Bang Sue-Tha Phra extension opens next month

Bang Sue-Tha Phra extension opens next month

New Blue Line section completes loop

People get off a train at the Wat Mangkon station of the Blue Line's Hua Lumphong-Tha Phra extension which opened on Sept 29. (Pphoto by Patipat Janthong)
People get off a train at the Wat Mangkon station of the Blue Line's Hua Lumphong-Tha Phra extension which opened on Sept 29. (Pphoto by Patipat Janthong)

The Bang Sue-Tha Phra extension of the MRT mass transit line will open for a public trial run next month, completing the Blue Line’s planned loop around the centre of Bangkok.

The new 13km stretch, which charges up to 42 baht, links the Hua Lamphong-Lak Song extension, which opened in late September. It has seven stations.  

From mid-2011, construction began to extend the Blue Line with an extension west from Hua Lamphong via Tha Phra to Lak Song, and in the north from Bang Sue to Tha Phra. (see map below)

The new extension is in the system-testing and pre-opening stages before the launch early next year, said Witoon Hatairatana, deputy managing director for railway system operation and engineering at Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM), the operator of the MRT lines.

However, it has yet to be decided whether the fares on the new extension will be waived during the trial run like when the 14km Hua Lamphong-Lak Song extension opened, Mr Witoon said.  

With the loop completed, MRT’s ridership will double to 800,000 a day, he said.

On planned fare cuts, one of the Transport Ministry’s policies to ease people’s burden, Mr Witoon said the reductions would apply to monthly tickets of the Blue Line, Purple Line and Airport Rail Link this year. Forty-four coupons will cost 1,100 baht or 25 baht per trip.

After SET-listed BEM opened the Hua Lamphong-Lak Song section, its ridership jumped to 400,000 a day on average.

“Our revenue should grow substantially in 2020 after we realise revenue from all extensions from April to December. Once all extensions are operational, the ridership growth would be significant,” he added.

The fares for all extensions range between 16-42 baht, he said. 

He added all 35 trains would be delivered in February and March next year. The lowest headway at present is 3.25 minutes per train during rush hours, compared to two minutes supported by the system. However, more cars would have to be added to 4-6 per train from three currently.

“This is unlikely to happen anytime soon because more doors would have to be added at all platforms, which already accommodate up to six cars,” he said.

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