BANGKOK MASS TRANSIT
USEFUL INFORMATION
- OPERATION
Both systems operate from 6:00 to 24:00, every 3 - 6 minutes, every 2 minutes during rush hours.
- FARES (2006)
Single fare is between 10 and 40 baht depending on distance on the Green Line and 14-36 baht on the Blue Line.
Cash cards are available for 100 or 300 baht (10% fare discount). For the Green Line a 1-Day Tourist Pass is sold at 100 baht.
THE SYSTEM
The Thai capital is a major tourist destination in Southeast Asia and has more than 8 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. Public transport is mainly handled by buses and rickshaws, but also boats on the river Menam, which winds through the city, are an important means of transport. In 1976, the city presented the first plans for a metro system which included three lines, which together would have a length of 48 km. Due to lack of funding this initial project was never carried out. In the early 1990’s, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration designed a mass transit network including three different types of metros:
1) the elevated BTS system, the so-called Skytrain - rot fai fah in Thai
2) the underground MRTA subway and
3) another elevated line (BERTS) which should be built together with a major road project.
So far only the first two systems are in operation:
The Green Line (BTS-Skytrain) is an elevated automated line, similar to the Vancouver Skytrain, built by Siemens as a turnkey project. It is 23 km long and has 23 stations. It is actually operated with two lines: the Sukhumvit Line (16.8 km) and the Silom Line (6.3 km). Track gauge is 1,435 mm and power supply is via third rail at 750 V DC. 3-car trains are 65 m long, air-conditioned and run at an average speed of 35 kph. Both lines were inaugurated on 5 Dec 1999, with two stations to be opened later.
Construction on the Blue Line (MRTA) began in August 1997. This 21 km line is an underground full metro with 18 stations. It finally opened in 2004. Further extension north from Bang Sue to Phra Nangklao Bridge (11 km above ground) and south from Hua Lampong to Bang Khae (13 km with 4.6 km in tunnel) are planned.
