MRT Blue Line

Blue Line
Train arriving at Si Lom Station
Overview
Native name	สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล
Type	Heavy Rail
System	MRT
Locale	Bangkok
Termini	Tao Poon[1] Hua Lamphong
Stations	19[1]
Operation
Opened	3 July 2004
Owner	Mass Rapid Transit Authority
Depot(s)	Phra Ram 9
Technical
Line length	21 km (13 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	Third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map Tha Phra  MRT  Charan Sanit Wong 13 Yaek Fai Chai Bang Khun Non  MRT  Bang Yi Khan Sirindhorn Bang Phlat Bang O Chao Phraya River Bang Pho Tao Poon  MRT  Bang Sue Bang Sue Central under construction  SRT   SRT   ARL  Kamphaeng Phet Chatuchak Park  BTS  Phahon Yothin Lat Phrao Ratchadaphisek Sutthisan Huai Khwang Thailand Cultural Centre  MRT  Rama 9 Depot Phra Ram  ARL   SRT  Phetchaburi Sukhumvit  BTS  Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre Khlong Toei Lumphini Si Lom  BTS  Sam Yan Hua Lamphong  SRT  Under construction Wat Mangkon Wang Burapha  MRT  Sanam Chai Chao Phraya River Itsaraphap Tha Phra  MRT  Bang Phai  BTS  Bang Wa Phetkasem 48 Phetkasem Depot Phasi Charoen Bang Khae Lak Song

The MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkhon line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) or MRT Blue line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายสีน้ำเงิน) is the first of Bangkok's MRT system and the city's third rapid transit line, following the Sukhumvit line and Silom line of the BTS Skytrain. Opened on 3 July 2004,^[2] it runs eastward from Tao Poon Station in Bang Sue District along Kamphaeng Phet, Phahon Yothin and Lat Phrao Roads, then turns south following Ratchadaphisek Road, then west following Rama IV Road to Hua Lamphong station in Pathum Wan District.

A much delayed 27 km extension to the Blue line finally began construction in mid-2012 due for completion in April 2019, two years later than planned.^[3]

History

For the Blue Line most civil infrastructure was provided by a new government agency, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), and handed over to a private-sector operator for a 25-year concession agreement. The winning bidder was Bangkok Metro Company Limited (BMCL), subsequently renamed Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM). BMCL/BEM provide maintenance & engineering equipment, including electrical trains, signalling systems, SCADA, communication, platform screen doors and fully operates the system. BMCL/BEM has subcontracted maintenance of the system for 10 years to Siemens and seven-year maintenance contracts to two local maintenance services.^[4]

The construction of the first Bangkok Metro line, officially known as Chaloem Ratchamongkhon (Thai สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) – "Celebration of Royal Auspice" – or informally as the "Blue Line", began on 19 November 1996. The project suffered multiple delays not only because of the 1997 economic crisis, but also due to challenging civil engineering works of constructing massive underground structures deep in the water-logged soil upon which the city is built.

The Blue line was opened for a limited public trial period of several weeks starting on 13 April 2004. On 3 July 2004 the line was officially opened at 19:19 local time by HM King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit,^[2] who were accompanied by other members of the royal family. Within 30 minutes of its opening, sightseers filled the system to its maximum capacity, but after the initial rush ridership settled down to around 180,000 riders daily — considerably lower than projections of over 400,000, despite fares being slashed in half from 12-38 baht to 10-15 baht per trip. By 2016 the average daily ridership was 273,637.^[5]

Operation

Inside the train of MRT blue line, Siemens Modular Metro.

The 21-kilometre, 19-station Blue line presently runs from Tao Poon to Hua Lamphong via Phra Ram 9 and has a carrying capacity of 40,000 people in each direction per hour. Similar to the Skytrain, the Metro uses trains supplied by Siemens that travel at up to 80 km/h. Passengers can change to the Skytrain at Si Lom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations. The metro has a large depot in Huai Khwang district, which is located between Phra Ram 9 and Thailand Cultural Centre stations.

Due to safety considerations, platform screen doors are installed. Uniformed security personnel and security cameras are present at each and every platform. Currently 19 three-car metro trains, of the Siemens Modular Metro type, are used. Each metro train consists of two motor cars and a centre trailer car.^[6]

Stations

Code	Station Name English	Station Name Thai	Change for	Location
TAO	Tao Poon	เตาปูน	MRT	Bang Sue
BAN	Bang Sue	บางซื่อ	SRT  (under construction)  SRT  (planned)  ARL  (proposed) inter-city rails	Chatuchak
KAM	Kamphaeng Phet	กำแพงเพชร
CHA	Chatuchak Park	สวนจตุจักร	BTS
PHA	Phahon Yothin	พหลโยธิน	BTS  (under construction)
LAT	Lat Phrao	ลาดพร้าว	MRL  (planned)
RAT	Ratchadaphisek	รัชดาภิเษก		Din Daeng/Huai Khwang
SUT	Sutthisan	สุทธิสาร
HUI	Huai Khwang	ห้วยขวาง
CUL	Thailand Cultural Centre	ศูนย์วัฒนธรรมแห่งประเทศไทย	MRT  (Under construction)
RAM	Phra Ram 9	พระราม 9	Grand Square Phra Ram 9 Monorail (proposed)
PET	Phetchaburi	เพชรบุรี	ARL   SRT  (proposed) inter-city rails	Ratchathewi
SUK	Sukhumvit	สุขุมวิท	BTS	Watthana
SIR	Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre	ศูนย์การประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติ์		Khlong Toei
KHO	Khlong Toei	คลองเตย
LUM	Lumphini	ลุมพินี	MRL  (proposed)	Sathon
SIL	Si Lom	สีลม	BTS	Bang Rak
SAM	Sam Yan	สามย่าน	BTS  (proposed)	Pathum Wan
HUA	Hua Lamphong	หัวลำโพง	SRT  (Planned) inter-city rails
BS10	Wat Mangkon (under construction)	วัดมังกร		Samphanthawong
BS11	Sam Yod (under construction)	สามยอด	MRT  (Tao Poon-Rat Burana Extension, approved)	Phra Nakhon
BS12	Sanam Chai (under construction as of December 2016)[7]	สนามไชย
BS13	Itsaraphap (under construction)	อิสรภาพ		Bangkok Yai
BS14	Tha Phra (under construction)	ท่าพระ	MRT  (Bang Sue-Tha Phra Extension, under construction)

Major accident record

On 17 January 2005, just after 09:15, an empty train returning to the depot collided with a peak-hour train filled with passengers at the Thailand Cultural Centre station. 140 people were hurt, most of whom sustained only minor injuries, and the entire Metro network was shut down for two weeks.

After initial investigations, it was found that the empty train had run into problems shortly before the accident, grinding to a halt on a curve leading to the depot. The driver applied its brake and was waiting to be towed to the maintenance centre close to Thailand Cultural Centre station.

A rescue train was attempting to connect to the stalled train when the driver was told to release the brake while coupling had not yet been successful. It was then that the empty train began to roll backwards at a speed of ten metres per second, before smashing into the other train, which was carrying passengers. Therefore, it was believed that the incident was caused by negligence due to insufficient training of operation staff.^[8] This accident also resulted in two damaged trains with heavily damaged areas limited to the two leading cars. The colliding speed was suspected to be about 60 km/h due to the appearance of damaged areas. However, one train, which was rebuilt from the repair of the minor-damaged cars, was already fitted for operation at the end of 2006 and the remaining one was still under heavy repair until mid of 2007; it was released into service in October 2007. The cost resulting from the accident might be a much higher figure than BMCL quoted, and it was expected to be at least 400 million baht, which was totally insured by a local insurance company.

The Metro resumed full operation on 1 February 2005, and passenger numbers soon rose back to pre-crash levels, partly due to a temporary promotional fare scheme which allowed passengers to travel any distance on the MRT for only ten baht (~0.33 USD).

Current extension under construction

Bang Wa MRT Station in June 2016 (under construction)

Viaduct across Ratchaphruek Road east of Bang Wa Station in June 2016 (under construction)

The 27 km Blue Line extension will form a quasi circle line (loop). It consists of 19 stations (4 underground stations and 15 elevated stations). (The current terminus at Bang Sue is being extended 1.2 km to Tao Poon as part of the Purple Line project).

From Tao Poon the line will run elevated west along Pracha Rat Sai 2 rd, cross the Chao Praya river and then run south along the Ratchadapisek inner ring road (Charan Sanit Wong rd) terminating at Tha Phra. From the current Hualomphong terminus the line runs 5.4 km underground through Chinatown, under the Chao Praya river to Tha Phra station where it surfaces. It then runs west along Phetkasem road to Lak Song.

The project is divided into 5 contracts:

• Contract 1: 2.8 km underground from Hua Lamphong to Sanam Chai

(2 stations, Bt11.65 Billion, contractor ITD).

• Contract 2: 2.6 km underground Sanam chai-Tha Phra

(2 stations, for Bt10.82B, contractor CK)

• Contract 3: 11 km elevated from Tao Poon along Charan Sunit Wong rd (Inner Ring rd) to Tha Phra

(8 stations, Bt11.40B, contractor SH-Unique Joint venture)

• Contract 4: 10.5 km elevated from Tha Phra along Phetkasem rd to Lak Song

(7 stations, plus a park-and-ride venue and maintenance yard, Bt13.43B, contractor STEC)

• Contract 5: rolling stock and systems, Bt5.17 Billion, contractor CK.

As of July 2014, civil works progress was 52% done.^[9] By October, civil works were 63.75% done. As of January 2017, civil works were 89.16% done.^[10] The first section of the Blue Line extension is expected to open in late 2018 with the full extension open by April 2019.

Future extension

Since 2011, there were requests from residents to further extend the line from Lak Song further west to the Phutthamonthon area. The MRTA has indicated a willingness to undertake this extension. In July 2014, the MRTA submitted a request for 84 million baht to complete a route survey for a 7.8 km extension from Lak Song to Phutthamonthon Sai 4.^[11] In late March 2017, the Transport Ministry stated that this 7.8 km extension would be submitted to Cabinet for approval in April 2017. The expected timeframe is for construction to commence in the 4th quarter of 2017.^[12]

See also

• BTS Skytrain
• Sukhumvit Line
• Silom Line
• Airport Rail Link
• MRT Brown Line
• MRT Grey Line
• MRT Light Blue Line
• MRT Orange Line
• MRT Pink Line
• MRT Purple Line
• MRT Yellow Line
• Bangkok Metro
• SRT Red Lines
• Bangkok BRT

References

External links

• "MRTA Blue Line extension website"
• "MRT home page" Official Thai website