| MRT Blue Line | |
| Other Name: | MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line |
| Native Name: | สายสีน้ำเงิน สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล |
| Type: | Rapid transit |
| System: | MRT |
| Locale: | Bangkok |
| End: | (via) |
| Stations: | Total : 42 stations 38 (operational) 4 (future) |
| Daily Ridership: | 523,504 (30 August 2024) |
| Mapcolor: | Blue |
| Character: | Elevated: 29.5km (18.3miles) Underground: 26.13km (16.24miles) |
| Depot: | Phra Ram 9 Depot Phetkasem Depot |
| Owner: | Mass Rapid Transit Authority |
| Operator: | Bangkok Expressway and Metro |
| Stock: | Siemens Modular Metro EMU-IBL: 19 three-car trains Siemens EMU-BLE: 35 three-car trains Extra Rolling Stock Order 21 three-car trains [1] |
| Linelength: | Total: 55.63km (34.57miles) 46.91km (29.15miles) (operational) 8.72km (05.42miles) (future) |
| Speed Km/H: | 80 |
| Signalling: | Siemens Trainguard LZB700M fixed block ATC under ATO GoA 2 (STO) |
| Map State: | show |
The MRT Blue Line (th|รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายสีน้ำเงิน) or MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkon Line (th|รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) is Bangkok's third rapid transit line, following the Sukhumvit line and Silom line of the BTS Skytrain. It is the first line of the MRT system and is operated by Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM). The original MRT Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue opened on 3 July 2004. A extension to Tao Poon opened on 11 August 2017. The western extension to Lak Song opened for full service on 29 September 2019 and the extension from Tao Poon to Tha Phra to form the quasi loop, opened for full service on 30 March 2020.
The line has a total length of, being a quasi circle route of the Bangkok rapid transit network. The MRT Blue line connects major business, residential and cultural areas of Bangkok. In late 2019, the average daily ridership was 400,000.[2] In mid 2021, during a COVID-19 3rd wave in Bangkok ridership plummeted to between 76,000 - 116,000 per weekday.[3]
The MRT Blue Line starts at the upper platform of Tha Phra station. It runs on an elevated viaduct northward along Charan Sanit Wong Road to Bang O station. Then turning eastwards crossing the Chao Phraya River, entering Bang Pho station and Tao Poon station in Bang Sue District. The line then descends to an underground section. It follows the Kamphaeng Phet, Phahon Yothin and Lat Phrao Roads, then turns south following Ratchadaphisek Road to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre station. It then turns west following Rama IV Road. It passes Hua Lamphong station in Pathum Wan District, through Chinatown, then under the Chao Phraya River before ascending onto an elevated viaduct to the lower platform of Tha Phra station. The line continues west along Phet Kasem Road to Lak Song station in Bang Khae, situated near Kanchanaphisek Road or Western Outer Ring road. It forms a quasi circle loop around Bangkok.
Officially named Chaloem Ratchamongkhon (Thai สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) – "Celebration of Royal Auspice" – or informally but commonly called as the "MRT Blue Line", this was the first metro line under the newly formed government agency, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Most civil infrastructure was provided by this government agency and handed over to a private sector on a 25-year concessionaire agreement. The winning bidder was Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM). Under this agreement, BEM provides maintenance and engineering equipment, including electrical trains, signalling systems, SCADA, communication, platform screen doors and fully operate the system from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue.[4] [5] BEM has subcontracted maintenance of the system for 10 years to Siemens and seven-year maintenance contracts to two local maintenance services.[6]
In 1996, the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF), later known as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), granted the loans for the project with an official development assistance (ODA) scheme. Construction of the line began on 19 November of that year, when Crown Prince His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (later King Vajiralongkorn) came to lay the foundation stone for the construction of the MRT project, which is Thailand's first subway project, with the aim of relieving Bangkok's traffic problems. The first contract was awarded to a joint venture between CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited, Bilfinger-Berger, Kumagai Gumi, and Tokyu Construction Co. for the southern section, while one of the remaining contractors, the northern section, was awarded to ION Joint Venture, which comprises Italian Thai Development, Obayashi Corporation, and Nishimatsu Construction, and the depot was awarded to Siam Nippon Metro Consortium, composed of Hazama Corporation, Maeda Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Kajima, T.S.B. Trading, and Siam Syntech Construction Public Co., Ltd. Tunneling works began on 5 February 1999.[7] [8] [9]
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 MRT Blue Line 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 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 to 38 baht to 10-15 baht per trip.[10] [11] It was scheduled to be opened in 2003, in time for the same year's APEC summit, and later pushed back again to April and then August of the following year.[12] However, no problems were encountered during the test run; the official opening was brought forward.
As part of the rapid transit master plan the original MRT Blue Line section was planned to be extended from Hua Lamphong to Lak Song, and from Bang Sue to Tha Phra, forming a circle open-loop route. The contract for the first part of extension to Tao Poon was signed on 26 August 2009[13] as part of MRT Purple Line contract as it provided interchange to the MRT Purple Line. The 1.2km (00.7miles) Bang Sue to Tao Poon extension opened on 11 August 2017.[14] This added the first elevated station, Tao Poon, to the Blue line.[15] [16]
The major extension of the MRT Blue Line was the 27km (17miles) extension west to Lak Song and from Tao Poon to Tha Phra with 19 stations consisting of four underground and 15 elevated stations. Contracts for civil work were divided into five contracts. Successful bids were announced in late 2010.[17] [18] [19] On 17 February 2011, the five contracts were signed.[20] [21]
| Contract | Notes | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hua Lamphong to Sanam Chai (2 stations underground, Bt11.65 billion, contractor ITD) | 2.8km (01.7miles) | |
| 2 | Sanam Chai to Tha Phra (2 stations underground, Bt10.82B, contractor CK) | 2.6km (01.6miles) | |
| 3 | Tao Poon to Tha Phra (8 stations elevated, Bt11.40B, contractor SH-Unique Joint venture) | 11km (07miles) | |
| 4 | Tha Phra to Lak Song (7 stations elevated, plus a park-and-ride venue and maintenance yard, Bt13.43B, contractor STEC) | 10.5km (06.5miles) | |
| 5 | Rolling stock and systems, Bt5.17 billion, contractor CK. |
In 2017, the cabinet approved the amendment of the Blue line concession[24] with BEM, and the new agreement was signed on 31 March 2017.[25] Under the new agreement, BEM will operate the new extensions from Hua Lamphong to Lak Song and Bang Sue to Tha Phra. The concession period was extended from 2029 to 2050.
The extension was opened in stages. The Hua Lamphong - Lak Song extension was opened for trial service on 29 July with full commercial services commencing 29 September 2019.
The Tao Poon - Tha Phra extension opened for limited trial services from 29 November 2019 with full commercial services commencing on 30 March 2020.
Since 2011, there were requests from residents to extend the line farther from Lak Song west to the Phutthamonthon area. The MRTA 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, 4 station extension from Lak Song to Phutthamonthon Sai 4.[26] In late March 2017, the Transport Ministry stated that this 7.8km (04.8miles) extension would be submitted to Cabinet for approval in April 2017 with construction expected to commence in the 4th quarter of 2017.[27] However, the tender was subsequently delayed until late 2019 due to other projects. In late 2019, the project was put on hold due to government budget constraints.[28] In August 2021, the MRTA confirmed that the extension was not a priority especially given delays with the tenders for the MRT Orange and MRT Purple line extensions.[29]
| Code | Station Name | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Thai | ||
| Phutthamonthon Sai 2 | พุทธมณฑลสาย 2 | ||
| Thawi Watthana | ทวีวัฒนา | ||
| Phutthamonthon Sai 3 | พุทธมณฑลสาย 3 | ||
| Phutthamonthon Sai 4 | พุทธมณฑลสาย 4 | ||
| Date | Project | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13 April 2004 | Mass Rapid Transit Initial Phase | Limited trial service from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong was commenced |
| 3 July 2004 | Full commercial service was commenced from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong. | |
| 17 January 2005 | The entire metro line was closed due to a train collision at Thailand Cultural Centre. | |
| 1 February 2005 | MRT Blue Line reopened. | |
| 14 May 2010 | The entire metro line was closed from 17.00 onwards due to 2010 Thai military crackdown. | |
| 25 May 2010 | MRT Blue Line reopened with limited hours from 6:00 to 22:00 due to the curfew. | |
| 29 May 2010 | Resumed normal service. | |
| 22 May 2014 | MRT Blue Line operated with limited hours from 6:00 to 21:00 due to the curfew, which was a result of the 2014 Thai coup d'état.[30] | |
| 28 May 2014 | Service hours were extended to 06.00-23.00[31] | |
| 1 June 2014 | Phahon Yothin station closed from 10.00 onwards.[32] | |
| 8 June 2014 | Chatuchak Park station closed from 15.00 onwards.[33] | |
| 14 June 2014 | Resumed normal service. | |
| 6 August 2016 | MRT Blue Line Extension Projects (northern section) | Free shuttle bus services between Tao Poon and Bang Sue & free shuttle train services between Bang Son and Bang Sue Junction were deployed due to the delayed opening of the MRT Blue Line's Tao Poon station, which created a missing link between the line and the newly opened MRT Purple Line. |
| 11 August 2017 | Service extended to Tao Poon. | |
| 29 July 2019 | MRT Blue Line Extension Projects (southern section) | Free trial shuttle service from Hua Lumphong to Tha Phra commenced. Service on the extension was only available from 10.00 to 16.00. Passengers were required to change trains at Hua Lumphong for service on an extended route.[34] |
| 24 August 2019 | Shuttle service extended to Bang Wa.[35] | |
| 21 September 2019 | Shuttle service extended to Lak Song. Service hours on the shuttle service were extended to the line's normal service hours of 06.00-24.00. | |
| 29 September 2019 | Full commercial service was commenced from Tao Poon to Lak Song. | |
| 4 December 2019 | MRT Blue Line Extension Projects (northern section) | Free trial shuttle service from Tao Poon to Sirindhorn commenced. Service on the extension was only available from 10.00 to 16.00. Passengers were required to change trains at Tao Poon for service on an extended route.[36] |
| 23 December 2019 | Shuttle service was extended to Tha Phra.[37] | |
| 1 March 2020 | Through-service from Tha Phra to Lak Song via Bang Sue[38] | |
| 30 March 2020 | Full commercial service commenced from Tha Phra to Lak Song via Bang Sue.[39] | |
| 17 October 2020 | The entire metro line was temporarily closed from 12.30 due to the 2020–2021 Thai protests.[40] | |
| 18 October 2020 | Hua Lamphong, Lumphini, Sukhumvit, Phahon Yothin, and Chatuchak Park stations were temporarily closed due to the protests from 14.30[41] |
See also: List of rapid transit stations in Bangkok.
| Code | Station Name | Image | Opened | Platform Type | Position | Park&Ride | Transfer | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Thai | ||||||||
| (Platform 3&4) | Tha Phra | ท่าพระ | Island | Elevated | - | Interchange station to • (for Hua Lamphong and Lak Song) • (future) | Exit to Tha Phra Temple | ||
| Charan 13 | จรัญฯ 13 | Side | - | Exit to: • HomePro Charansanitwong • Siam Technology College | |||||
| Fai Chai | ไฟฉาย | Side | - | ||||||
| Bang Khun Non | บางขุนนนท์ | Side | - | Connecting station to • (future) • (future) and Charansanitwong Halt for SRT Southern Line | Exit to: • Makro Charansanitwong • MWA Bangkok Noi • Suwannaram School • Suwannaram Temple • Si Sudaram Temple | ||||
| Bang Yi Khan | บางยี่ขัน | Side | - | Exit to: • Indie Market Pin Klao • Pata Department Store | |||||
| Sirindhorn | สิรินธร | Side | - | ||||||
| Bang Phlat | บางพลัด | Side | - | Exit to Bang Phlat District Office | |||||
| Bang O | บางอ้อ | Side | - | Exit to Yanhee Hospital | |||||
| Bang Pho | บางโพ | Side | - | Connecting station with Bang Pho Pier for: • • | Exit to: • Quartermaster School • Gateway At Bangsue | ||||
| Tao Poon | เตาปูน | Side | - | Interchange station to | Exit to: • Tao Poon Market • Lotus's Prachachuen | ||||
| Bang Sue | บางซื่อ | Side | Underground | - | Connecting station with Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal for • • • (future) • SRT Northern Line • SRT Northeastern Line • SRT Southern Line • HSR Northern Line (future) • HSR Northeastern Line (under construction) • HSR Eastern Line (future) • HSR Southern Line (future) | Exit to: • Siam Cement Group Office • Central Juvenile and Family Court • Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak) | |||
| Kamphaeng Phet | กำแพงเพชร | Island | - | Exit to: • Or Tor Kor Market • Red Building • Chatuchak Weekend Market • Mixt Chatuchak • J.J Mall | |||||
| Chatuchak Park | สวนจตุจักร | Island | - | Connecting station to Mo Chit for | Exit to: • Chatuchak Weekend Market • Mixt Chatuchak • J.J Mall • Chatuchak Park • Children's Discovery Museum • Queen Sirikit Park • Rot Fai Park • Civil Aviation Training Centre • Department of Land Transport | ||||
| Phahon Yothin | พหลโยธิน | Island | - | Connecting station to Ha Yaek Lat Phrao for | Exit to: • Central Ladphrao & Centara Grand at Central Ladphrao Hotel • Union Mall | ||||
| Lat Phrao | ลาดพร้าว | Island | √ | Connecting station to | |||||
| Ratchadaphisek | รัชดาภิเษก | Island | √ | ||||||
| Sutthisan | สุทธิสาร | Island | Exit to: • Sutthisan Police Station • Muang Thai Life Assurance Head Office | ||||||
| Huai Khwang | ห้วยขวาง | Island | √ | ||||||
| Thailand Cultural Centre | ศูนย์วัฒนธรรมแห่งประเทศไทย | Island | √ | Interchange station to (under construction) | Exit to: • The Esplanade Ratchada • The One Ratchada Market • AIA Capital Centre • Stock Exchange of Thailand • Embassy of The People's Republic of China • Thailand Cultural Centre • China Cultural Centre • Ministry of Culture • Thai Life Insurance Head Office • Big C Place Ratchada • The Street Ratchada • CW Tower • RS Tower | ||||
| Phra Ram 9 | พระราม 9 | Island | √ | Exit to: • Central Rama 9 • G Tower • Fortune Town • Jodd Fairs Rama 9 • Uniliver House | |||||
| Phetchaburi | เพชรบุรี | Island | √ | Connecting station with (future) and Makkasan for• • (future) • HSR Eastern Line (under construction) and Asok for SRT Eastern Line | Exit to: • Singha Complex • Don Bosco Technological College • Saint Dominic School • Srinakharinwirot University | ||||
| Sukhumvit | สุขุมวิท | Island | √ | Connecting station to Asok for | Exit to: • Terminal 21 • Interchange 21 • Soi Cowboy • Exchange Tower | ||||
| Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre | ศูนย์การประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติ์ | Island | √ | Exit to: • Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre • Benjakitti Park • ThaiBev Quarter • Khlong Toei Witthaya School • The Parq • FYI Centre • Khlong Toei Market | |||||
| Khlong Toei | คลองเตย | Side | - | Exit to: • MEA Khlong Toei Head Office • MedPark Hospital • Tobacco Authority of Thailand • Benjakitti Park Hospital • Plai Nern Palace | |||||
| Lumphini | ลุมพินี | Stacked | - | Connecting station with (future) | Exit to: • One Bangkok • Lumphini Park Gate 2 • Q House Lumphini • Embassy of Germany • Embassy of Japan • Embassy of Australia • Goethe-Institut Thailand | ||||
| Si Lom | สีลม | Stacked | - | Connecting station to Sala Daeng for via a 180-metre elevated pedestrian walkway. | Exit to: • Lumphini Park Gate 4 • Dusit Central Park • Silom Edge • Chulalongkorn Hospital • Silom Complex • Thaniya Shopping Centre • Patpong Night MarketThis station has the longest escalator in Southeast Asia Region at 43-metre.[42] | ||||
| Sam Yan | สามย่าน | Stacked | √ | Exit to: • Chamchuri Square • Samyan Mitrtown • Hua Lamphong Temple • Chulalongkorn University | |||||
| Hua Lamphong | หัวลำโพง | Island | - | Connecting station with Bangkok for • (future) • SRT Northern Line • SRT Northeastern Line • SRT Eastern Line • SRT Southern Line | Exit to: • Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem • Traimit Withayaram Temple • The Chinatown Gate • Yaowarat Road | ||||
| Wat Mangkon | วัดมังกร | Stacked | - | Exit to: • Mangkon Kamalawat Temple • Chinatown • Suea Pa Plaza • Kanma Tuyaram Temple | |||||
| Sam Yot | สามยอด | Stacked | - | Interchange station with (under construction) | Exit to: • Khlong Ong Ang • Mega Plaza Saphan Lek • Phahurat • Rommaninat Park • The Old Siam Plaza | ||||
| Sanam Chai | สนามไชย | Island | - | Connecting station with Rajinee Pier for • • | Exit to: • Museum Siam • Wat Rajabopit School • Rajinee School • Pak Khlong Talat • Wat Pho • The Grand Palace • Wat Phra Kaew • Tha Tian Market | ||||
| Itsaraphap | อิสรภาพ | Island | - | Exit to: • Wat Ratchasihatharam School • Ratchasihatharam Temple • Mai Phiren Temple | |||||
| (Platform 1&2) | Tha Phra | ท่าพระ | Side | Elevated | - | Interchange station to • (for Tao Poon and Chatuchak Park) • (future) | Exit to Tha Phra Temple | ||
| Bang Phai | บางไผ่ | Side | - | Exit to: • Wat Nuannoradit School • Nuannoradit Temple • Phaya Thai 3 Hospital | |||||
| Bang Wa | บางหว้า | Side | - | Connecting station to and Bang Wa Pier for Khlong Phasi Charoen Boat Service via a 200-metre elevated pedestrian walkway. | Exit to Siam University | ||||
| Phetkasem 48 | เพชรเกษม 48 | Side | - | ||||||
| Phasi Charoen | ภาษีเจริญ | Side | - | Exit to Seacon Bangkhae | |||||
| Bang Khae | บางแค | Side | - | Exit to: • Bang Khae Market • Wonder Department Store • Wat Nimmanoradee School • Nimmanoradee Temple • Lotus's Bang Khae • Ban Bang Khae Social Welfare Development | |||||
| Lak Song | หลักสอง | Side | √ | Exit to The Mall Lifestore Bangkhae | |||||
The MRT Blue line is served by 54 three-car trains of which, 19 are first generation Siemens Modular Metro sets and 35 sets are second generation. The trains are powered by 750 V DC via third rail system, are air-conditioned and capable of traveling at up to .[43]
Nineteen three-car Siemens Modular Metro were ordered for the initial part of the line. The trains entered service on 3 July 2004.[44] In 2017, BEM starts removing some seats from the train to increase interior space to cope with rising number of passengers. In 2019, the BEM stated that it is interested in refurbishing the first generation trains. Including the CCTV cameras, and new dynamic route map replacing the traditional ones.[45]
In 2000, Alstom won a contract to supply 21x3 car Metropolis train sets, and this design would have been similar to C751A used for Singapore's North East MRT line if it had been built. The trains were provided by a consortium called Nippon-Euro Subway Consortium, which also includes Mitsubishi Electric.[46] Mitsubishi Corporation, another consortium member, had also planned to undertake it.[47] However, the negotiations with the French firm have failed. The bidding for rolling stock was conducted again, and bidders include Bombardier Transportation (later acquired by Alstom in 2021) and Siemens, both from Canada and Germany.[48] On 3 January 2002, Siemens won the contract for a cost of $385 million.[49]
| ← Tha Phra Lak Song → | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Designation | M1 | Tc1 | M2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length (mm) | 21,800 | 21,500 | 21,800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Numbering | 1001 1003 1005 : 1013 1015 1017 : 1025 1027 1029 : 1037|3001 3002 3003 : 3007 3008 3009 : 3013 3014 3015 : 3019|1002 1004 1006 : 1014 1028* 1018 : 1026 1016* 1030 : 1038|}* Car 1016 and 1028 were swapped after the train collision in 2005. Siemens EMU-BLEIn 2017, BEM ordered 35 three-car as part of the line extension program.[50] [51] Under the contract, Siemens were to supply 35 trains and provide maintenance for ten years with a price tag of 20 billion baht. The fleet was built at the Siemens plant in Vienna and tested in Germany. The first train arrived in 2019 with all trains delivered by early 2020.[52]
| 3020 3021 3022 : 3054|1040 1042 1044 : 1108|} Extra rolling stock orderOn 18 July 2024, Mr. Phongsarit Tantisuvanitchkul, executive chairman of BEM revealed that the company will order an additional 21 train sets, each comprising three cars, for the MRT Blue line to meliorate congestion during peak hour. The manufacturer for this new rolling stock has not yet been disclosed.[53] OperationThe MRT Blue Line operates from 05:30 to 24:00 on weekdays and from 06:00 to 24:00 on weekends and public holidays. During the weekday morning rush hour, there are two service patterns:
Headways
RidershipAt opening in 2004, initial ridership was 180,000 per day — considerably lower than the projections of over 400,000. By 2016, the average daily ridership was 273,637.[54] By September 2017, BEM stated that average daily ridership had increased to 360,000 after the opening of the extension to Tao Poon.[55] After the opening of the extension to Lak Song on 29 September 2019, average daily ridership increased to 400,000. The MRT Blue line was expected to grow to a daily ridership of 800,000 once the Lak Song and Tha Phra extensions opened. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by late 2020 had resulted in a dramatic reduction of ridership down to an average of 360,000 per weekday reverting to September 2017 levels.[56] By August 2021, during a COVID-19 3rd wave in Bangkok ridership plummeted to only 76,000 per weekday.[57] In 2023 an average of 376,000 passengers rode the blue line. [58]
IncidentsTrain collisionOn 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. Around 100-262 people, depending on the news source, were injured.[61] [62] [63] Most of whom sustained only minor injuries, and the entire Metro network was shut down for two weeks. On 31 January 2005, then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra rode the metro to increase public confidence in the system. 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 depot 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 meters 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.[64] 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 BEM quoted, and it was expected to be at least 400 million baht, which was totally insured by a local insurance company. The line resumed full operations on 1 February 2005. 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. See also
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