Purple Line connection to Blue Line to begin operation August 11

[webfact]

Purple Line connection to Blue Line to begin operation August 11

 

 

BANGKOK, 27 July 2017 (NNT) – The Ministry of Transport has stated that the Blue and Purple rail line connection at Tao Pun Station will begin operation this August 11. 

Minister of Transport Arkom Termpittayapaisit has made known the Purple Line railway from Bang Sue to Tao Pun will be connected to the Blue Line railway on August 11 with a ceremony to be attended by the Prime Minister. Once the connection is opened, a section of the Blue Line will become operational on a trial basis. 

Commuters on the Purple Line will now be able to continue on along the Blue Line. Initially, fares will remain between 14-29 baht on weekdays and 15 baht along the entire line on weekends. A re-evaluation of the pricing will take place early next year. The extended service is predicted to add 30 percent more users to the entire train line. 

In August, the Ministry of Transport is planning to suggest the Cabinet allow registered low-income earners to use the rail line for free, expecting the welfare to be available starting October.

 

-- nnt 2017-07-27

[robblok]

Great news, now I might actually use it. 

[snooky]

For some obvious (to many of us) questions:

 

1.. Will we be able to buy a thru ticket from one destination to another going past Tao Pun in either direction?

      If not, where will we have to go for the new ticket/entrance?

 

2.  Where will the connecting train be - on an adjacent platform or will we have to hike up and downstairs to another area for connection?

      Obviously, we will have to change trains since the cars (carriages) are made by different companies and most likely not compatible with each other.   Maybe it will be like changing from MRT to BTS at MoChit - a nice long walk,  upstairs and then outside for a 30-40 meter walk in the rain to the next escalator.

 

It would be nice to have some of this information in advance - but I doubt it will be forthcoming.

 

[damian]

MRT thru tickets can be used as the blue and purple are the same operator.

 

Tao Poon interchange has blue on one level and purple upstairs so when you change you need to use the stairs/ escalators.

[Searat7]

If the old MRT still uses 3 car trains I think overcrowding on that line will get worse.  Very long lead time to purchase additional train cars from Siemens since they are so old.

[Jasonron]

Hope less traffic on the roads.. waiting to use the service