Bangkok Skytrain

Logo of the BTS

The Skytrain ( Thai : รถไฟฟ้า - บี ที เอ ส , pronunciation: [ rót fajfáː biːtʰiːʔèːt ]) is part of Bangkok's public transport system . It is operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit System ( BTS ). The Skytrain runs separately from the Bangkok Metro , the subway of Bangkok. The Skytrain routes are around 57 kilometers long and run continuously on stilts.

history

Network map of the Bangkok Skytrain, the Bangkok Metro and the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link (as of December 2019)

Originally the system was planned with the same technology as the Vancouver SkyTrain , but this was abandoned in 1992 after political interference. This first Skytrain project is sometimes referred to as the Lavalin Skytrain for better distinction from the current project . The second project was based on Siemens technology, but apart from the name “Skytrain” it has nothing in common with the first project: not only the technology, but also the lines are different. Its two lines - the Silom Line and the Sukhumvit Line - opened on December 5, 1999.

The foundations for the Lavalin Skytrain were laid on two bridges over the Mae Nam Chao Phraya ( Chao Phraya River ) when they were built in the early 1990s. The foundation at the Taksin Bridge has meanwhile been used to extend the Silom Line over the river to Thonburi . The completion of this extension was originally planned for 2005, but the construction work was interrupted due to political interference. The new section was opened on May 15, 2009.

The extension of the Sukhumvit Line to the southeast began in October 2006 and was inaugurated on August 12, 2011. Other extensions of the lines are under construction. To connect the new airport , however, the Skytrain was not extended, but a new railway line ( Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link ) was built that does not correspond to BTS technology. At Phaya Thai station there is a possibility to change to the Airport Rail Link.

There are five stops where you can change to the "Blue Line" of the Bangkok Metro .

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  Skytrain trains

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  A platform at the Siam stop

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  A Skytrain train arrives at Sala Daeng station.

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  The Skytrain arrives at the Chong Nonsi station.

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  A new generation Skytrain at Chong Nonsi

List of stops

Sukhumvit Line

Sukhumvit line of the Bangkok Skytrain

Legend Wat Phra Sri Mahathat 11th Infantry Regiment Bang Bua Royal Forest Department Kasetsart University Sena Nikhom Ratchayothin Phahonyothin 24 Ha Yaek Lat Phrao BKK Metro depot Mo Chit BKK Metro Saphan Khwai Sena Ruam planned Ari Sanam Pao Victory Monument Phaya Thai Airport Rail Link Ratchathewi Siam Silom Line Chit Lom Phloes Chit Nana Asok BKK Metro Phrom Phong Thong Lo Ekkamai Phra Khanong On nut Bang Chak Punnawithi Udom Suk Bang Na Bearing Samrong Pu Chao Chang Erawan Royal Thai Naval Academy Pak Nam Srinagarindra Phraek Sa Sai Luat Kheha

An extension from Mo Chit to Khu Khot is under construction. On August 9, 2019, the line was extended by one station to the Lat Phrao Intersection. On December 4, 2019, the line was extended by four stations to Kasetsart University. The new section could be used free of charge until January 2, 2020. Another extension by four stations to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat was opened on June 5, 2020, which can be used free of charge until the end of 2020. The remaining stations up to Khu Khot are scheduled to open by the end of 2020.

• Wat Phra Sri Mahathat ( วัด พระ ศรีมหาธาตุ ) - Wat Phra Sri Mahathat
• 11th Infantry Regiment ( กรม ทหาร ราบ ที่ 11 ) - military base
• Bang Bua ( บางบัว ) - Sripatum University
• Royal Forest Department ( กรม ป่า ไม้ ) - Royal Forest Department
• Kasetsart University ( มหาวิทยาลัย เกษตรศาสตร์ ) - Kasetsart University , Kasetsart University Veterinary Clinic
• Sena Nikhom ( เสนานิคม ) - Soil Museum Bangkok
• Ratchayothin ( รัช โยธิน ) - Major Cineplex Ratchayothin
• Phahonyothin 24 ( พหลโยธิน 24 )
• Ha Yaek Lat Phrao ( ห้า แยก ลาดพร้าว ) - transfer to the metro (Phahon Yothin stop)
• Mo Chit ( สถานี หมอชิต ) - possibility to change to the metro (Chatuchak Park stop), the name was taken from the old bus terminal.
• Saphan Khwai ( สถานี สะพานควาย )
• Sena Ruam (planned)
• Ari ( สถานี อารีย์ )
• Sanam Pao ( สถานี สนาม เป้า )
• Victory Monument ( สถานีอนุสาวรีย์ ชัยสมรภูมิ - Anusawari Chai Samoraphum) - pedestrian bridge (" Skybridge ") to Century Movie Plaza
• Phaya Thai ( สถานี พญาไท ) - transfer option to the city line of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link ("light red line")
• Ratchathewi ( สถานี ราชเทวี ) - footbridge ("Skybridge") to the Asia Hotel
• Siam ( สถานี สยาม ) - possibility to change to the Silom line; the name was chosen after the nearby Siam Square ; Pedestrian bridge ("Skybridge") to the shopping centers Siam Paragon , Siam Center and Central World Plaza and on to the Chit Lom stop
• Chit Lom ( สถานี ชิดลม ) - Erawan Shrine ; Pedestrian bridge ("Skybridge") to the shopping centers Central Chitlom, Gaysorn and Central World Plaza
• Phloen Chit ( สถานี เพลินจิต ) - footbridge ("skybridge") to Wave Place
• Nana ( สถานี นานา )
• Asok ( สถานี อโศก ) - transfer to the metro (Sukhumvit stop); Pedestrian bridge ("skybridge") to the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Times Square shopping center and the Robinson Department Store.
• Phrom Phong ( สถานี พร้อม พงศ์ ) - Benjasiri Park; Pedestrian bridge ("skybridge") to the Emporium Shopping Mall, Washington Square
• Thong Lo ( สถานี ทองหล่อ )
• Ekkamai ( สถานี เอกมัย ) - Eastern Bus Terminal
• Phra Khanong ( สถานี พระโขนง )
• On Nut ( สถานี อ่อนนุช ) - Footbridge ("Skybridge") to Tesco Lotus
• Bang Chak ( สถานี บางจาก )
• Punnawithi ( สถานี ปุ ณ ณ วิถี ) - nearby: Wat Tham Mongkhon ( วัด ธรรมมงคล ), Buddhist temple in Soi Punnawithi, with one of the highest chedis in Thailand.
• Udom Suk ( สถานี อุดมสุข )
• Bang Na ( สถานี บางนา )
• Bearing ( สถานี แบ ริ่ ง )
• Samrong ( สำโรง )
• Pu Chao ( ปู่เจ้า )
• Chang Erawan ( ช้าง เอราวัณ )
• Royal Thai Naval Academy ( โรงเรียน นาย เรือ )
• Pak Nam ( ปากน้ำ )
• Srinagarindra ( ศรีนครินทร์ )
• Phraek Sa ( แพรก ษา )
• Sai Luat ( สาย ลวด )
• Kheha ( เคหะ ฯ )

The seven-station extension from On Nut to Bearing (Sukhumvit Soi 107) went into operation on August 12, 2011. Until the beginning of 2012 it could be used free of charge. On April 3, 2017, the line was extended by one station to Samrong. Another 13-kilometer extension to the Kheha station in Samut Prakan was opened in December 2018, again combined with the offer of free use for the first four months.

Silom line

Silom line of the Bangkok Skytrain
Legend National Stadium Siam Sukhumvit Line Ratchadamri Sala Daeng BKK Metro Chong Nonsi BRT Sueksa Witthaya Surasak Saphan Taksin Chao Phraya Bridge Krung Thonburi Wongwian Yai Pho Nimit Talat Phlu BRT Anger thakat Bang Wa BKK Metro

• National Stadium ( สถานี สนาม กีฬา แห่ง ชาติ ) - Suphachalasai Stadium ; Pedestrian bridge (“skybridge”) to the MBK Center, Tokyu Department Store and Siam Discovery Center shopping centers.
• Siam ( สถานี สยาม ) - transfer to the Sukhumvit Line; Pedestrian bridge ("Skybridge") to the shopping centers Siam Center, Siam Paragon , Central World Plaza and the Siam Kempinski Hotel.
• Ratchadamri ( สถานี ราชดำริ )
• Sala Daeng ( สถานี ศาลาแดง ) - you can change to the metro ( Si Lom stop ); Pedestrian bridge ("skybridge") to the shopping centers Central Silom Complex, Robinson, Thaniya Center and J-City. The Patpong Night Market is just a few minutes' walk away.
• Chong Nonsi ( สถานี ช่อง นนทรี ) - possibility to change to Bus Rapid Transit (Sathorn stop)
• Sueksa Witthaya (planned)
• Surasak ( สถานี สุร ศั กด )
• Saphan Taksin ( สถานี สะพาน ตากสิน ) - You can change to the “Chao Phraya Express Boat” and other river ferries at Sathon Pier.
• Krung Thon Buri ( สถานี กรุงธนบุรี )
• Wongwian Yai ( สถานี วงเวียน ใหญ่ )
• Pho Nimit (โพธิ์นิมิตร)
• Talat Phlu (ตลาดพลู) - transfer to the Rapid Transit bus (Talat Phlu stop)
• Wutthakat (วุฒากาศ)
• Bang Wa (บาง หว้า) - transfer to the metro (Bang Wa stop)

The expansion by two stations from Saphan Taksin to Wongwian Yai opened on May 15, 2009. The opening of a further extension into the heart of the Thonburi district to Phetkasem Road has now also been completed.

vehicles

In order to keep the possibility open of operating routes together with the Bangkok Metro , their vehicle types are very similar.

The track width is 1435 mm ( standard gauge ). The trains draw 750 V direct current from a conductor rail .

Web links

Commons : Bangkok Skytrain  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Bangkok Transit System (English and Thai)
• Overview of the "Bangkok Skytrain Transit System" construction project (English)
• Urbanrail.net information on the "Bangkok mass transit system" (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Free travel between new BTS, MRT train stations. In: Bangkok Post . December 4, 2019, accessed December 4, 2019 . 
2. ↑ Four more BTS stations opened. In: Bangkok Post . June 5, 2020, accessed June 17, 2020 . 
3. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1727511/bts-opens-lat-phrao-station
4. ↑ New BTS On Nut extension opens Friday ( Memento of the original from December 8, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Article in The Nation on August 11, 2011 in English  
5. ↑ https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/1588702/green-line-reaches-samut-prakan
6. ↑ Service Routes: BTSC