Rail transport in Bangkok
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Rail transport Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a p ...
was introduced to
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
in 1893, and the national railway network was developed during the 20th century.
Rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...
in Bangkok includes several rail lines: the
BTS Skytrain The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain ( th, รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส '' TS'), is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL (BTSC), a ...
,
MRT MRT may refer to: Transport Rapid Transit Systems * Mass Rapid Transit (disambiguation) * MRT (Singapore) or Mass Rapid Transit, Singapore * MRT (Bangkok) or Metropolitan Rapid Transit, Thailand * Manila Metro Rail Transit System, Philippine ...
and
Airport Rail Link An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport from an airport to a nearby city by mainline or commuter trains, rapid transit, people mover, or light rail. Direct links operate straight to the airport terminal, while o ...
.


History

Bangkok's first rail line was the private
Paknam Railway The Paknam Railway was Thailand's first railway line, established in 1893. Stretching 21 km (13 mi), it was a narrow gauge line. The line was constructed by the Paknam Railway Company established by a British navigator Alfred John Loftus a ...
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
Rama V Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร ...
eagerly built a tram network for Bangkok by employing foreign engineers and technicians, especially Danish engineers. However, due to a lack of interest and maintenance, the tram network was completely scrapped in 1968. Although proposals for the development of rapid transit in Bangkok had been made since 1975, leading to plans for the failed
Lavalin Skytrain Lavalin Skytrain ( th, โครงการรถไฟฟ้าลาวาลิน) is a cancelled rapid transit in Bangkok, planned since 1984 during Prem Tinsulanonda reign as prime minister. It was to have been operated by Lavalin (SNC-Lava ...
, it was only in 1999 that Thailand's first
rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...
system, the
BTS Skytrain The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain ( th, รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส '' TS'), is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL (BTSC), a ...
, began operation. The underground
MRT MRT may refer to: Transport Rapid Transit Systems * Mass Rapid Transit (disambiguation) * MRT (Singapore) or Mass Rapid Transit, Singapore * MRT (Bangkok) or Metropolitan Rapid Transit, Thailand * Manila Metro Rail Transit System, Philippine ...
subsequently opened in 2004, the
Airport Rail Link An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport from an airport to a nearby city by mainline or commuter trains, rapid transit, people mover, or light rail. Direct links operate straight to the airport terminal, while o ...
began operation in 2010, and the
SRT Red Lines The Red Line Mass Transit System Project is a commuter rail system serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region in Thailand. The construction began in January 2009 and free public trial operation began on 2 August 2021, with full commercial service t ...
began trial operation in 2021.


State Railway of Thailand (SRT) for Inter-city and commuter rail

Bangkok is the location of Hua Lamphong Railway Station, the main terminus of the national rail network operated by the
State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) ( th, การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport in Thailand. History The SRT was ...
(SRT). Trains travelling on the Northern Line to
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai (, from th, เชียงใหม่ , nod, , เจียงใหม่ ), sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai province and the second largest city in ...
, the Northeastern Line to
Nong Khai Nong Khai ( th, เทศบาลเมืองหนองคาย, ) is a city in northeast Thailand. It is the capital of Nong Khai province. Nong Khai city is located in Mueang Nong Khai district. Nong Khai lies on the Mekong River, near ...
and
Ubon Ratchathani Ubon Ratchathani ( th, อุบลราชธานี, ) is one of the four major cities of Isan (with Khorat/Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen), also known as the "big four of Isan." The city is on the Mun River in the south ...
, and the Eastern Line to
Aranyaprathet Aranyaprathet (Thai: อรัญประเทศ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in Sa Kaeo province in eastern Thailand . It covers the entire ''tambon'' of Aranyaprathet, in Aranyaprathet district. As of 2005, the town has 16,937 inhabitant ...
originate at the station, and so do some trains of the Southern Line, which terminates at
Su-ngai Kolok Su-ngai Kolok ( th, สุไหงโกลก, ms, Sungai Golok) is a border town, subdistrict, and district on the Malaysia-Thailand Border in Narathiwat Province, Thailand. It is one of the largest and most prosperous districts in Narathiwa ...
and has a connection to Malaysia (the other Southern terminus is
Thonburi __NOTOC__ Thonburi ( th, ธนบุรี) is an area of modern Bangkok. During the era of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, its location on the right (west) bank at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River had made it an important garrison town, which is ...
). In addition to long-distance services, the SRT also operates a few daily commuter trains running from and to the outskirts of the city during the rush hour, but passenger numbers have remained low.


Mass Rapid transit (Metro Train System) in Bangkok

Bangkok is currently served by four rapid transit systems: the elevated BTS Skytrain, the underground and elevated MRT, the elevated Airport Rail Link, and the partially elevated SRT Red Lines.


BTS Skytrain

The Skytrain consists of three lines, totalling :
Sukhumvit Line The Sukhumvit line ( th, รถไฟฟ้า สายสุขุมวิท) or Light Green line, is an elevated metro rail line of the BTS Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand. From the central Siam Station, where it connects with the Silom Lin ...
running southwards from Khu Khot Station along
Phahon Yothin Road Phahonyothin Road ( th, ถนนพหลโยธิน, , ) or Highway 1 is a main road in Bangkok and one of the four primary highways in Thailand, which include Mittraphap Road (Highway 2), Sukhumvit Road (Highway 3), and Phet Kasem Road (Hi ...
and then eastwards along
Sukhumvit Road Sukhumvit Road ( th, ถนนสุขุมวิท, , ), or Highway 3 ( th, ทางหลวงแผ่นดินหมายเลข 3), is a major road in Thailand, and a major surface road of Bangkok and other cities. It follows ...
to Kheha Station in Samut Prakan. The
Silom Line The BTS Silom line ( th, รถไฟฟ้า สายสีลม) or Dark Green line, is an elevated rapid transit line of the BTS Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL (BTSC), a subsidiary of BTS Gr ...
runs eastwards from National Stadium Station in
Pathum Wan District Pathum Wan ( th, ปทุมวัน, ) is one of the fifty districts (''khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. It lies just beyond the old city boundary of Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, and was a rural area on the eastern outskirts of the city when roya ...
, then southwest along
Ratchadamri Ratchadamri Road ( th, ถนนราชดำริ, , ; also spelled Rajdamri) is a road in Bangkok. It runs a distance of in a north–south direction from Pratu Nam Intersection, where it meets Phetchaburi and Ratchaprarop Roads, to Sala D ...
,
Si Lom Si Lom Road (also written as Silom, th, สีลม, ) is a major street in the Thai capital Bangkok, best known for its commercial neighbourhood, which, along with the nearby and roughly parallel Sathon Road, forms one of the city's main busi ...
, Narathiwat Ratchanakharin and
Sathon Sathon or Sathorn ( th, สาทร, ) is one of the 50 districts (''khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts (from north clockwise): Bang Rak, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, Yan Nawa, Bang Kho Laem, and Khlon ...
Roads, crossing the
Chao Phraya The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Et ...
passing Wong Wian Yai Station in Khlong San towards Bang Wa Station in
Phasi Charoen District Phasi Charoen ( th, ภาษีเจริญ, ) is one of the 50 districts (''Khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by other Bangkok districts (from north clockwise): Taling Chan, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok Yai, Thon Buri, Chom Th ...
. Both lines are elevated, and interchange at
Siam Station Siam station (, , ) is the cross-platform interchange station for the BTS Skytrain in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is the largest and busiest station on the BTS with 40,000–50,000 passengers per day, where passengers on the Sukhu ...
in Pathum Wan. And
Gold Line (Bangkok) The Gold Line is an automated people mover line, part of Bangkok's rapid transit system. The line is 1.72 km long, consisting of 3 stations, and was opened by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on 16 December 2020. It primarily serves as a ...
which run along Charoen Nakhon in Khlong San from
Krung Thon Buri Station Rade (Rhade; Rade: ; or ) is an Austronesian language of southern Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainl ...
that interchange with Silom Line to
Khlong San Station Khlong San station ( th, สถานีคลองสาน, ) is a Gold Line station, located in Khlong San District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in front of Taksin Hospital. The station is on Somdet Chao Phraya Road and opened on 16 Dec ...
at the end.


MRT (Metro)

The partially underground MRT system opened in July 2004, and currently consists of two lines, the Blue Line and Purple Line. The Blue Line runs for from Tao Poon Station in a southward arc through the east along
Ratchadaphisek Road Ratchadaphisek Road ( th, ถนนรัชดาภิเษก, ) is a major road in Bangkok, Thailand. Conceived in 1971 and opened in 1976, it connects earlier portions including Asok Montri, Wong Sawang and Charan Sanitwong Roads to for ...
, via Hua Lamphong, where it connects to the central railway station, to Lak Song. It has 38 stations, and connects to the BTS system at BTS stations Mo Chit, Asok, Sala Daeng and Bang Wa. The Blue Line was extended to form a circle in 2020. The Purple Line opened in 2016. Although initial passenger numbers were low and their service area remains limited to the inner city, 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.


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 .


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
Bang Sue Grand Station Bang Sue Grand Station ( th, สถานีกลางบางซื่อ, , ; ), also known by its ceremonial name Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station ( th, สถานีกลางกรุงเทพอภิวัฒน์, , ...
opened. It consists of two lines, the Dark Red Line and Light Red Line.


Lines in operation


Future expansion

The entire
Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region The Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region, or M-Map, is the latest version in a series of Thai government plans for the development of an urban rail transit network serving the Greater Bangkok area. It was drafted under the ...
consists of eight main lines and four feeder lines totalling to be completed by 2029. Extensions to the
Sukhumvit Line The Sukhumvit line ( th, รถไฟฟ้า สายสุขุมวิท) or Light Green line, is an elevated metro rail line of the BTS Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand. From the central Siam Station, where it connects with the Silom Lin ...
to the east and north, and the
MRT Blue Line The MRT Blue Line ( th, รถไฟฟ้า สายสีน้ำเงิน) or MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkon Line ( th, รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) is Bangkok's third rapid transit li ...
are currently under construction. All are due for completion between 2018 and 2020. New lines under construction are the
MRT Orange Line The MRT Orange Line ( th, รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายสีส้ม) is a rapid transit line of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Thailand. When fully completed, the MRT Or ...
and two MRT monorail lines - the
MRT Pink Line The MRT Pink Line is an elevated mass rapid transit monorail train line under construction in Bangkok and Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. The monorail line will be long and have 30 stations. It will run in the northern part of the city from the ...
and the
MRT Yellow Line The MRT Yellow Line is an elevated mass rapid transit line currently under construction in Bangkok and Samut Prakan Province, Thailand. The 30.4 km line will have 23 stations and cost 55 billion baht. The line was originally proposed in 2005 ...
- which both commenced construction in 2017.


Rolling stock


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.


MRT Purple line

Use the stored value cards as
MRT blue line The MRT Blue Line ( th, รถไฟฟ้า สายสีน้ำเงิน) or MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkon Line ( th, รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) is Bangkok's third rapid transit li ...
. The fare rates start from 15 Baht for a station, increasing 1 Baht for each station up to 29 Baht for 15 stations. 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.


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.


BTS

BTS BTS (), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 and debuting in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. The septet—consisting of members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—co-writes and co-produ ...
has its own stored value cards called “
Rabbit card The Rabbit Card is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer electronic payments in systems in Thailand. It was launched in May 2012 to collect fares for the BTS Skytrain and the Bangkok BRT. The card can be recharged ...
”. There are 3 types of
Rabbit card The Rabbit Card is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer electronic payments in systems in Thailand. It was launched in May 2012 to collect fares for the BTS Skytrain and the Bangkok BRT. The card can be recharged ...
: adult, student, and senior, with 100 Baht initial stored value. 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 will cost you 15 Baht. If you are travelling between these stations to the other station on the main line, 15 baht will be added to your fares. There are now currently free access station which will not cost you any money. Between Khu Khot - Mo Chit stations, and Bearing - Kheha stations.


See also

*
Rail transport in Thailand The railway network of Thailand is managed and operated by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and has a route length of 4,346 km (2,700 mi). 151 km (94 mi) or 3.47% of all the routes are electrified. History Interest in ...
*
Rapid transit in Thailand List of urban rail systems in Thailand lists urban rail transit systems in Thailand. As of 2018, Bangkok is the only Thai city which has operational urban rail systems. Bangkok Metropolitan Region Bangkok Metropolitan Region is, , served by t ...


Notes


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rail Transport In Bangkok Public transport in Thailand Bangkok Rail Transport Rapid transit in Bangkok