Thailand's Railway Network

WELCOME TO MARCHES PAST THAILAND TRAVEL. METROPOLITAN RAPID TRANSIT (MRT), BANGKOK

The Metropolitan Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region in Thailand. The first section of the Blue Line between Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue opened in 2004 as Bangkok's second public transit system. The MRT is operated by the Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (BMPCL) under a concession granted by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Along with the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS, also called the Skytrain), and the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the MRT is part of Bangkok's rail transportation infrastructure. The MRT serves more than 240,000 passengers each day. It has 18 operational stations along 27 kilometres (16 mi) of underground track. The Blue Line, officially the Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line, is the only line currently in operation. As of 2011, two extensions of the Blue Line are under construction. When completed, the Blue Line will become a loop line around the centre of Bangkok, with an extension to Bang Khae on its western side. As at August 2014 this extension was half complete, not due to open until 2017. The MRT Purple Line is also under construction. It will connect Tao Pun in Bang Sue district to Nonthaburi in the north-west, and will be the first public transit line outside the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
At the present time a new line designated the Dark Green Line is at the planning stage with contracts hoped to be issued by the end of the year. This line will run northwards from Mochit to Suphan Mai with a further extension planned to Koo Kot. This will add a further 18.4km to the MRT network.

Metropolitan Rapid Transit Lastest News
Tuesday 12 August 2014.
MRTA seeks investors for Orange Line..........The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) deputy chief has suggested the idea of having the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA), operator of electric railway projects raise money through an alternative infrastructure fund. The focus of attention is currently on the Orange Line, a 35 kilometre route running from Taling Chan to Minburi. As this route takes in key commercial areas of the capital, such as Pratu Nam and Ratchadaphisek, Rama IX and Ramkhamhaeng roads, it is thought this would be of interest to private investors. Tendering for this route was originally planned for late 2013 but regime change has postponed this schedule. It is now hoped that this process will take place towards the end of 2014.

Wednesday 6 August 2014.
BMCL plans Purple Line test for 2015..........A test run of the Purple Line high-speed train is expected to take place late next year, according to the project operator. Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL) was awarded a contract for the procurement, installation, operation and maintenance of the 23-kilometre route from Bang Yai to Bang Sue. Tao Pun will be the MRT interchange station allowing passengers to switch to the Blue Line via the Tha Phra to Bang Sue Blue Line extension currently under construction. The Purple Line is scheduled to open in December 2016.

Wednesday 22 January 2014.
No derailment of 6 mass transit projects..........The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) provided an update on Wednesday reinserting its intention to go ahead with its 6 mass transit projects in Greater Bangkok, even though rail expansion projects face delays while the 2-trillion-baht infrastructure bill is before the Constitution Court. It will utilise Public Debt Management Act which allows the government to borrow 20% of the annual expenditure budget for each fiscal year which is about 500 billion baht. As each of the projects will consume about 20 billion baht they can proceed without exceeding the limit set by the law.

Wednesday 6 November 2013.
Japanese consortium wins Purple Line deal..........As reported earlier in the week, a Japanese consortium comprising Marubeni Corp, Toshiba Corp, and East Japan Railway Co. have struck a deal to build an urban rail system in Bangkok. The latest announcement relates to the MRTA Purple Line which will connect Bang Yai in Nonthaburi Province to Tao Pun in Bang Sue district. The system includes 23 kilometres of track together with 63 railcars, a power grid, signals and rail yards. The package which will deliver a service in 2016 also involves a maintenance contract for 10 years.