| Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit System | |
| Owner: | BMA MRTA SRT |
| Locale: | Bangkok Metropolitan Region |
| Transit Type: | Commuter rail • • Airport rail link • Rapid transit • • • • • (under construction) Light rail • Silver Line (planned) Monorail • • (planned) • • (planned) • (planned) People Mover • |
| Lines: | 10 lines (out of 15 total planned) |
| Stations: | 190 out of planned 310 |
| Ridership: | 1.68 million[1] |
| Began Operation: | 5 December 1999 |
| Operator: | S.R.T. Electrified Train • • Asia Era One • Bangkok Mass Transit System • • • • • Bangkok Expressway and Metro • • • |
| System Length: | 261.88km (162.72miles) |
| Track Gauge: | MRT, BTS and Airport Rail Link: SRT Red Lines: |
| El: | MRT and BTS: ARL and SRT: overhead catenary |
| Top Speed: | MRT and BTS: 80km/h ARL and SRT: 160km/h |
The Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region, or M-Map, is the latest version in a series of Thai government plans for the development of an urban rail transit network serving the Greater Bangkok area. It was drafted under the care of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) of the Ministry of Transport.
See main article: Lavalin Skytrain. Lavalin Skytrain Project is the earliest mass rapid transit plan of Bangkok to solve the traffic congestion in Bangkok during 1970s. The project feasibility study was conducted by Thai Government with the association from West Germany Government in 1971 which led to establishment of Expressway Authority of Thailand under Clause 39 of the Announcement of the Revolutionary Council Decree 290 dated 27 November 1972 (B.E.2515) to responsible for planning and construction of expressway and mass rapid transit projects.
In 1979, the master plan compiled by Japanese advisers would have consisted of the First Stage Urban Mass Transit Lines such as the first line known as the Rama IV line, a 25-km route between Phrakhanong and Mo Chit, while the second line, the Sathon line, a 20-km route would connect Wongwian Yai and Lad Phrao, and the third line, the Memorial Line, a 16-km route that connects Dao Khanong and Makkasan, and the expected numbers of passengers were expected to be 200,000 passengers a day in 1990.[2] The rolling stock would have utilized six heavy rail cars running at 15 minutes per train for non-rush hour and four minutes during rush hour, compared with current trains running at 6–8 minutes per train during non-rush hour and 3–5 minutes per train during rush hour, using three heavy rail cars. The project was meant to have a cost of $1100 million.[3]
The finalised version of the project consisted of three light rail transit lines which are Sathorn Line, Rama IV Line, and Saphan Phut Line, with the depot located in Huai Khwang district (current location of Phra Ram 9 depot of MRT Blue Line). The project was expected to begin in 1981 and be completed in 1986. However, due to the 1979 oil crisis, Lavalin Skytrain project was shelved as the estimated costs were doubled.
The project was revised under the government of General Prem Tinsulanonda in 1984 and entered the bidding process with three participating companies being Asia-Euro Consortium (comprising AEG, Siemens, MAN, and Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi),[4] SNC-Lavalin, and Franco-Japanese Consortium. The project was awarded to SNC-Lavalin, and the contracts for a 30-year operating concession and construction were signed in May 1990 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
However, after two years of construction, In June 1992, The project was terminated by the government of Anand Panyarachun . The government stated that SNC-Lavalin failed to sign a shareholders agreement by a specified and the Thai government refused requests for overseas loan and investment guarantees.[5] Outside of Thailand, numerous international media sources suggested politics played in its demise.Today, There are two remainings from the construction of Lavalin Skytrain project: the abandoned viaduct in the middle of Phra Pok Klao Bridge (now converted into Chao Phraya Skypark),[6] and a reserved space in the middle of Sathorn Bridge (currently used by Silom Line).
The concept of developing a master plan began in 1972 when the Thai government sought cooperation from the German government to jointly develop a mass transit network. Subsequently, the Cabinet passed a resolution approving the continuous study, promotion, and support for the creation of the master plan starting from 1994. The sequences of the master plan are as follows:
The first version of the plan, endorsed by the Cabinet on 27 September 1994 and to be implemented from 1995 to 2011, consisted of an extension of to the three systems already in progress (and the BERTS), which would have had a combined length of [7] The plan was divided into two phases as follows:
Later, in 1996, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) revised this master plan and renamed it the Comprehensive Transport Master Plan (CTMP), which included an additional of routes. This revised master plan included monorail and light rapid transit lines to enhance Bangkok into a rail transportation metropolis. The plan consisted of 11 railway projects with a combined length of, as follows;
| Line Name | Section | Route | Length(km) | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Transit | ||||
| R-1 | Yommarat - Bangkok Noi - Taling Chan | 14.3km (08.9miles) | (Yommarat - Taling Chan) | |
| R-2 | Hua Lamphong - Wongwian Yai - Pho Nimit | 16.9km (10.5miles) | (Hua Lamphong - Eastern Outer Ring Road) | |
| Pho Nimit - Eastern Outer Ring Road | ||||
| R-3 | Hua Mak - Suvarnabhumi Airport North Terminal | 13.6km (08.5miles) | ||
| G-1 | On Nut - Suvarnabhumi Airport South Terminal | 21.4km (13.3miles) | Silver Line Reserved structure can be seen between Udom Suk and Bang Na stations. | |
| G-2 | Mo Chit - Ratchayothin | 3.4km (02.1miles) | ||
| G-3 | Saphan Taksin - Wongwian Yai | 2.7km (01.7miles) | ||
| G-4 | Bang Na - Samrong | 5.9km (03.7miles) | ||
| B-1 | Bang Sue - Phra Nangklao Bridge | 11km (07miles) | (Phra Nangklao Bridge - Tao Poon) | |
| B-2 | Hua Lamphong - Bangkok Yai - Bang Khae | 13km (08miles) | ||
| ON | Bang Kapi - Phan Fa | 20.9km (13miles) | ||
| OS | Phan Fa - Rat Burana - Samrong Tai | 22.8km (14.2miles) | (Democracy Monument - Kru Nai) | |
| OE | Bang Kapi - Min Buri | 11.8km (07.3miles) | ||
| PN | Tao Poon - Pak Kret | 16km (10miles) | ||
| PS | Tao Poon - Sam Sen | 5.2km (03.2miles) | ||
| Feeder Lines | ||||
| Bang Bua Thong - Taling Chan | N/A | (Khlong Bang Phai - Sam Yaek Bang Yai) | ||
| Sam Yaek Bang Yai - Phra Nangklao Bridge | (Sam Yaek Bang Yai - Phra Nangklao Bridge) | |||
| Rama VII Bridge - Dao Khanong | (Bang O - Tha Phra) (Tha Phra - Talat Phlu) | |||
| Rat Burana - Phutthabucha | ||||
| Rat Burana - Bang Mod | ||||
| Hua Lamphong - Rama III Loop | (Rama III Bridge - Chong Nonsi) | |||
| Samrong - Si Samrong | ||||
| Ratchayothin -Si Iam | (Lat Phrao - Si Iam) | |||
| Ramkhamhaeng - On Nut | ||||
| Pak Kret - Min Buri | (Yaek Pakkret - Min Buri) | |||
| On Nut - Pattanakarn | ||||
| Ratchayothin - Min Buri | ||||
| Lam Luk Ka - Pracha Uthit | (Khu Khot - Eastern Ring Road-Lam Luk Ka) | |||
| Vatcharaphol - Pracha Uthit | (Watcharaphol - Pracha Uthit) | |||
| Nuan Chan - Bang Kapi | (Nuan Chan - Yaek Lam Sali) | |||
Following the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the cancellation of the BERTS, in 1998, the Cabinet passed a resolution stating that the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) should conduct a feasibility study for a new master plan to replace the CTMP due to the development not progressing as planned and because Thailand was in the process of recovering from the economic crisis. The main objective of this new master plan is to emphasis the distribution of urban growth from the city centre to suburban areas, promoting more decentralised urban development along major roads.
The new master plan has been adapted with several projects modifying routes from the CTMP, emphasising distribution to various areas as follows:
This master plan is a conversion of the URMAP master plan into practical implementation based on government policies, which stipulate that projects in the previous master plan must be completed within 6 years (2004 – 2009). This period coincides with the recovery of the economy from the crisis in 1997. The master plan outlines a mass transit network in areas anticipated to experience continuous and increasing land use in the future. It specifies the construction of one railway station every 2 kilometres in the city areas and every 1 to 1.5 kilometres in suburban areas, aiming for the rapid transit project to be a guiding initiative for future urban development.
This master plan consists of 7 rapid transit lines with an additional added to the existing . These lines are categorised into three groups as follows;
In 2006, the Cabinet revised the previous BMT master plan with the aim of expanding coverage to more areas in Bangkok. Three routes were added to this master plan, as follows:
In 2008, the government revised the master plan for the rapid transit network once again, focusing on urban expansion and increasing transit routes in suburban areas, taking into account the growing urbanisation projected for the future. This revision resulted in a total of 9 lines with a combined length of . The revised routes are as follows:
In 2009, the government revised the M-Map, this time considering urban expansion and the distribution of development to suburban areas, guided by the rapid transit projects. This revised M-Map includes the study of a total of 12 transit lines, with a combined length of, consisting of 8 main lines and 4 feeder lines, as follows:[8]
| Line Name | Route | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Line | |||
| Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) - Mahachai | |||
| Salaya - Hua Mak | Extended from Taling Chan to Salaya. | ||
| Taling Chan - Makkasan | |||
| Don Mueang - Suvarnabhumi Airport | |||
| Eastern Ring Road-Lam Luk Ka - Bang Pu | |||
| Yot Se - Bang Wa | |||
| Phutthamonthon - Hua Lamphong - Bang Sue - Tha Phra | |||
| Bang Yai - Rat Burana | |||
| Taling Chan - Min Buri | The line was altered from Bang Bamru to Taling Chan, passing through Pratunam, and the Brown Line (Bang Kapi - Min Buri) has been merged. | ||
| Feeder Line | |||
| Khae Rai - Min Buri | |||
| Lat Phrao - Samrong | The line was downgraded from the Outer Circle Line, with the northwestern and southwestern sections being removed from the master plan. | ||
| Vatcharaphol - Rama IX Bridge | This line was formed by the Wacharaphol to Pracha Uthit Line from the CTMP master plan to terminate at Rama IX Bridge. | ||
| Din Daeng - Sathorn | This line was designed to support the opening of the new Bangkok Metropolitan Administration building and to enhance connectivity in the Sathorn district. | ||
As a result, the rapid transit network in Bangkok and its surrounding areas now consists of 10 lines.
To accommodate the expansion of the city into the suburban areas, in March 2017, the Cabinet assigned the Ministry of Transport and the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to study an additional 10 transit lines. These lines were to be included in the M-Map Phase 2. The study was to be conducted in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)[9] [10] to plan and support the necessary budget for investment, should there be a need to secure foreign loans for the project.
The second phase of the M-Map 2 focuses on developing feeder lines to support urban expansion and feed passengers into Bangkok's main transit routes, which include the,,,,,, and . Initially, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) considered incorporating routes that had not yet been implemented, were under study, were outside the master plan, or had been canceled from the previous master plan. Four pilot routes were identified. Additionally, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) proposed 8 new lines to be included in the master plan, resulting in a total of 11 initial routes.
Subsequently, the OTP, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), revealed the details of the draft master plan for the M-Map 2, which was approved by JICA. This draft included 5 new lines totaling, both as extensions of existing lines and as new lines. However, due to changing circumstances, the Department of Rail Transport (the current status of the OTP) reconsidered the entire M-Map 2. They proposed a new long-term plan (Project Long List) consisting of 29 lines, which will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval as the actual master plan in the future.
On July 25, 2023, the Department of Rail Transport officially announced the draft of the M-Map 2. This new master plan will be submitted to the Cabinet for official approval in 2024, with the goal of expediting the commencement of all projects within 20 years, by 2042. The master plan is divided into three main categories as follows[11]
| Line Name | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 : Extensions for the existing line | ||
| Khu Khot to Eastern Ring Road-Lam Luk Ka | Both routes are from the previous master plan that was not completed. MRTA has temporarily halted these plans until there is clarity on passenger guarantees. | |
| Kheha to Tamru | ||
| National Stadium to Yot Se | ||
| Bang Wa to Bang Rak Noi Tha It | This is a new route proposed by JICA for the Bang Wa to Lam Sali Line. However, since MRTA has developed the Nonthaburi Civic Center to Yaek Lam Sali section as the Brown Line, the Department of Rail Transport has considered changing the missing section between Bang Wa and Nonthaburi Civic Center into an extension of the Silom Line, terminating at Bang Rak Noi Tha It instead. | |
| Lak Song to Phutthamonthon Sai 4 | The route is from the previous master plan that was not completed. MRTA has temporarily halted these plans until there is clarity on passenger guarantees. | |
| Rangsit to Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) | These routes have been approved but are currently not yet implemented. | |
| Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong | ||
| Wongwian Yai to Mahachai | ||
| Hua Lamphong to Mahachai | ||
| Taling Chan to Salaya | ||
| Taling Chan to Siriraj | ||
| Lat Krabang to Chachoengsao | The proposed route by the Department of Rail Transport, which cancels the Light Red Line from Bang Sue to Hua Mak to Chachoengsao. Instead, it will utilize part of the infrastructure from the Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway to add new stations for the Airport Rail Link City Line, expanding travel areas and replacing the entire eastern segment of the Light Red Line | |
| Prachadhipok | BMA has temporarily halted these plans until there is clarity on passenger guarantees. | |
| Group 2 : New proposed line | ||
| Nonthaburi Civic Centre to Yaek Lam Sali | ||
| Vatcharaphol to Thong Lo | The proposed route by the BMA, which separates the original Grey Line into distinct sections. The northern section largely follows the original plan, and the Department of Rail Transport has extended the line further to Lam Luk Ka Road | |
| Vatcharaphol to Khlong Si | ||
| Phra Khanong to Rama III | The proposed route by the BMA will replace the existing Bangkok BRT. | |
| Rama III to Tha Phra | ||
| Sathorn to Din Daeng | This route has been revived after has been removed from the original M-Map. | |
| Silver Line | Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi Airport | The proposed route by the BMA, which separates the extension of the Light Green Line from Udom Suk to Suvarnabhumi Airport for independent development |
| Group 3 : Feeder Line | ||
| Lat Phrao to Nonthaburi Pier | Most of these routes focus on feeding passengers into the main transit system and may be proposed to operate as regular buses, bus rapid transit, trams, or may be considered as extensions of connectable routes. | |
| Don Mueang to Si Saman | ||
| Salaya to Mahachai | ||
| Srinagarindra to Bang Bo | ||
| Khlong Hok to Ongkharak | ||
| Rattanathibet to Yaek Pak Kret | ||
| Khlong San to Siriraj | ||
| Bang Sue to Rama III | ||
| Ratchaprhuek to Khae Rai | ||
| Phra Khanong to Srinagarindra | ||
| Bang Sue to Pathum Thani | ||
| Mueang Thong Thani to Pathum Thani | ||
| Bang Khae to Samrong | ||
| Phraek Sa to Tamru | ||
| Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) to Nawanakhon | ||
| Bang Na to Chong Nonsi | ||
| Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bang Bo | ||
| Borommaratchachonnani to Lak Si | ||
| Thanyaburi to Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) | ||
| Khlong Sam to Khu Khot | ||
| Min Buri to Suvarnabhumi Airport | ||
| Debaratna to Samut Prakan | ||
| Bang Yai to Bang Bua Thong | ||
| Kru Nai to Samut Prakan | ||
| Pathum Thani to Thanyaburi | ||
| Line Name | Name | Plannedopening date | Terminus | Length(km) | Stations | Status | Owner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commuter rail | |||||||||
| Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) to Ban Pachi Junction Section | TBA | Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) | Ban Pachi Junction | ≈22km (14miles) | 9 | Planning | State Railway of Thailand | ||
| Hua Lamphong to Mahachai Section | Hua Lamphong | Mahachai | 34.76km (21.6miles) | 20 | |||||
| Mahachai to Pak Tho Section | Mahachai | Pak Tho | ≈78km (48miles) | 17 | |||||
| Rangsit to Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) Section | Rangsit | Thammasart University (Rangsit Campus) | 10.3km (06.4miles) | 4 | To be tendered | ||||
| Missing Link Section | Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal | Hua Lamphong | 7.71km (04.79miles) | 5 | Approved | ||||
| Hua Mak | 18.2km (11.3miles) | ||||||||
| Taling Chan to Salaya Section with two additional stations; Rama 6 and EGAT stations | Taling Chan | Salaya | 12.64km (07.85miles) | 6 | To be tendered | ||||
| Taling Chan to Siriraj Section | Siriraj | 5.86km (03.64miles) | 3 | ||||||
| Hua Mak to Chachoengsao Section | Hua Mak | Chachoengsao | ≈40km (30miles) | 10 | Planning | ||||
| Salaya to Nakhon Pathom Section | Salaya | Nakhon Pathom | ≈29km (18miles) | 6 | |||||
| Ractchaprarop to Mae Nam Section | Ratchaprarop | Mae Nam | ≈6km (04miles) | 3 | |||||
| Airport rail link | |||||||||
| Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway (Phaya Thai to Don Mueang section) | TBA | Phaya Thai | Don Mueang | 20.31km (12.62miles) | 2 | Approved | State Railway of Thailand | ||
| Rapid Transit | |||||||||
| Lam Luk Ka Extension | TBA | Khu Khot | Eastern Ring Road Lam Luk Ka | 7.8km (04.8miles) | 4 | Postponed | Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand | ||
| Tamru Extension | Kheha | Tamru | 10.1km (06.3miles) | 4 | |||||
| Infill station between Ari and Saphan Khwai stations | Sena Ruam | - | 1 | Bangkok Metropolitan Administration | |||||
| Yot Se Extension | National Stadium | Yot Se | 1.2km (00.7miles) | 1 | Planning | ||||
| Taling Chan Extension | Bang Wa | Taling Chan | 7.94km (04.93miles) | 6 | |||||
| Taling Chan to Bang Rak Noi Thai It Section | Taling Chan | Bang Rak Noi Tha It | 8.6km (05.3miles) | 7 | |||||
| Putthamonthon Sai 4 Extension | Lak Song | Putthamonthon Sai 4 | 8.3km (05.2miles) | 4 | Postponed | Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand | |||
| MRT Purple Line Southern Section | Tao Poon | Khru Nai | 22.78km (14.15miles) | 17 | Under construction | ||||
| MRT Orange Line Eastern Section | Thailand Cultural Centre | Yaek Rom Klao | 21km (13miles) | 17 | |||||
| MRT Orange Line Western Section | Bang Khun Non | Thailand Cultural Centre | 13.1km (08.1miles) | 11 | |||||
| Bang Khun Non to Taling Chan Section | TBA | Taling Chan | Bang Khun Non | 4.4km (02.7miles) | 1 | Approved | |||
| Light Rapid Transit | |||||||||
| Silver Line | Bang Na - Suvarnabhumi light rail project | TBA | Bang Na | Suvarnabhumi Airport South Terminal | ≈20km (10miles) | 14 | Postponed | Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(to be transferred to Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand) | |
| Monorail | |||||||||
| Impact Arena Spur Line | Muang Thong Thani | Lake Muang Thong Thani | 2.65km (01.65miles) | 2 | Under construction | Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand | |||
| MRT Brown Line | TBA | Nonthaburi Civic Center | Yaek Lam Sali | 21km (13miles) | 20 | Approved | |||
| Ratchayothin Extension | Lat Phrao | Ratchayothin | 2.5km (01.6miles) | 2 | Shleved | ||||
| Grey Line Northern Section | Thong Lo | Vatcharaphol | 16.25km (10.1miles) | 15 | Postponed | Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(to be transferred to Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand) | |||
| Grey Line Southern Section | Phra Khanong | Tha Phra | 20.2km (12.6miles) | 24 | |||||
| Khlong Si Extension | Vatcharaphol | Khlong Si | 10.87km (06.75miles) | 5 | Planning | ||||
| Light Blue Line project | Pracha Songkro | Chong Nonsi | 9.5km (05.9miles) | 9 | Planning | ||||
| People Mover | |||||||||
| Prachadhipok Extension | TBA | Khlong San | Prachadhipok | 1.2km (00.7miles) | 1 | Postponed | Bangkok Metropolitan Administration | ||
| Total | ≈491.67km (305.51miles) | 229 | |||||||
| Manufacturer | Family Name | Assembly | Line | Trainset statistics | Image | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of trainsets | Cars (per train) | Car length | Trainset length | Speed Limit | ServiceCommencement | |||||||
| 1000 Series |  Hitachi Rail | A-train | Yamaguchi, Japan[12] | 15 | 6-car | N/A | Dark Red Line: 145km/hLight Red Line: 120km/h | |||||
| 2000 Series | 10 | 4-car | ||||||||||
| Class 360 |  Siemens | Desiro | Krefeld, Germany[13] | 5 | 3-car | 20.34m | 61.02m | 145km/h | ||||
| 4 | 4-car | 81.36m | ||||||||||
| A1 | Modular Metro | Vienna, Austria[14] | 35 | 21.8m (DM)21.5m (T) | 86.6m[15] | 80km/h | ||||||
| A2 | Siemens / Bozankaya | - | Ankara, Turkey[16] | 22 | ||||||||
| B1 | CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles | - | Changchun, China | 12 | 21.86m(DT/DM)21.77m (T/M) | 87.26m | ||||||
| B2 | 5 | |||||||||||
| B3 | 24 | |||||||||||
| IBL(Initial Blue Line) | Siemens | Modular Metro | Vienna, Austria[17] [18] | 19 | 3-car | 21.8m (DM)21.5m (T) | 65.1m[19] | |||||
| BLE(Blue Line Extension) | - | 35 | ||||||||||
| TBA[20] | TBA | - | 21[21] | TBA | ||||||||
| 32[22] | ||||||||||||
| S24 | Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC) | Sustina[23] | Yokohama, Japan[24] | 21 | 21.34m[25] (DM)21.00m (T) | 63.68m | ||||||
| Innovia Monorail 300 |  Alstom / CRRC Nanjing Puzhen | Innovia | Nanjing, China | 30 | 4-car | 13.21m (end car)[26] 13.02m (mid car) | 50.47m[27] [28] | |||||
| 28 | ||||||||||||
| Innovia APM 300 | 3 | 2-car | N/A | |||||||||
| Thales[29] | AlTrac for ERTMS | Fixed-block ETCS Level 1 | 2020 | Semi-automatic (STO) | ||
| Siemens | Trainguard LZB700M | Fixed-block; speed coded | 2009 | |||
| Bombardier | Cityflo 450[30] | Moving-block CBTC | 2009-2011 | |||
| Siemens | Trainguard LZB700M | Fixed-block | 2019 | Reinstalled. | ||
| Bombardier | Cityflo 650 | Moving-block CBTC | 2016 | |||
| 2021 | Unattended (UTO) | |||||
| 2020 | ||||||
| Former | ||||||
| Siemens | Trainguard LZB700M | Fixed-block | 1999 | Semi-automatic (STO) | Decommissioned from 2009 to 2011 | |