Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line (The MRT System) has become the first Metro in Thailand because its initial system section of Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue is the first railway system in Thailand that kept on underground level.
Bangkok’s subway was built in 2004 to provide greater coverage and is supplemented by SkyTrain lines, (Green Line Skytrain BTS.).
Bangkok metro is a modern rapid transit system operated by the Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited.
It has just one line (MRTA Blue line) but crosses the city from north to south. The length of the subway line is just over 21 kilometers spread over 18 stations.
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Bangkok Metro Lines
The Blue Line, officially the Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line, is the only metro line currently in operation. The present Bangkok mass transit system comprises two different types of metros:
- The elevated BTS system, the so called Skytrain ( rot fai fah in Thai). Skytrains are in service in 2 routes. 1) Mo Chit (Northern Bus Terminal) to Bearing Route passing Sukhumvit Rd with 22 stations and 2) National Stadium to Wongwian Yai Route passing Silom Rd.
This line covers only 9 stations. Passengers can change their routes at the Interchange Station at Siam Square. Apart from being the fastest mean of transportation, the Skytrain has two more advantages: it offers a panoramic views of Bangkok and it stops at several shopping centres along Silom, Ratchadamri, and Sukhumwit roads.
Interchange stations with MRT are provided at Mo Chit, Sukhumvit, and Sala Daeng stations. - The underground MRT subway, Blue Line. The MRT serves more than 240,000 passengers each day. It has 18 operational stations along 27 kilometres of underground track.
The MRT System starts from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) along Rama 4 road to Bang Sue Railway Station. Its stations are : Hua Lamphong, Sam Yan, Silom, Lumpini,
Khlong Toei, Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Sukhumvit, Phetchaburi, Phra Ram 9, Thailand Cultural Centre, Huai Khwang, Sutthisan, Ratchadaphisek, Lat Phrao, Phahon Yothin, Chatuchak Park,
Kamphaeng Phet, Bang Sue.
Although BTS and MRT use similar technology (trains, signalling & train control), there is no track connection between them.
All MRT stations are equipped with platform-screen-doors, which does not apply to any BTS station. On both means of transport the wagons are climatized.
Future Expansions
As of 2011, two extensions of the Blue Line are under construction. When completed, the Blue Line will become a loop line around the centre of Bangkok,
with an extension to Bang Khae on its western side.
The MRT Purple Line is also under construction. It will connect Bang Sue with Nonthaburi in the north-west, and will be the first public transit line outside the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
Metro Opening Hours
The metro works 06.00 a.m to 00:00 daily.
Frecuency
For the MRTS is less than 5 minutes during the peak hours (06.00 a.m to 09.00 a.m and 14.30 p.m to19:30 p.m) and around 7 minutes during the off-peak hours.
For the BTS Skytrain it is every 5 minutes from 06:00 a.m to 00.00 a.m but at shorter intervals during rush hours (07.30 a.m to 09.30 a.m and 05.30a.m to 19:00 p.m).
Fares and Tickets
Tickets and cards can be purchased at ticket offices and vending machines in the stations, but these only issue Tokens and single tickets and only accept cash.
The fares range from 16 to 40 baht based on the distance travelled.
The ticketing system uses RFID contactless technology with round black tokens issued for single trips and contactless stored value cards for frequent travellers.
In the near future, a joint ticketing system will be set up so that passengers can use a single ticket on the Metro as well as on the Skytrain.
- Single Adult Ticket: from 16 to 40 bath depending on the distance.
- 1 Day Pass: 1 day of unlimited trips (Since the 1st entering in the paid area to midnight of that day). It is only issued at Ticket Offices.
The card can be used in all 18 MRT stations and costs 120 bath. - 3 Days Pass: Unlimited 3 consecutive days travel (since the 1st entering in the paid area to midnight of the 3rd day). It is only issued at Ticket Offices.
The card can be used in all 18 MRT stations and costs 230 bath. - 15 Days Pass: Unlimited 15 consecutive days travel travel (Since the 1st entering in the paid area to midnight of the 15th day).
It is only Issued at Ticket Offices. The card can be used in all 18 MRT stations and costs 600 bath.
More info in : http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/ticket.aspx?Menu=13&Lang=En
Children and elder pay half: from 8 to 20 bath.
Airport
The Bangkok International Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in the town of Racha Thewa, Samut Prakan province about 30 kilometers east of Bangkok.
To reach the center, the best way is to take the train (Airport Train). You can choose between the City Line and the Express Line. The first makes a journey with stops (7 in total) and the journey takes about 35 minutes, costs 45 bath and identifies with the color blue. The second, Express Line only stops at Makkassan and takes about 25 minutes, costs 90 bath and identifies with the color red. If you go downtown or wish to connect to the BTS Sky train you have to get a ticket to the last station (Phaya Thai station.) Once in Phaya Thai station you are still not in center, but you have correspondence with the Sky Train (BTS) that will take you there.
Add to this the company Airport Express, which provides shuttle buses that run between the airport and hotels in Bangkok, exactly towards the city center. You will find their stop when leaving the 1st floor of the airport.
They cover four fixed routes for a flat rate of 150 baht (3.05 €) and stop at the main hotels. The hours of operation are from 05:00 a.m to 24:00 a.m.
- AE1: Suvarnabhumi – Silom
- AE2: Suvarnabhumi – Khao San Road
- AE3: Suvarnabhumi – Sukhumvit
- AE4: Suvarnahhumi – Victory Monument – Hua Lamphong (train station)
Bangkok Metro Map
