Route alignment
The Purple line starts from Khlong Bang Phai station in Bang Bua Thong District. The line travels south along Kanchanaphisek Road before turning eastward near Central WestGate, onto Rattanathibet Road. It continues along Rattanathibet Road, passing through a large residential area in Bang Yai District and crosses the Chao Phraya River on a bridge parallel to the Phra Nang Klao Bridge and runs towards Nonthaburi Civic Center station. The line then turns southward onto Tiwanon Road, passing the Ministry of Public Health and turns southeast onto Krung Thep-Nonthaburi Road, entering Yaek Tiwanon station. The line then enters Bangkok city limits at Bang Sue district and passes Bang Son station before terminating at the upper platforms of Tao Poon station, with a total length of , serving 16 stations.History
Officially named the Chalong Ratchadham Line () – "To Celebrate the Great King's Reign with Righteousness" – but informally known as the "Purple Line", the rapid transit line provides a north–western corridor in Bangkok's Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan. The line also incorporated an extension of the Blue Line from nearby Bang Sue station to Tao Poon Station. In the 1990s, the plan for the Purple Line was to run from Bang Phut to Bang Sue for , with an extension to Thewet for . This line was created from the adjustment of the 1994 mass transit rail system master plan, which connected the original extension of the Blue Line from Tao Poon to Bang Yai, while the original Purple Line would have run from the National Library to Tao Poon and the original Orange Line from Samsen (National Library) to Rat Burana, becoming a new line designated as the Purple Line, included in the master plan of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) for the first time in 2004. Five years later, the line's construction began.Northern section
Construction was divided into six contracts, three of them for civil works. The contracts were signed from late 2009 to early 2010 and completion was originally scheduled for the end of 2014. The third contract included construction of fourConstruction contracts
Southern section
As the northern section of the Purple line was built first, the second phase of the Purple Line south from Tao Poon via Rattanakosin - Bangkok's old town to Rat Burana would fully complete the line. The length of the southern extension is ( underground, elevated with 17 stations - ten underground and seven elevated). The initial cost of the southern extension is 82 billion baht and with a planned opening by the end of 2027. The Thai Cabinet was expected to approve the tender in mid 2017 with a tender then to be issued in the second half of 2017. On 25 July 2017, Cabinet approval was given, but the tender was then delayed until 2018. By December 2018, a tender had still not been issued and was further delayed. In August 2019, subject to final land acquisition, a March 2020 tender was planned.Member Yappofloyd meeting with MRTA Planning Division on 7 August 2019 at MRTA Headquarters In mid 2020, the Ministry of Transport still aimed for a tendering process within 2020 despite COVID-19 related delays. The MRTA then expected to issue a tender in February 2021. and if construction had begun in 2021, the extension was projected to enter service sometime in 2027. However, the tender was delayed yet again and subsequently cancelled in August 2021 until it was finally issued in November 2021. Construction contracts were signed on 11 March 2022 with a 2005 construction period for an ambitious planned 2027 opening date.Construction progress
Contactors were issued with a Notice to Proceed on 25 April 2022 giving them access to sites along the route with actual construction planned to begin from August 2022. Construction began in early August for two contract sections, 3 & 4. Some 410 lots and 500 buildings will need to be appropriated to build the extension and as of May 2022 many of them were still to be surveyed. Construction progress was at 3.45% complete at the end of September 2022. By the end of November 2022, construction progress was at 4.30%. At the end of February 2023, construction had progressed to 7.73%. By the end of May 2023, construction had progressed to 11.50%. As of December 2024, construction has progressed to 46.3% completion. As of April 2025, construction has progressed to 53.4% completion with an expected opening date of 2028.Construction contracts
Stations
Infrastructure
Depot
The Khlong Bang Phai Depot serves as the main maintenance facility for the entire MRT Purple Line. It is on Kanchanaphisek Road, near Khlong Bang Phai Station. Additionally, the Kru Nai stabling yard is currently under construction as part of the Purple Line Southern Section project. It is near the southern section of Kanchanaphisek Road in Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province.Park & Ride
There are currently four Park & Ride facilities along the MRT Purple Line, at Khlong Bang Phai, Sam Yaek Bang Yai, Bang Rak Noi Tha It, and Yaek Nonthaburi 1 stations. Two additional facilities are under construction at Bang Pakok and Rat Burana stations as part of the Purple Line Southern Section project.Station
The MRT Purple Line comprises 33 stations, with 16 currently in operation since 2016—all of which are elevated. The remaining 17 stations are under construction and expected to be completed by 2029, consisting of 10 underground and 7 elevated stations. Station structures on the MRT Purple Line North Section range from 300 to 400 meters in length and approximately 18 meters in width. In the Southern Section, underground stations typically measure 250 meters in length and 20 meters in width, while elevated stations are 153 meters long and 25 meters wide. All stations are designed to accommodate a maximum of six cars per train. Elevated stations are equipped with half-height platform screen doors, while underground stations will be fitted with full-height platform screen doors. In addition, the entrances to the stations are designed to be about one meter above ground level, taking into account the highest recorded flood levels in Bangkok to prepare for potential future flooding events.Rolling stock
In November 2013, BEM contracted with Marubeni Corp,Signaling system
Bombardier Cityflo 650 signaling system has been implemented for the MRT Purple Line project. This communication-based train control (CBTC) system supports automatic train operation (ATO), allowing for efficient and safe control of train movements. It enables real-time train monitoring, optimizing operations and minimizing delays while prioritizing passenger safety. Additionally, the system ensures a minimum headway of just ninety seconds.Operation
Service hour
The line operates with varying schedules across stations. The first train departs from Khlong Bang Phai station at 5:30 AM and from Tao Poon station at 6:00 AM. The frequency of train services depends on the time of day and passenger volume. The service hours are determined by the departure time of the last train heading to Khlong Bang Phai station. For example, when the last train departs from Tao Poon station at 11:24 PM, that marks the closing time for all stations, with the final closure occurring at Talad Bang Yai Station.Headways
Ridership
When the Purple line first opened daily ridership was only 22,000 compared to projected numbers of 100,000. After the opening of the Blue Line extension to Tao Poon 1 year later in August 2017, daily average ridership increased significantly from 33,000 to 50,000. In August 2018, the MRTA Deputy Governor stated that daily ridership had increased to 60,000 each weekday. By late 2019, this had increased to 70,000. In 2023 the purple line saw an average of 50385 passengers per day. On 16 October 2023, MRT Purple Line began using the new fare rates of 14 to 20 baht (down from 16 to 42 baht) after the '20 Baht Transit Max Fares Policy' was approved by the Thai government. From 25 January to 31 January 2025, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra implemented a policy of free public transportation in Bangkok for one week. This measure aimed to address the worsening air pollution caused by surging dust levels across all districts of the capital.Fares
MRT Purple Line fare is calculated based on the travel distance between the origin and destination stations. Previously, fares ranged from 14 to 42 baht, with a maximum of 70 baht when transferring to the MRT Blue Line. Following the introduction of the 20-baht fare policy in October 2023, fares were reduced to a range of 14 to 20 baht, with a new maximum of 51 baht when transferring to the Blue Line. Discounted fares are available for children under 14 and senior citizens, starting at 7 baht and capping at 36 baht with a Blue Line transfer. Student fares now start at 13 baht and rise to 48 baht when including a transfer to the Blue Line. Starting on 30 November 2023, passengers using a credit or debit card, Visa, or Mastercard will receive a 20 baht discount when transferring to the Light Red Line, capping the maximum fare between the two lines at 20 baht. In 2024, passengers will also receive a 15 baht discount when transferring from the Purple Line to the Pink Line, and a 14 baht discount when transferring in the opposite direction. Senior citizens are eligible for an 8 baht discount when transferring from the Purple Line to the Pink Line, and a 7 baht discount when transferring from the Pink Line to the Purple Line. Students will receive a 15 baht discount when transferring from the Purple Line to the Pink Line, and a 13 baht discount when transferring from the Pink Line to the Purple Line.Incidents
2025 Myanmar Earthquake
On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar struck Bangkok, leading to the temporary suspension of all train services to ensure readiness for resumption and to prepare for potential aftershocks. The line resumed normal service on the next day.Route map
Network map
Gallery
See also
* Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region * Bangkok Metro * MRT Blue Line * MRT Brown Line * MRT Grey Line * MRT Light Blue Line * MRT Orange Line * MRT Pink Line * MRT Yellow Line * BTS Skytrain * Sukhumvit Line * Silom Line * Airport Rail Link (Bangkok) * SRT Dark Red Line * SRT Light Red Line * Bangkok BRT * BMA Gold Line * BMA Bang Na-Airport LineReferences
External links