MRT (Bangkok) - Expansion Plans

Expansion Plans

Various expansion plans of the Metro have been proposed. As of 2011, the MRT Purple Line and the two extension lines of the blue line are also under construction. It is planned that, eventually, the combined route distance of the Metro alone will total 91 km with 3 Metro lines covering all of the major areas of Bangkok. The Blue line, once completely extended, will form a lariat-shaped loop encircling the city.

Extension of the blue line can be summarised as follows:

• Blue Line extension:

1. Bang Sue – Bang Phlat – Tha Phra (under construction operational in 2015). It starts from Bang Sue Station, passing along Pracharat Sai 2 Road. It crosses Chao Phraya River and turns left along Charansanitwong Road until it reaches Tha Phra at Petch Kasem and Charansanitwong intersection. The length is 13.1 km with 7 elevated stations.
2. Hua Lamphong – Tha Phra – Bang Khae (under construction operational in 2015). From Hua Lamphong Station it goes along Charoen Krung Road, passes Wat Mangkon Kamalawat Station, Wang Burapha Station, and then turns left at Wat Pho before crossing under the Chao Phraya River at Pak Khlong Talart. Passing through Bangkok Yai, it finally enters Petch Kasem Road and ends at Bang Khae. The 4 underground stations end at Tha Phra before turning to be elevated for 6 stations. The length is 13. 9 km. with 8.9 km elevated station and 4.8 km underground stations.

• Purple Line: Bang Yai – Sam Sen – Rat Burana (40 km)

1. Taopoon - Bang Yai northern section (under construction since 2010 operational in 2014 - 6 months delayed opening due to late 2011 floods).
2. Taopoon - Kiak Kai extension (serving the new parliament complex; planned).
3. Kiak Kai - Wang Burapha section (underground; planned).
4. Wang Burapha - Rat Burana southern section (underground / elevated; planned).

• Orange Line: Bang Kapi – Dindaeng – Taling Chan (37.5 km, Change from Bang Kapi – Sam Sen – Bang Bamru)

Other expansion plans for the metro include:

• Yellow Line: Lat Phrao – Sri Nagarindra – Samut Prakan
• Pink Line:Saen Saep (Monorail)– Ram-Inthra Rd. – Chaeng Watthana Road – Tiwanon-Ngamwongwan Road intersection. (35 km).

that these plans do not include the extension proposed for the BTS Skytrain, SRT Red Lines and airport link which is under the control of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and State Railway of Thailand.

As per the BMCL's annual report, earning of profit from operation is still far away and BMCL is still subsidized by main share holder which is CH Karnchang.