MRT Blue Line

MRT Blue Line
รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายสีน้ำเงิน

Silom Station

Overview
Type Rapid transit
System MRT
Status Operational
Locale Bangkok, Thailand
Termini Hua Lamphong
Tao Poon
Stations 19
Services 1
Daily ridership 240,000
Ridership 80.6 million
Operation
Opened July 3, 2004
Owner Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand
Operator(s) Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited
Character Underground
Depot(s) Huai Khwang Depot
Rolling stock 19 three-car trains Siemens Modular Metro
Technical
Line length 21 km (13 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification Third rail
Operating speed 80 mph (130 km/h)
Route map
Legend
 Blue Line: Hua Lamphong – Bang Khae

Tha Phra
 Charan Sanit Wong 13
 Yaek Fai Chai

Bang Khun Non
 Orange Line: Min Buri – Taling Chan
Bang Yi Khan
 Sirindhorn
 Bang Phlat
 Bang O
Chao Phraya River
 Bang Pho

Tao Poon
 Purple Line: Kiak Kai – Bang Yai
( Open on Dec 2015 )
Bang Sue(Grand Central Station)

Light Red Line: Hua Mak – Taling Chan

Dark Red Line: Hua Lamphong – Rangsit

ARL: Suvarnabhumi – Don Muang
Kamphaeng Phet

Chatuchak Park

BTS: Mo Chit
 Siam – Saphan mai
Phahon Yothin
 Lat Phrao
 Ratchadaphisek
 Sutthisan
 Huai Khwang
 Orange Line: Taling Chan – Min Buri

Thailand Cultural Centre
Rama 9 Depot
 Phra Ram 9
 Don Muang – Suvarnabhumi

ARL: Makkasan

Light Red Line: Bang Sue – Hua Mak

Phetchaburi

Sukhumvit

BTS: Asoke
 Siam – Bearing
Queen Sirikit Center
 Khlong Toei
 Lumphini
Si Lom

BTS: Saladaeng
 Siam – Bang Wa
Sam Yan

Hua Lamphong

Dark Red Line: Hua Lamphong
 Bang Sue – Maha Chai
( Under construction, open 2016 )
 Wat Mangkon

Wang Burapha
 Purple Line: Ratburana – Tao Pun
Sanam Chai
Chao Phraya River
Itsaraphap

Tha Phra
 Blue Line: Hua Lamphong
 Bang Phai
 Siam

BTS: Bang Wa

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 and currently only operating line of Bangkok's MRT system. Opened on 3 July 2004, it runs eastward from Bang Sue Station in Chatuchak 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.[1]

History

For the first MRT line, officially known as Chaloem Ratchamongkhon or informally as the "Blue Line", most civil infrastructure were provided by the government sector, Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), and handed over to their concessionaire under a 25-year concession agreement. Bangkok Metro Company Limited (BMCL) is the only private sector company that won a bid in MRTA's concession contract for the blue line. As MRTA's concessionaire, BMCL provides M&E equipment, including electrical trains, signalling systems, SCADA, communication, PSD, etc. for the underground metro project and fully operates the system. BMCL has subcontracted maintenance of the system for 10 years to Siemens, which was the M&E system supplier from the system's opening, and seven-year maintenance contracts to two local maintenance services for the north and south line.

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, 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 has 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. Current ridership (2012) stands at 240,000 on weekdays.

Operation

The 21-kilometre, 18-station Blue Line presently runs from Bang Sue 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 conveniently connect 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.[2]

Stations

Code
Station Name
English
Station Name
Thai
Transfer
Location
TAO Tao Poon เตาปูน  Purple Line  (opening on 12 August 2016) Bangkok Bang Sue
BAN Bang Sue บางซื่อ  Dark Red Line  (under construction)  Light Red Line  (planned)  Airport Rail Link  (proposed)  SRT  inter-city rails Chatuchak
KAM Kamphaeng Phet กำแพงเพชร
CHA Chatuchak Park สวนจตุจักร  Sukhumvit Line 
PHA Phahon Yothin พหลโยธิน  Sukhumvit Line  (planned)
LAT Lat Phrao ลาดพร้าว  Yellow Line  (planned)
RAT Ratchadaphisek รัชดาภิเษก Din Daeng/Huai Khwang
SUT Sutthisan สุทธิสาร
HUI Huai Khwang ห้วยขวาง
CUL Thailand Cultural Centre ศูนย์วัฒนธรรมแห่งประเทศไทย  Orange Line  (proposed)
RAM Phra Ram 9 พระราม 9 Grand Square Phra Ram 9 Monorail (proposed)
PET Phetchaburi เพชรบุรี  Airport Rail Link   Light Red Line  (proposed)  SRT  inter-city rails Ratchathewi
SUK Sukhumvit สุขุมวิท  Sukhumvit Line  Watthana
SIR Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre ศูนย์การประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติ์ Khlong Toei
KHO Khlong Toei คลองเตย
LUM Lumphini ลุมพินี  Light Blue Line  (proposed) Sathon
SIL Si Lom สีลม  Silom Line  Bang Rak
SAM Sam Yan สามย่าน  Chula-Siam Monorail  (proposed) Pathum Wan
HUA Hua Lamphong หัวลำโพง  Dark Red Line  (proposed)  SRT  inter-city rails
WAT Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (under construction) วัดมังกรกมลาวาส Samphanthawong
WAN Wang Burapha (under construction) วังบูรพา  Purple Line  (Tao Pun-Rat Burana Extension, proposed) Phra Nakhon
SAN Sanam Chai (under construction) สนามไชย
ITS Itsaraphap (under construction) อิสรภาพ Bangkok Yai
THP Tha Phra (under construction) ท่าพระ  Blue Line  (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.[3] 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

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:

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

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

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

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

As of July 2014 civil works progress was 52% done.[4] By October, civil works were 63.75% done.

Future extension

For a few years there has been requests from residents to further extend the line from the future terminus at Lak Song further west to Phutthamonthon area and 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 an 8 km extension from Lak Song to Phutthamonthon Sai 4.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "รถไฟฟ้าสายสีน้ำเงิน อุโมงค์ลอดใต้แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา" [Blue Line Tunnel under the river]. Voice TV21 (in Thai). 3 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Bangkok's first underground metro open". International Railway Journal. findarticles.com. July 2004. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  3. ↑ "Thai subway shut for safety probe". BBC News. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "คมนาคมตามความคืบหน้ารถไฟฟ้า 10 สาย เร่งสีม่วงเปิดปลายปี’58 ชงคสช.อนุมัติอีก 6 สาย" [Transport under accelerated progress Metro Purple Line 10 opened in late '58. NBC maker. Approved by 6 lines.] (in Thai). 28 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "ลุ้นคลังไฟเขียวงบรถไฟ-รฟม" [Win No Green Light Railway Company - MRTA]. Than Online (in Thai). 15 July 2014.

External links

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