A typical ticket office of the Yellow LineFare gates in Si Kritha StationA ticket vending machine in a Yellow Line stationSignage at Hua Mak StationA typical Yellow Line platform level at Si La Salle (YL18)
The MRTYellow Line is an elevated monorail line in Bangkok and Samut Prakan Province, Thailand, part of the MRT rapid transit system. The 30.4 km (18.9 mi) line has 23 stations and cost 55 billion baht.[4] The line was originally proposed in 2005 by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning to be a heavy rail underground line along Lat Phrao road which was then elevated from Lam Sali Intersection to Samrong. However, it was decided in 2012 to build an elevated monorail line for the whole length in order to reduce construction costs.
Preliminary site works began in late 2017 with major construction work starting from March 2018. In October 2020, the BSR stated that they plan to open the first section of the Yellow Line by October 2021 with initial operations running from Samrong to Si Iam.[5] The line was then planned to fully open in July 2022.[6] However, due to COVID-19 outbreaks in Bangkok delaying construction with sites closed, the BSR stated that the first section of the line would not open until July 2022.[7] On 29 November 2021, daily testing began on a 6 km (3.7 mi) section of the line between the depot at Si Iam and Srinagarindra 38 station. Testing was expanded after a 3-month period.[7]
In mid-April 2022, the Director of EBM/BSR, Mr Surapong Laoha-Unya, stated that further labour & installation delays would mean that the line would now not open until September 2022.[8] Construction had progressed to 99.02% as of the end of April 2023.[9]
After repeated delays, the line partially opened to the public for free trial rides on 3 June 2023 from Hua Mak to Samrong,[10] having done a private trial ride between Kalantan and Samrong for the press the day before. Trial rides for Phawana to Hua Mak section began on 12 June,[11] while the final section between Phawana and Lat Phrao station opened on 19 June.[12][13]
Rabbit Card or EMV credit cards are accepted on the MRT Yellow Line, although pricing is yet to be determined.[13]
Route alignment
The line starts at the intersection of Ratchadaphisek and Lat Phrao roads where it interchanges with the MRT Blue Line at Lat Phrao station. The line then heads east along Lat Phrao road to Bang Kapi intersection and south to Lam Sali station to interchange with the MRT Orange Line and the future MRT Brown Line. The line continues further south along Srinagarindra Road to Hua Mak where it interchanges with the Airport Rail Link at Hua Mak station.
The Yellow line was first proposed in the mid 1990s as a monorail line by Japanese consultants with little or no progress for 10 years. In 2004, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) reworked the proposal as a heavy rail line with underground and elevated sections as part of the 10 line metro plan which was taken to the February 2005 election. In 2009, it was suggested to change the line to an elevated monorail line as a cost saving measure. In December 2011, the MRTA was instructed by the MOT to divide the Yellow Line into two phases for tender and construction purposes and to reduce land appropriation costs.[15] In June 2012, the MRTA contracted consultants to undertake detailed designs of the line. In February 2013, OTP stated that the tender for the Yellow Line should be ready by late 2013 for tender in early 2014.[16] By August 2013, this timeline had changed to a mid 2014 tender date.[17]
However, similar to the MRT Pink Line, delays in finalising the technical requirements of the tender in relation to the selection of monorail rolling stock which determines the type of track to be constructed resulted in further delays. The subsequent political turmoil of late 2013 and early 2014 caused even more delays. Thereafter, a coup in May 2014 resulted in a new military administration and the tender being deferred while a review of all mass transit projects was undertaken for a period of 18 months. The MRTA was instructed by the junta government to change to a PPP tender process which was subsequently not released until mid-2016. In early December 2016, The BSR consortium consisting of BTS Group Holdings (75% majority stake) with Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction (STEC), and Ratchaburi Electricity Generation Holding (RATCH), won the bid construct and operate the Yellow Line. The BSR also won the bid to build and operate the MRT Pink Line.[18]
On June 16, 2017, the contract was signed for the project between the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and BSR consortium. The BSR established the Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (EBM) to operate the line. A proposed 2 station extension of the route north from the Lat Phrao terminus to link to the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Ratchayothin station has also been proposed by the BSR Joint Venture.[19] However, this extension is opposed by the MRT Blue Line operator BEM due to concerns regarding loss of revenue.[20]
Construction of the Yellow Line began in March 2018.[21]
The public trial run started on 3 June 2023, between Hua Mak and Samrong. The Phawana-Si Kritha section will open on 12 June,[11] while Lat Phrao station opened on 19 June.[12][13]
BSR selected Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 rolling stock for the Yellow line.[22] The BSR announced that they would purchase 28 4-car sets to operate the Yellow line.[23] The trains were manufactured by CRRC Puzhen Bombardier Transportation Systems (joint venture of Bombardier Transportation and CRRC Nanjing Puzhen) in Wuhu, Anhui, China. The first set was assembled and shipped on 4 September 2020 with delivery to Thailand at the end of September 2020.[24] The first set arrived in Thailand on 1 October 2020 at Laem Chabang port with a handover ceremony attended by the Thai Prime Minister, BTSC Chairman, MRTA and Canadian Ambassador.[25] Two more sets arrived in mid December 2020 for a total of 5 sets by the end of 2020. By July 2021, 8 sets had been delivered and were being tested.[26] As of the end of October 2021, 12 sets had been delivered.[27] By the end of November 2021, the BSR stated that 20 sets had been delivered with the remaining sets expected to be fully delivered by the end of March 2022.[7] However, as of mid April 2022 only 26 sets had been received and were progressing undergoing testing.[28] The remaining sets were expected to be delivered by July 2022.
Aluminium body, steel underframe, composite end cap
4-car sets have a capacity of 24,100 pax p/h each way and 8-car sets a capacity of 49.600 pax p/h each way with a 75-second headway.[30]
Innovia Monorails are all fully automated and are equipped with CITYFLO 650 GOA 4 (Fully Automated Train Control)communications-based train control for driverless operation to increase reliability, shorten head ways between trains and lower maintenance costs.[31]
The BSR stated that the passenger capacity for 4-car sets will be 17,000 passengers per hour each way.
The Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 operates on a narrow, elevated guidebeam. Pre-cast, post-tensioned guidebeams are constructed at an off-site location and later installed on the system. The guidebeams are 690 mm (27 in) wide.[29] The Innovia Monorail 300 was designed to navigate curves as tight as 46 m (151 ft) and a maximum grade of 6%. Monorail switches are either beam replacement or multi-position pivot switches.[32] The system has evacuation walkways down the entire length of the guidebeam. These walkways allow passengers to escape any onboard hazard. The maintenance crew also uses these walkways for repairs and general maintenance to the system.[33]
A proposed 2 station extension of the route north from the current Ratchada terminus to link to the BTS Sukhumvit Line Extension at Ratchayothin station has also been proposed by the BSR Joint Venture.[19] However, this extension is opposed by the MRT Blue Line operator BEM,[20] estimating about 988 million baht loss on the extension's first year of service and 2.7 billion baht throughout the 30-year concession period.[36]
The extension was approved in February 2021, with construction set to be completed in 2024.[37] However, EBM has repeatedly denied MRTA's request to provide a compensation for BEM, which may result in a cancellation of the extension if no decision has been made.[36][38]
The Yellow Line terminates at Samrong. A future extension from Samrong across the Chao Phraya River to link with the MRT Purple Line at Rat Burana was canvassed by the OTP in the early 2010s. However, the location and design of Samrong station excludes any further extension of the line west of Sukhumvit Road.
On 2 January 2024, a guide wheel from one of the trains fell off between Si Thepha Station and Si Dan Station and hit a taxi on Thepharak Road. There were no injuries.[39] Investigations found the cause due to a broken ball bearing socket holding the wheels. The event followed a similar incident a week earlier on the Pink Line, where a 300-meter section of the on conductor rail fell onto the road near Samakkhi station.[40] The following day, trains operated at 55-minute intervals with many complaints from commuters returning to work on the first day after the new year holidays.[41] EBM is expected to be fined heavily for the damage. Service was restored on 4 January with trains running at 15-minute intervals free of charge.[42]
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