MRT Blue Line

MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkhon line รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล
A Blue line train at Si Lom station
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	MRT
Status	Operational (Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue via Khlong Toei) Under Construction (Bang Sue to Tha Phra via Bang Phlat and Lak Song to Hua Lamphong)
Locale	Bangkok, Thailand
Termini	Hua Lamphong Bang Sue Tao Poon (from 2017)
Stations	18
Daily ridership	240,000
Ridership	80.6 million
Operation
Opened	3 July 2004
Owner	Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand
Operator(s)	Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM)
Character	Underground and elevated
Depot(s)	Huai Khwang
Rolling stock	Siemens Modular Metro 3 cars per trainset
Technical
Line length	21 km (13 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750V DC Third rail
Operating speed	80 mph (130 km/h)
Route map Legend  MRT  Blue Line: Hua Lamphong – Bang Khae Tha Phra Charan Sanit Wong 13 Yaek Fai Chai Bang Khun Non  MRT  Orange Line: Min Buri – Taling Chan Bang Yi Khan Sirindhorn Bang Phlat Bang O Chao Phraya River Bang Pho Tao Poon  MRT  Purple Line: Kiak Kai – Bang Yai ( Open on Dec 2015) Bang Sue(Grand Central Station)  SRT Light Red Line: Hua Mak – Taling Chan  SRT  Dark Red Line: Hua Lamphong – Rangsit  ARL ARL: Suvarnabhumi – Don Muang Kamphaeng Phet Chatuchak Park  BTS Sukhumvit Line: Mo Chit Siam – Saphan mai Phahon Yothin Lat Phrao Ratchadaphisek Sutthisan Huai Khwang  MRT  Orange Line: Taling Chan – Min Buri Thailand Cultural Centre Rama 9 Depot Phra Ram 9 Don Muang – Suvarnabhumi  ARL  ARL: Makkasan  SRT  Light Red Line: Bang Sue – Hua Mak Phetchaburi Sukhumvit  BTS  Sukhumvit Line: Asoke Siam – Bearing Queen Sirikit Center Khlong Toei Lumphini Si Lom  BTS  Silom Line: Saladaeng Siam – Bang Wa Sam Yan Hua Lamphong  SRT  Dark Red Line: Hua Lamphong Bang Sue – Maha Chai ( Under construction, open 2016) Wat Mangkon Wang Burapha  MRT  Purple Line: Ratburana – Tao Pun Sanam Chai Chao Phraya River Itsaraphap Tha Phra  MRT  Blue Line: Hua Lamphong Bang Phai Siam  BTS  Silom Line: 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 of Bangkok's MRT system and the city's third rapid transit line, following Sukhumvit line and Silom line operated by BTSC. 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

Inside the train of MRT blue line, Siemens Modular Metro.

The 21-kilometre, 19-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 change for 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	Change for	Location
TAO	Tao Poon (opening on March 2017)[3]	เตาปูน	MRT	Bang Sue
BAN	Bang Sue	บางซื่อ	SRT  (under construction)  SRT  (planned)  ARL  (proposed) inter-city rails	Chatuchak
KAM	Kamphaeng Phet	กำแพงเพชร
CHA	Chatuchak Park	สวนจตุจักร	BTS
PHA	Phahon Yothin	พหลโยธิน	BTS  (planned)
LAT	Lat Phrao	ลาดพร้าว	MRT  (planned)
RAT	Ratchadaphisek	รัชดาภิเษก		Din Daeng/Huai Khwang
SUT	Sutthisan	สุทธิสาร
HUI	Huai Khwang	ห้วยขวาง
CUL	Thailand Cultural Centre	ศูนย์วัฒนธรรมแห่งประเทศไทย	MRT  (proposed)
RAM	Phra Ram 9	พระราม 9	Grand Square Phra Ram 9 Monorail (proposed)
PET	Phetchaburi	เพชรบุรี	ARL   SRT  (proposed) inter-city rails	Ratchathewi
SUK	Sukhumvit	สุขุมวิท	BTS	Watthana
SIR	Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre	ศูนย์การประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติ์		Khlong Toei
KHO	Khlong Toei	คลองเตย
LUM	Lumphini	ลุมพินี	BMA  (proposed)	Sathon
SIL	Si Lom	สีลม	BTS	Bang Rak
SAM	Sam Yan	สามย่าน	BTS  (proposed)	Pathum Wan
HUA	Hua Lamphong	หัวลำโพง	SRT  (proposed) inter-city rails
WAT	Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (under construction)	วัดมังกรกมลาวาส		Samphanthawong
WAN	Wang Burapha (under construction)	วังบูรพา	MRT  (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	MRT  (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.^[4] 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

Bang Wa MRT Station in June 2016 (under construction)

Viaduct across Ratchaphruek Road east of Bang Wa Station in June 2016 (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:

• Contract 1: 2.8 km underground from Hua Lamphong to Sanam Chai

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

• Contract 2: 2.6 km underground Sanam chai-Tha Phra

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

• Contract 3: 11 km elevated from Tao Poon along Charan Sunit Wong rd (Inner Ring rd) to Tha Phra

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

• Contract 4: 10.5 km elevated from Tha Phra along Phetkasem rd to Lak Song

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

• Contract 5: rolling stock and systems, Bt5.17 Billion, contractor CK.

As of July 2014 civil works progress was 52% done.^[5] 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.^[6]

See also

• BTS Skytrain
• Sukhumvit Line
• Silom Line
• Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)
• MRT Brown Line
• MRT Grey Line
• MRT Light Blue Line
• MRT Orange Line
• MRT Pink Line
• MRT Purple Line
• MRT Yellow Line
• Bangkok Metro
• SRT Red Lines
• Bangkok BRT

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. http://www.thairath.co.th/content/763412
4. "Thai subway shut for safety probe". BBC News. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
5. "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.
6. "ลุ้นคลังไฟเขียวงบรถไฟ-รฟม" [Win No Green Light Railway Company - MRTA]. Than Online (in Thai). 15 July 2014.

External links

• "MRTA Blue Line extension website"
• "2Bangkok Blue Line construction thread" Semi-regular updates, articles, pictures and commentary (In English)
• "MRT home page" Official Thai website