MRT (Bangkok)

Metropolitan Rapid Transit
The second generation Siemens Modular Metro train (EMU-BLE) of the Blue Line
The second generation Siemens Modular Metro train (EMU-BLE) of the Blue Line
Overview
Native nameรถไฟฟ้ามหานคร
OwnerMass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand
LocaleBangkok Metropolitan Region
Transit typeRapid transit
Monorail
Number of lines4 in operation
2 under construction
Number of stations107
Daily ridership470,000 (Oct 2019)
Annual ridership92.4 million (in 2014)[1]
Operation
Began operation3 July 2004; 20 years ago (2004-07-03)
Operator(s) MRT   MRT 
Bangkok Expressway and Metro  MRT   MRT 
Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited and Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (Subsidiary of BSR Consortium)
Number of vehicles MRT 
19 three-car trains (Siemens Modular Metro EMU-IBL)
35 three-car trains (Siemens Modular Metro EMU-BLE)[2]
 MRT 
21 three-car trains (J-TREC sustina)
 MRT 
30 four-car trains (Alstom Innovia Monorail 300 YM-EMU)
 MRT 
42 four-car trains (Alstom Innovia Monorail 300 YM-EMU)[3]
Technical
System length135.9 kilometres (84.4 mi) (Operation)
225.7 kilometres (140.2 mi) (Planned)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
Top speed80 km/h (50 mph)

The Metropolitan Rapid Transit or MRT is a mass rapid transit system serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region in Thailand. The MRT system comprises two fully operational rapid transit lines (Blue and Purple) and two fully operational monorail line (Yellow and Pink), with another rapid transit line (Orange) under construction. The MRT Blue Line, officially the Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line, between Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue was the first to open in July 2004 as Bangkok's second metro system. The MRT Blue line is officially known in Thai as rotfaifa mahanakhon (รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร) or "metropolitan electric train", but it is more commonly called rotfai taidin (รถไฟใต้ดิน), literally, "underground train" as it was distinguished from the BTS Skytrain by being completely underground when its first section between Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue opened.

The second MRT line MRT Purple Line, officially the Chalong Ratchadham Line, opened on 6 August 2016 and connected Tao Poon with Khlong Bang Phai in Nonthaburi in the northwest of Greater Bangkok. It was the first mass transit line to extend outside Bangkok.

Both the Blue Line and Purple Line are operated by the Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) under a concession granted by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) which is the owner of the MRT lines. Along with the BTS Skytrain and the Airport Rail Link, the MRT is part of Bangkok's rail transportation infrastructure. The BEM-operated MRT lines have 470,000 passengers each day (Blue Line 400,000 and Purple Line 70,000) with 54 operational stations and a combined route length of 71 kilometers (44 mi).[4] Construction began in mid-2011 to extend the MRT Blue Line, after completion in April 2020, the Blue Line has become a quasi loop line (providing interchange with itself at Tha Phra) around the centre of Bangkok.

The MRT Yellow Line monorail, officially the Nakkhara Phiphat Line, opened for trial operation in June 2023 and was fully opened on 3 July 2023. The MRT Pink Line monorail opened for public trial operation in November 2023, and was fully opened on 1 February 2024. The Yellow and Pink Lines are operated by subsidiaries of BTSC, who also operate the BTS Skytrain rather than BEM.

Other MRT lines are planned for the future MRT system with the MRT Orange Line and the southern extension of the MRT Purple Line from Tao Poon to Rat Burana[5] are under construction. The MRT Brown Line is also planned.[6]

  1. ^ "Bangkok Metro Public Corporation Annual Report 2014" (PDF). 2015. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  2. ^ "Siemens delivers trains for Bangkok Blue Line extension". International Railway Journal. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  3. ^ "ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ รวดเร็ว สด ทุกเหตุการณ์".
  4. ^ "M.R.T. Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line". Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Archived from the original on 2014-05-16. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  5. ^ "'ศักดิ์สยาม'สั่งลุยเปิดประมูลรถไฟฟ้าสายสีส้ม-ม่วงใต้ภายในปีนี้". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  6. ^ "บอร์ดรฟม.ไฟเขียวควักเอง 1.4 พันล้านสร้างฐานรากรถไฟฟ้าสายสีน้ำตาล คาดสร้าง". 6 June 2019.