Rail transport
was introduced to
Bangkok
in 1893, and the national railway network was developed during the 20th century. Modern
rapid transit
in Bangkok includes several rail systems: the
BTS Skytrain
which opened in 1999, followed by the
MRT
,
Airport Rail Link
and
SRT Red Lines
.
History
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Bangkok's first rail line was the private
Paknam Railway
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
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,
[1]
leading to plans for the failed
Lavalin Skytrain
, it was only in 1999 that Thailand's first
rapid transit
system, the
BTS Skytrain
, began operation.
The underground
MRT
subsequently opened in 2004, the
Airport Rail Link
began operation in 2010, and the
SRT Red Lines
began trial operation in 2021.
Inter-city and high-speed rail
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Bangkok is the location of the
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
, the central rail hub for most long-distance trains as of 2023, as well as the older
Hua Lamphong station
, both operated by the
State Railway of Thailand
(SRT). From Bangkok, trains travel on the
Northern Line
to
Chiang Mai
, the
Northeastern Line
to
Nong Khai
and
Ubon Ratchathani
, and the
Eastern Line
to
Aranyaprathet
, and the
Southern Line
, which terminates at
Su-ngai Kolok
and has a connection to Malaysia (the other Southern terminus is
Thonburi
).
High-speed rail
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There are multiple planned
high-speed rail lines in Thailand
. The
Bangkok?Nong Khai high-speed railway
and
Don Mueang?Suvarnabhumi?U-Tapao high-speed railway
are under construction as of 2023. The
Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
will act as a future hub for all high-speed services.
Commuter Rail
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In addition to long-distance services, the SRT also operates a few daily commuter trains running from and to the outskirts of the city, and the newer electrified SRT Red Lines.
Mass Rapid transit (Metro Train System) in Bangkok
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Bangkok is currently served by four rapid transit systems: the BTS Skytrain, the MRT, the Airport Rail Link, and the SRT Red Lines.
BTS Skytrain
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The Skytrain consists of three lines, totalling 70.05 kilometers (43.53 mi):
Sukhumvit Line
running southwards from
Khu Khot
Station along
Phahon Yothin Road
and then eastwards along
Sukhumvit Road
to Kheha Station in
Samut Prakan
. The
Silom Line
runs eastwards from National Stadium Station in
Pathum Wan District
, then southwest along
Ratchadamri
,
Si Lom
,
Narathiwat Ratchanakharin
and
Sathon
Roads, crossing the
Chao Phraya
passing Wong Wian Yai Station in
Khlong San
towards Bang Wa Station in
Phasi Charoen District
. Both lines are elevated, and interchange at
Siam Station
in Pathum Wan. And
Gold Line (Bangkok)
which run along
Charoen Nakhon
in
Khlong San
from
Krung Thon Buri Station
that interchange with Silom Line to
Khlong San Station
at the end.
MRT (Metro)
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The MRT system opened in July 2004, and currently consists of four lines, the
Blue Line
(partially underground heavy rail),
Purple Line
(above-ground
medium capacity rail
) and
Yellow Line
and
Pink Line
(monorail). The Blue Line runs for 37.1 kilometres (23.1 mi) from Tao Poon Station in a southward arc through the east along
Ratchadaphisek Road
, 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, 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. The Pink and Yellow monorail lines opened in 2023.
Airport Rail Link
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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 29 kilometres (18 mi).
SRT Red Lines
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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
opened. It consists of two lines, the
Dark Red Line
and
Light Red Line
.
Lines in operation
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Future expansion
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The entire
Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
consists of eight main lines and four feeder lines totalling 508 kilometres (316 mi) to be completed by 2029.
New lines under construction are the
Orange Line
and an extension to the
Purple Line
and extensions to the
Airport Rail Link
.
Rolling stock
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Ticketing and fare rates
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MRT Blue line
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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.
[6]
MRT Purple line
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Use the stored value cards as
MRT Blue Line
. The fare rates start from 15 Baht for a station, increasing 1 Baht for each station up to 29 Baht for 15 stations.
[7]
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.
[8]
Airport Rail Link
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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.
[9]
BTS
(not to be confused with
K-pop group
) has its own stored value cards called "
Rabbit card
". There are 3 types of
Rabbit card
: adult, student, and senior, with 100 Baht initial stored value.
[10]
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 cost 15 Baht. 15 baht will also be added when travelling between these stations to the other station on the main line. There are now currently free access between Khu Khot - Mo Chit stations, and Bearing - Kheha stations which will not cost any money.
See also
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Notes
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References
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External links
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