The New Skytrain (continued for 2019)

[rak sa_ngop]

When will we be able to take the Skytrain all the way to Don Meuang?

[FarangryBirds]

5.15am and I was able to board a Kasetsart bound train at Asok. 

 

I didn't realise they were running earlier now. 

 

 

[Nyezhov]

2 hours ago, FarangryBirds said:

5.15am and I was able to board a Kasetsart bound train at Asok. 

 

I didn't realise they were running earlier now. 

 

 

I wish they would run them to 1am on weekends

[Crossy]

Not wishing to be outdone the MRT now have ticket machines which can add value to your MRT-Plus card.

 

Certainly at Chatuchak Park station, probably others.

 

 

Video shot by a Thai colleague who forgot to change the language.

 

 

[josephbloggs]

Does anyone know how the yellow line will cross the number 7 highway?  The skinny monorail pillars go up to the edge of the motorway (which is elevated here).  How will it span that huge road?  It is seven lanes inbound at that point and 6-7 lanes outbound with no divide between where they can erect a pillar.  There would easily be 2-3 pillars in that space normally, but they can't have any.

Is it going to be a mini suspension bridge?  Or truss?  Just curious to know.

[ballpoint]

16 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Does anyone know how the yellow line will cross the number 7 highway?  The skinny monorail pillars go up to the edge of the motorway (which is elevated here).  How will it span that huge road?  It is seven lanes inbound at that point and 6-7 lanes outbound with no divide between where they can erect a pillar.  There would easily be 2-3 pillars in that space normally, but they can't have any.

Is it going to be a mini suspension bridge?  Or truss?  Just curious to know.

This video shows animations of the system, including a flight along the route.  It crosses the motorway and airport rail link at ~3:54

 

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, ballpoint said:

This video shows animations of the system, including a flight along the route.  It crosses the motorway and airport rail link at ~3:54

 

Interesting, thanks.  Seems like just a normal pillar either side, but from seeing it in the flesh it looks way too far to be bridged that way, but then I am no engineer.  Guess will just wait and see.

[digbeth]

there's probably enough room on the  median of the hwy7 to have support pillars 

 

the yellow line right turn from lard prao onto sri nakkarin is probably more problematic, 2 overpass bridge to cross/dismantle and rebuilt at the junction and ramkhamhaeng that's also seeing construction of the orange line underground at the same time 

[asanee]

Yes, allthough I dk what the exact final situation will be, in other lines its also the case that the roads/skyways themselves have been realigned or partly moved. Nothing here in BKK is built for eternity. Ripping down is just as easy as building up. In China they build complete mega-miilion cities from scatch anew.

[asanee]

On 12/3/2019 at 3:46 PM, FarangryBirds said:

It dawned on me while travelling today that the Samut Prakan extension must have been open nearly, or more than a year now and still free to ride....not that I'm grumbling about still only paying 15B to ride from Paknam to Bang Chak (E10). ????

Nonsense, its a BMA-regulated flat fare of 15 bt for the whole stretch from Onnut onward, this will be added to the BTS fares from Onnut into town, even if its just for 1 stop (where BTS itself would only charge 2/3 bt). Same apllies to the other BMA sectors from WWyai to BangWa and after the 0 fare is finished for the Mochit-Kasert (and later on) new sections.

[asanee]

On 12/6/2019 at 12:59 PM, rak sa_ngop said:

When will we be able to take the Skytrain all the way to Don Meuang?

Never, as it wont be SKYtrainBTS going there. It will run on a viaduct in the sky, but its the RED line of SRT=loss riddled state railways and due to open together with (part of) the giant new main station between Bang Sue and the weekdnmarket sometime/the end of 2563. Just after thus with no easy transfer into BTSMRT yet.

The BTS skytrain as is extendedly cheered here above, was recently lengthened as far as Kasert, quite close to DMK already and is to be further extended via bang Khen, Sapan Mai and on, thus backside=airforce side of DMK with the airlines museum. The way the nr 34/39 buses run from the Vict. Monumen to Rangsit

[asanee]

On 9/30/2019 at 10:28 PM, FarangryBirds said:

When I passed Ha Yaek Latphrao yesterday, I noticed more works. It looks like there will be a skywalk linking closer to the MRT entrance after all.

2 days ago still under construction. Would also very much help quicker transit from BTS to buses, saves a lot of time compared to old situation to do Mochit. Many vans also repalced as starting point. Centran has got it quicker done-direct entry.

[asanee]

On 10/2/2019 at 5:04 AM, Crossy said:

 

I've not been that way since Purple opened, did they ever get the promised link to the river boats working?

 

Your confusing, this is the PURPLE line, opened some 2 years ago and bypassing the new govt. lotteree office, just south of Pak Kred. Its no use for a boat interchange, as regular boats do not go that far. The further extension of BLUE line, opened 5/12, runs via another bridge, close by to new parliament and is to have a interchange with the ChaoPraya boatservice, but I guess with limited use, as further up north that purple line already serves most of the newer built area. No, this interch is not yet ready. Frankly, I also think ChPr boat would rather like to keep it that way too.

[asanee]

Question re CHULA monorail loop. Does anyone know the current situation about this planned project? Probably private enterprise and to replace the pinky electric tiny buses that are currently used to transport black&white Chula students too rich or too lazy to walk the odd mile.

And as more MONOrail is to be built: will that also be Chinese stock? They dont have that very much in China and the only other I know of and not that well run is in KUL/Malaysia. Seems that about any other of the plenty of new cars for BTSSRTMRT all come from China Fuzhou now.

[FarangryBirds]

I think the daily trials are now live on the remaining 4 stations of the MRT Blue Line loop. 

 

The stations signage is now showing  final destination as "Tha Phra via Bang Sue" on the platforms for the anticlockwise trains instead of Tao Poon. 

[digbeth]

On 12/21/2019 at 8:29 AM, asanee said:

Yes, allthough I dk what the exact final situation will be, in other lines its also the case that the roads/skyways themselves have been realigned or partly moved. Nothing here in BKK is built for eternity. Ripping down is just as easy as building up. In China they build complete mega-miilion cities from scatch anew.

For the  yellow line along SriNakkarin rd, most of the overpass on the road was constructed as a twin bridges with room for pillars in the middle, there must have been a 'master plan' a long time ago. It's either a sky train going in or another expressway on top, the Buraphawithi expressway and the Hwy7Motorway even have now orphaned stump of a turnpike built in place already should it be an expressway instead.

 

Only in the last decade that they had built an underpass at few of the junctions that complicated things a bit making the yellow line need to curve around that

 

Kaset-Nawamin rd have the famous stumps of pillars that they haven't managed to decide to either be for more expressways, trains or both

[Crossy]

A further three BTS Green Line stations will open in April, according to Thairath (in Thai, use Google Translate)

 https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/bangkok/1740753

 

It really would be nice if BMA told us (BTS) ????

 

Anyway we should see Forest Department, Bang Bua and the 11th Infantry Regiment (and maybe a couple more) Stations opening late April / early May.

 

I expect further incremental openings as the year progresses, the northern extension is due to be fully open by December.

 

One potential fly in the ointment is that construction of the Khukot power receiving substation is running late so we may have trains and stations but no (or insufficient) power to run a full service.   

 

[Nyezhov]

4 minutes ago, Crossy said:

I expect further incremental openings as the year progresses, the northern extension is due to be fully open by December.

One of the cool things in my life is watching BKK transform from tin shack TukTuk town 25 years ago to what its like today. Very cool. Places where the trains go now you didnt even go to then.

 

I wish they would run limited train service until 2 am on weekends. let them  know I suggested that, OK?

[ExpatOilWorker]

Any chance of a long term update from @Lakegeneve on future tenders, including the very delayed grey (Thonglor) line.

 

From our previous thread, the status was as below:

LINES/EXTS TO BE TENDERED IN 2018-2019??
14) BTS S4 Suksa Wittaya station to be built in 2018.

15) BTS N6 Sena Ruam station to be built in 2018

16) BMA Gold monorail line: 1.8km, 3 stations 1^st phase. Privately financed line

17) SRT Dark Red Line north ext suburban line from Rangsit to Thammasat Uni: 8.5kms, 4 stations

18) BTS Dark Green (Sukhumvit) line south from Paknam to Bang Pu: 4 stations (planned)

19) Airport Rail Link (ARL) extension from Phayathai to Bangsue to Don Meaung (DMK): 21.8km, 5 stations 
20) SRT Light Red line extension: Taling Chan to Salaya, 12km, 5 stations *SRT Light Red is metre gauge, diesel.
21) MRTA Grey Monorail Line: 26km, 21 stations. Rama 9 Bridge to Kaset-Nawamin/Ram Inthra (Completing EIA). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRT_Grey_Line

 

 

The current status of the Grey line is that it is still a proposed BMA line which is still being designed and needs an updated EIA. There have been many changes with the line no longer going to Chong Nongsi. The issue of beyond Thonglor. The problem of passing over the BTS line at Thonglor was a major factor in shortening the line with a tunnel option not realistically considered. The BMA is trying to acquire some land near the Kaset intersection for a depot and has ongoing negotiations with EXAT for site and right of way access along the expressway. Once that is done a new EIA will be completed.

 

The hype of the then BMA Gov back in 2013 saying that it would be done in 2-3 yrs of course came to nothing. The BMA and MOT are looking at it being a privately funded line similar to the Pink and Yellow lines. The BMA has funded 60m baht for a study of Phase 2 (along Rama 4 and Rama3).

 

The BMA has also had a few other line issues with the MRTA trying to offload the BTS exts to the BMA, the privately funded Gold line and residents wanting the Bang Wah to Taling Chan ext built. I've listed it as possible for tender in 2018/19, 2019 seems more realistic. My thoughts are that the BMA should just focus on and build the section from Wacharaphol (Pink Line) to Rama 9 (Orange line) first whilst working out what to do with the Thonglor/Suk soi 38 section - which should probably go underground and then continue to Rama 4 where it could then run elevated until Lumpini/Sathon rd.

 

Lastly, I don't agree with the Phase 2 of this line along Rama 3 and Ratchadapisek ring rd to link with the Blue Line at Tha Phra (essentially replacing the BRT line). It would be better to extend the Blue line south from Tha Phra or build another heavy rail line for this Ratchada/Rama 3 section. (A reminder that one of the original 3 BTS extensions was going to be from Chong Nongsi down Narathiwat rd and then along Rama 3).

[asanee]

6 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Any chance of a long term update from LakeGeneve on future tenders, including the very delayed grey (Thonglor) line.

 

YOu can find much of that info in specialised fora and sites:

urbanrail.net (but that will not have much about future plans) and a giant forum with subfora for rails and urban on skyscrapercity. There is also a Thai gentleman working for the SRT posting there.

As for grey line: nothing definite yet, either MRT and BTS or BMA are behind the walls fighting about who gets what and who has to pay or there simply is not enough money for all these lines being built same time.

There also used to be in-depth Thai info on the ..into? ?? .bangkok forum, but thats gone.

[Lakegeneve]

On 11/19/2019 at 10:41 AM, Lakegeneve said:

Current Progress as at 31 October;
1) MRT Blue Line ext: 100% - S&E installation: 94.15%
2) BTS Northern ext: 100%
3) MRT Orange Line: 49.05%
4) MRT Pink line: 46.13%
5) MRT Yellow line: 45.88%
6) SRT Dark Red Line: 100% - S&E installation: 43%
7) BMA/Private 2.2km Gold Line: approx 42%

Construction progress as at 31 December:

1) MRT Blue Line ext: 100%
2) BTS Northern ext: 100% S&E Installation: ?
3) MRT Orange Line: 53.31%
4) MRT Pink line: 50.10%
5) MRT Yellow line: 49.89%
6) SRT Dark Red Line: 100% - S&E installation: 48%
7) BMA/Private 2.2km Gold Line: approx 45%

[Lakegeneve]

On 1/7/2020 at 1:41 PM, ExpatOilWorker said:

Any chance of a long term update from @Lakegeneve on future tenders, including the very delayed grey (Thonglor) line.

 

From our previous thread, the status was as below:

LINES/EXTS TO BE TENDERED IN 2018-2019??
14) BTS S4 Suksa Wittaya station to be built in 2018.

15) BTS N6 Sena Ruam station to be built in 2018

16) BMA Gold monorail line: 1.8km, 3 stations 1^st phase. Privately financed line

17) SRT Dark Red Line north ext suburban line from Rangsit to Thammasat Uni: 8.5kms, 4 stations

18) BTS Dark Green (Sukhumvit) line south from Paknam to Bang Pu: 4 stations (planned)

19) Airport Rail Link (ARL) extension from Phayathai to Bangsue to Don Meaung (DMK): 21.8km, 5 stations 
20) SRT Light Red line extension: Taling Chan to Salaya, 12km, 5 stations *SRT Light Red is metre gauge, diesel.
21) MRTA Grey Monorail Line: 26km, 21 stations. Rama 9 Bridge to Kaset-Nawamin/Ram Inthra (Completing EIA). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRT_Grey_Line

Yes, I did promise to do a general update back in early Dec......!

 

Basically, the BMA Grey line will be clearer sometime mid 2020 as the BMA is currently doing the EIA and expects to submit a detailed submission for Planning approval by July - which will probably be 2-3 months later. The main hold up in the last 2-3 years has been seeking EXAT approval to build the line along the Ram Inthra Expressway corridor. However, EXAT gave approval last August.

 

The current time frame might supported a tender for the first half of 2021. MRT Brown line should start construction around the same time if all goes well. 

[Lakegeneve]

On 12/27/2019 at 1:19 AM, digbeth said:

For the  yellow line along SriNakkarin rd, most of the overpass on the road was constructed as a twin bridges with room for pillars in the middle, there must have been a 'master plan' a long time ago. It's either a sky train going in or another expressway on top, the Buraphawithi expressway and the Hwy7Motorway even have now orphaned stump of a turnpike built in place already should it be an expressway instead.

 

Only in the last decade that they had built an underpass at few of the junctions that complicated things a bit making the yellow line need to curve around that

 

Kaset-Nawamin rd have the famous stumps of pillars that they haven't managed to decide to either be for more expressways, trains or both

The MRT Yellow Line has been part of the original 10 line Master plan since 2005 so even though there were road widening works conducted along Sri Nakkarin rd in the last few years it was always known that an elevated metro would run down the middle - originally it was to be a heavy rail metro. (And should still be)

 

For Kaset- Nawamin rd, those pillar bases were built when the road was rebuilt for the much delayed N2 Expressway (originally planned to be built 15 years ago). The N2 will commence construction next year with an integrated design for the MRT Brown Line that runs along the route. 

[DDBKK]

Creating a new thread that delves into food and places of interest along the new lines would be a great idea imo. The wealth of info it could generate would be very impressive and well recieved by those of us who like to explore BKK.

 

Anyway bacl to the OP. I have to say I'm quite surprised by how much progress continues to be made. Who knows, maybe the new lines will actually open as planned on time.

[blackcab]

I have moved a series of posts into a new thread to keep this topic focussed on new Bangkok SkyTrain developments.

[ExpatOilWorker]

Who is the manufacture of the newest rolling stock on the BTS Sukhumvit/Silom lines?

The interior is slightly different from the Siemens and Chinese made trains, with 3 rows of hand grips and discreetly roof top mounted CCTV.

 

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Who is the manufacture of the newest rolling stock on the BTS Sukhumvit/Silom lines?

The interior is slightly different from the Siemens and Chinese made trains, with 3 rows of hand grips and discreetly roof top mounted CCTV.

 

I believe it is a Siemens led consortium or JV, manufactured in Turkey.

[Crossy]

Just a quick update.

 

The "official" opening date for the next 4 stations on the north extension of the BTS (N14-N17) is June 3rd.

 

The rest of the extension is still on schedule for opening in December.

[CLW]

What a Thai friend told me and I did see it too afterwards is that the Stations of the new Green Line extension bear a MRTA logo. 

I always thought they are operator of the MRT only?

[observer90210]

With the current virus threat, I would be afraid to take suck canned packed public transport in Thailand, China or Korea...and any other place in the world. And for those with no choice, the transport authorities should hand over FFP2 norm facemasks at the entrance of all the BTS stations to passengers boarding a train.

Edited March 9, 2020 by observer90210