Thailand's Railway Network

The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The system consists of 34 stations along two lines: the Sukhumvit Line running northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and Bearing respectively, and the Silom Line which runs along Silom and Sathon Roads, through the Central Business District of Bangkok, terminating at the National Stadium and Talat Phlu. The lines interchange at Siam Station and have a combined route distance of 31 kms. The system is formally known as the Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday.

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS Skytrain) Lastest News
Tuesday 24 December 2013.
Chaos at BTS Skytrain shuts down..........The BTS skytrain system shut down unexpectedly at around 3am on Tuesday morning causing commuter chaos in Bangkok with peak-hours passengers arriving at stations and finding them shuttered and signs saying to find other means of travel. The BTS signals communication system malfunctioned affecting both the Silom and Sukhumvit lines, which normally begins service at 6am. It was eight hours before the service could be restored. It was later reported that the testing of a new platform screen door which is linked to the train signaling system caused the entire system to shut down. The rail operator, Bangkok Mass Transit System, has been investing heavily in new safety doors similar to those used on the MRT underground system.

Friday 20 December 2013.
BTS late closure for New Year..........The Bangkok skytrain will run until 2am on Jan 1 in order to accommodate thousands of New Year celebrants in the capital, according to the chief operating officer of Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc. The skytrain normally closes at midnight.

Thursday 5 December 2013.
Two new stations on the Silom Line open..........As previously announced two further stations have opened on the Silom Line in Thonburi district completing the current planned extension. Coinciding with the King’s Birthday, this latest section to will be free for one month to the two new stations at Wutthakat and Bang Wa. Thereafter the fare will be 10 baht. The Bangkok governor also announced a plan to construct six more stations with a further extension from Bang Wa to Taling Chan connecting with SRT’s light red line. The budget for this project is 11 billion baht and will take six years to complete.

Saturday 30 November 2013.
Bang Wa line extension ready for service..........Following an earlier report that westbound trains departing from Silom station are now passing through Wong Wian Yai station, a notice has appeared informing passengers that the service now runs to Bang Wa on the Phetkasem ring road. Officially the opening of this latest section of the BTS Silom Line extension is due to coincide with the King’s birthday on 5 December. This section adds a further 5.25 kms of line and two stations, Wutthakat and Bang Wa, to the network. Two other stations, Pho Nimit and Talat Phlu opened early in the year.

Thursday 28 November 2013.
No change at Wong Wian Yai..........It appears that trains on the Silom Line are no longer restricted to terminate at Wong Wian Yai Station and are continuing on route to Talat Phlu. Previously Wong Wian Yai was an interchange station where passengers needed to change platforms and trains to continue along this line extension. Trains were seen passing through as of Wednesday 27 November.

Monday 25 November 2013.
BTS to pay B6bn dividends as performance picks up..........Strong third-quarter results by SET-listed BTS Group Holdings Plc (BTS) have ensured it’s on track to pay 6 million baht in dividends. The company now has a healthy cash reserve to ensure further payments amounting to 1 billion baht over the next two years as well as boosting reserves for infrastructure. Early in December BTS will take delivery of new Chinese-made trains which will improve capacity by some 10%. It already has plans to extend its existing lines and hopes to join the bidding for four of the 10 mass transit rail lines that have received government approval for funding.

Friday 22 November 2013.
Green Line gets new green light..........Following approval last month by the cabinet, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand board on Friday approved the construction of a line from Mor Chit to Khu Kot with bids to be called early next year. The estimated cost of the 28-kilometre Green Line is 29 billion baht. Bids will be divided into four contracts. One contract involves civil work including the building of 12 stations for an 11km sector from Mor Chit to Saphan Mai, and another one for 7km with four stations from Saphan Mai to the end of the line. The third contract will be for car park buildings and a maintenance centre, and the last one for the electric rail track systems. The bidding is expected to open early next year and all contracts were expected to be signed by mid-2014. Construction would take four years and the line would be ready for service in 2018. MRTA had endorsed the line in December last year but further adjustments were called for, including the relocation of the Lak Si Monument. The Green Line will connect with the present BTS skytrain line at Mor Chit.

Wednesday 16 October 2013.
Green route gets govt go-ahead.......... The cabinet on Tuesday approved construction of the the Mass Rapid Transit Authority's (MRTA) 19km Green Line train service. MRTA governor Yongsit Rojsrikul said the electric rail link will stretch from Mor Chit via Saphan Mai to Khu Khot in Pathum Thani. Of the 38-billion-baht budget slated for the project, 29 billion will be spent on construction and the rest on consultancy and land expropriation. Mr Yongsit will officially inform the MRTA board of the cabinet's approval of the project next week. The MRTA will organise a bidding contest to select a contractor in December, with the Green Line extension set to launch its service in June 2018.