Download Metro Map Bangkok 'LINK'
Tamsyn Gradney
The Metropolitan Rapid Transit or MRT is a mass rapid transit system serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region in Thailand. The MRT system comprises two fully operational rapid transit lines (Blue and Purple) and one fully operational monorail line (Yellow). One monorail line (Pink) is in trial operation, with another rapid transit line (Orange) under construction. The MRT Blue Line, officially the Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line, between Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue was the first to open in 2004 as Bangkok's second metro system. The MRT Blue line is officially known in Thai as rotfaifa mahanakhon (รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร) or "metropolitan electric train", but it is more commonly called rotfai taidin (รถไฟใต้ดิน), literally, "underground train" as it was distinguished from the BTS Skytrain by being completely underground when its first section between Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue opened.
For safety purposes, platform screen doors are installed. Uniformed security personnel and security cameras are present at all platforms. Currently 19 three-car metro trains, of the Siemens Modular Metro type, are used. Each metro train consists of two motor cars and central trailer cars.[7]
The 48-kilometer-long MRT Blue line will serve as a circle line for Bangkok's metro rail system, providing connections to all other major lines, including the SRT Red Lines and the Airport Rail Link. However the complete track does not form a circle, but rather a figure 6. So to ride the complete circle one has either to start at Tha Phra or change trains there.
The present Bangkok mass transit system comprises two different types of metros: 1) the elevated BTS system, the so-called Skytrain - rot fai fah in Thai, and 2) the underground MRT subway. 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 initially did not apply to any BTS station (in the meantime, the busiest have been retrofitted with half-height gates).
In August 1997 construction work began on this 21 km underground full metro with 18 stations; it finally opened for trial service in April 2004. In December 2001, Siemens was awarded the contract to build 19 three-car trains for this line and to provide the necessary operating equipment. This is an MRT line (MRTA) but BEM (formerly BMCL) is the operator via a concession contract from the MRTA.
Construction of the Bangkok Metro began on 19 November 1996. It suffered delays because of the 1997 economic crisis and faced many civil engineering challenges in constructing underground structures. The metro system is also popularly called the Blue Line.
The turnkey project was implemented by Siemens Transportation Systems, who completed it in 28 months. The scope of the contractual award made to Siemens included project management, system integration of electromechanical elements, supply of rolling stock (19 three-car metro trains along with power supply), signalling and telecommunication equipment, platform screen doors and complete signage, alongside operational training of staff and the supply of an automatic fare collection system, depot and workshop equipment.
The MRT operates 19 three-car metro trains with two motor cars and a centre trailer car. The rolling stock can accommodate 900 passengers in each train, with driving cab and emergency exits at each end car. Each train is provided with two fire extinguishers, while the driving cab has one.
Bangkok is planning expansion of its metro system. The lines are expected to extend to a total length of 487km, covering the major areas of the city. The BTS Sukhumvit Line, BTS Silom Line and the MRT Blue Line had been constructed by 2009.
There are two connected MRT lines (MRT Blue Line and MRT Purple Line) with 54 stations around the city at the moment as Bangkok metro network was significantly expanded. MRT Blue Line connects major business, residential and cultural areas of Bangkok, while MRT Purple Line serves the north-western area of Bangkok.
If you see long queues near Ticket Vending Machines and Ticket Offices on one side of the station, just walk to another side (you can do it without entering the Paid Area of metro station) as the situation there might be much better.
Bangkok's metro system (MRT) is also good for traveling between the Sukhumvit or Silom districts to reach Hualamphong Train Station. It's cheap: tickets cost from 16 THB (US$ 0.50) to 42 THB (US$ 1.20) or 120 THB (US$ 3.50) for a one-day pass and again, the trains run frequently from 6 am to midnight.
Here is a Japanese-style subway map of the Bangkok mass transit system. This map by breaks the unwritten rule of metro mapping of using straight lines and 45-degree angles. Instead, this map has gone with jagged lines as needed, and the Japanese/English language makes it look like a system from somewhere in Japan. This map has not been updated for the Yellow Line and Pink Line
In 2017 and 2018 work on several new metro line and extension projects will either be started or are currently underway in Bangkok. Services of these new lines and extensions will commence between 2017 and 2023. The additional network will be constructed underground as well as on elevated tracks.
The cost of a single journey in the Bangkok Metro depends on its distance and varies from THB 15 up to THB 59. Furthermore, each metro company has different tickets and fares. Therefore, a new ticket has to be purchased when you switch metro lines. You can also purchase unlimited travel cards with the expiry period of 1, 3, 15 and 30 days.
Journeys by elevated metro shall be paid for with cards which can be purchased at stations from the special ticket machines accepting coins only denomination 1, 5 and 10 baht. At each station there are booths where you can exchange banknotes for coins to be used in the ticket machine. You have to insert the card into the ticket barrier in order to enter the station. Then you will have to re-insert this card into the ticket barrier at the exit from the station, so do not lose it; otherwise, you will have to pay for the journey again in order to exit the station. In the underground metro entrance to and exit from the station is performed by means of tokens which are sold from ticket machines and booths installed at the stations. Keep the token until the end of your journey as it will have to be returned into the ticket barrier when exiting the station of your destination.
I moved from the United States to Thailand Bangkok six months ago. I pulled up all the reviews on the metro clinic and they were super! I went to Metro clinic and had treatment for wrinkles, fillers, and multiple lasers. Metro clinic has never failed me one time. Metro clinic uses the best products! Their work is The best I ever had even compared to the US! My problem is when I go to the United States how am I going to get the same treatment!
The call for a strike Wednesday by Thailand's biggest union group won few followers, with most services running as usual, officials said.
The 200,000-strong State Enterprises Workers' Relations Confederation had threatened a strike to bolster street protesters' demands for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign, saying they would cut power and water supplies to government agencies.
The strike was supposed to begin at 0200 GMT, but no disruptions were reported. Leaders of the labour body, which represents workers at 43 state enterprises, were not available for comment.
Officials at the main utilities said that most employees had shown up for work and that services were running as usual.
Flag carrier Thai Airways reported no disruptions to flights because of the strike call, while the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) said public buses were running as usual.
"We are still serving our average 6.5 million daily commuters in metro Bangkok," said the company's director general Pinetr Puapatanakul.
The unions had also threatened to cut telephone and water supplies, but those utilities reported services running normally.
Railway workers began disrupting train services last week, with service suspended on up to half the nation's lines at the weekend.
But the State Railway of Thailand said service actually improved Wednesday, with trains suspended only in southern provinces.
Thai unions have never pulled off a national strike, despite threats by their leadership.