์พอร์ต เรล ลิงค์เตรียมให้บริการระบบเช็คอินและขนส่งสัมภาระแล้ว". portal.rotfaithai.com. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
- ^ "About Rabbit Card". Rabbit. Retrieved 2017-05-04.