Skytrain approaching Sala Daeng Station

Skytrain leaving Asok Station

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) or Skytrain (Thai: รถไฟฟ้า, rot fai fa, meaning "sky train") is the elevated metro system in Bangkok, Thailand, operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The Skytrain with 23 stations along 2 lines, was opened on December 5, 1999 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The Sukhumvit line (light green) runs northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and On Nut respectively; the Silom line (dark green) plies Silom and Sathon, the Central Business District of Bangkok, terminating at the National Stadium and the Taksin Bridge. The lines interchange at Siam station and have a combined route distance of 23 km. The Skytrain is formally known as the Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday (รถไฟฟ้าเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 6 รอบ พระชนมพรรษา) because it was opened to the public on HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 72nd birthday. BTS Skytrain approaching Sala Daeng Station near the famous Patpong district of Bangkok, picture taken by User:GCOM 2004-10-30 and released in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... BTS Skytrain approaching Sala Daeng Station near the famous Patpong district of Bangkok, picture taken by User:GCOM 2004-10-30 and released in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1020 KB) Summary Train leaving Asok Station for On Nut. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1020 KB) Summary Train leaving Asok Station for On Nut. ... Metro is: a general term, synonymous with rapid transit, subway or underground, for an urban underground rail public transit system (see list of rapid transit systems); any of several specific public transport systems, including: Bi-State Development Agency in Missouri and Illinois, d/b/a Metro since 2003 Buffalo Metro... The Bangkok Skytrain at sunset on Thanon Narathiwat Ratcha Nakharin with Empire Tower at the back. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (Thai: สมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา เจ้าฟ้ามหาจักรีสิรินธร รัฐสีมาคุณากรปิยชาติ สยามบรมราชกุมารี – Som det phra thep phra rat raat cha su daa Chao fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Ratha si ma ku na korn pi ya chat Siam ba rom ma raat cha ku maa ree), Princess of Thailand, of the Chakri Dynasty, was born... King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; IPA: ; ) (born December 5, 1927), also known as King Rama IX and the Ninth Rama, has been King of Thailand since 9 June 1946. ...

Bangkok also has a subway system called the MRT or unofficially the Metro. The entrance to Huai Kwang station The Bangkok Metro, officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), is Bangkoks underground metro system. ...

History

The system was initially referred to as the Lavalin Skytrain because it was to be designed using the Vancouver SkyTrain as a model adopting the technology developed by SNC Lavalin. Due to 'political interference', the project was cancelled in 1992, in spite of Bangkok's chronic traffic congestion. The Thai Government focused on increasing road and expressway infrastructure in an attempt to combat congestion. However, this had less than the desired impact as the number of cars on the road increased dramatically. The platform at Metrotown Station in Burnaby is one of the busiest in the SkyTrain system. ...

In the early 1990s, foundations for the Lavalin Skytrain were constructed in the middle of two bridges spanning the Chao Phraya river. The Taksin bridge now supports the under-construction Silom line to Thon Buri, scheduled be completed by late 2006. The support at Phra Pokklao bridge remain unused but may be utilised as part of the MRT's future Purple Line. A view of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok The Chao Phraya (Thai แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา) is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial river plain marking the mainland of the country. ... Thonburi (ธนบุรี) was capital of Thailand for a short time during the reign of King Taksin, after the previous capital Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese. ... The entrance to Huai Kwang station The Bangkok Metro, officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), is Bangkoks underground metro system. ...

Shortly after the cancellation of Lavalin Skytrain, then-governvor Major-General Chamlong Srimuang revived the project with a slightly different route and Siemens technology. The 'Skytrain' name was kept even though the portion of system through the historic Rattana Kosin island will be below grade. Siemens AG (FWB:SIE, NYSE: SI) is the worlds largest electronics company. ...

Originally, the Skytrain depot was to be built below Lumphini Park, but due to widespread objections from Bangkok residents it was constructed on a parcel of land located along Phahon Yothin Road, replacing the old Northern/Northeastern bus terminal (Mo Chit). The current depot at Mo Chit is a part of the proposed 'Bangkok Terminal' project, where a large complex comprising a new regional bus terminal, park & ride facility and other commercial development can be built directly above it. Lumphini park Lumphini (Thai ลุมพินี) is one of the 154 sub-districts (kwaeng) of Bangkok, covering the area around the Lumphini Park. ...

Thanayong Public Company Limited (Thai บริษัท ธนายง จำกัด (มหาชน)) had a 28.21% stake in BTSC when the Skytrain began, and therefore in its early days the system was sometimes referred to as the "Thanayong Skytrain".

The Skytrain initially had lower-than-predicted ridership, with 200,000 passenger trips per day. Ticket revenue was only enough to meet the trains' operating cost, and not sufficient to service construction loans. However, the Skytrain's daily passenger numbers have steadily increased since then. On December 9, 2005, more than 500,000 single trips were made on the Skytrain in a single day for the first time. BTSC is currently planning to purchase more trains and is studying the possibility of putting 6-car trains into service. The company will implement a contactless ticketing system in 2006, allowing both BTS and MRT passengers to use their RFID smart cards as joint tickets starting in 2007.

Station Layout

A train at the platform of Saphan Taksin station.

Central platform at Siam Station.

All the stations to the skytrain are elevated. The platforms are built to accommodate trains of 6 cars, but currently (2006) trains of only 3 cars are in operation. The first elevated level of the stations is accessed with stairs and often escalators, and contain the ticket booths, some small kiosk like shops and access control gates. The second level (and third at Siam station) is again accessed with stairs and escalators and contains the platforms and rails. Siam station is unique in the way that it is the only BTS station utilizing an island platform to facilitate transfer between lines. All of the other stations are built with side platforms. Additionally, many stations are equipped with ramps and elevators which allow wheelchair-bound passengers to access the ticketing hall and platform from the street level. The distance between doors is equal throughout the train, regardless of whether they are in the same or different cars and the locations where the doors will be after the train has stopped are marked on the platform. For security and safety, security personnel are stationed at every platform and all ticketing halls. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (814x722, 126 KB) Summary Taken by Colin Chia in November 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (814x722, 126 KB) Summary Taken by Colin Chia in November 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1063 KB) Summary Platform of the Siam Station (Central Station). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1063 KB) Summary Platform of the Siam Station (Central Station). ...

Three Skytrain stations, Sala Daeng, Asok and Mo Chit, serve as interchanges with the MRT. Saphan Taksin station is connected to the adjacent Sathon pier where the all Chao Phraya Express Boat river services call. Many stations are linked by 'Skybridges' (overhead pedestrian walkways) to neighbouring buildings and public amenities. This artical is about Sathon district, see below for information about Sathon Road. ...

Consumption of food or drink is forbidden.

Ticketing

For single-trip and store-value ticket holders fares are calculated according to distance, but adult / student / tourist passes for limited / unlimited train rides are also available. Although it currently uses magnetic farecards, which require replacement once every 2 years, the Skytrain will be adopting RFID contactless technology in its ticketing system, similar to those presently being used in the MRT. The entrance to Huai Kwang station The Bangkok Metro, officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), is Bangkoks underground metro system. ...

Station list

Sukhumvit Line

Bangkok Skytrain Route Map

• Mo Chit – interchange with the Metro (Chatuchak Park station), named for the old Mo Chit Bus Terminal
• Saphan Khwai
• Sena Ruam (planned)
• Ari
• Sanam Pao
• Victory Monument (Anutsawari Chai Samoraphum)
• Phaya Thai – interchange with Suvarnabhumi (Suwannaphum) Airport Rail Link (Light Red Line) in late 2007
• Ratchathewi; named for the Ratchathewi district
• Siam – interchange with Silom Line; named for its proximity to Siam Square; foot bridge to Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Central World Plaza shopping complexes
• Chit Lom – Erawan Shrine; foot bridge to Central Chitlom department store, Gaysorn (Keson) Centre shopping mall and Central World Plaza
• Phloen Chit – foot bridge to Wave Place
• Nana
• Asok – interchange the Metro (Sukhumvit station), foot bridge to Sheraton Grand hotel and Robinson department store.
• Phrom Phong – Benjasiri Park; bridge to The Emporium shopping mall
• Thong Lo – Japanese district; named for the Thong Lo street.
• Ekkamai – Eastern Bus Terminal
• Phra Khanong; named for the Phra Khanong district
• On Nut – foot bridge to Tesco Lotus

Download high resolution version (1049x1009, 358 KB)Bangkok Skytrain Route Map by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited This work is copyrighted. ... Download high resolution version (1049x1009, 358 KB)Bangkok Skytrain Route Map by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited This work is copyrighted. ... Chatuchak Park Chatuchak Park (Thai สวนจตุจักร) is the name of a public park in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, Thailand. ... Ratchathewi (Thai ราชเทวี) is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. ... Siam Square is a shopping and entertainment area in Bangkok, Thailand. ... Siam Paragon Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, located near the Siam Square. ... Flowers and incense around the shrine The Erawan Shrine (Thai ศาลพระพรหม, read San Phra Phrom) is a Hindu shrine housing the image of Brahma. ... The entrance to Huai Kwang station The Bangkok Metro, officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), is Bangkoks underground metro system. ... The Emporium is a giant upscale shopping mall in Bangkok , Thailand , which opened in 1997. ... The introduction of this article does not provide enough context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. ... Phra Khanong (Thai พระโขนง) is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. ... Tesco Lotus logo Tesco Lotus is a hypermarket chain in Thailand. ...

Silom Line

• National Stadium (Suphachalasai Stadium สนามกีฬาศุภชลาศัย) – foot bridge to MBK Center, Siam Discovery Centre
• Siam – foot bridge to Siam Center, Siam Paragon, Central World Plaza
• Ratchadamri
• Sala Daeng – interchange with the Metro (Si Lom station); foot bridge to Robinson. Patpong Night market is within walking distance
• Chong Nonsi
• Sueksa Witthaya (planned)
• Surasak
• Saphan Taksin – interchange with the Chao Phraya Express Boat (Sathon pier)
• Charoen Nakhon (to be opened December 2006)
• Wongwian Yai (to be opened December 2006)

MBK Center, Bangkok MBK Center is an enormous marble mall which opened in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1985. ... Siam Paragon Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, located near the Siam Square. ...

Route Extension

The System Map of the Proposed Bangkok Rail Transit Network

The Master Plan of Bangkok Transport System

Planned extensions to the Skytrain remain stalled. The viaduct for the extension to Thonburi is complete, but no permission has been received to lay rails on the viaduct or to build stations, while the extension to Samut Prakan has not been able to start construction despite nearly 10 years of planning. Download high resolution version (2000x1557, 1463 KB)The Unofficial System Map of Bangkok Rail Transit Network (Version 6. ... Download high resolution version (2000x1557, 1463 KB)The Unofficial System Map of Bangkok Rail Transit Network (Version 6. ... Download high resolution version (1596x2000, 1626 KB)The Unofficial Master Plan of Bangkok Transport System (Version 7. ... Download high resolution version (1596x2000, 1626 KB)The Unofficial Master Plan of Bangkok Transport System (Version 7. ... Thon Buri (ธนบุรี) was capital of Thailand for a short time during the reign of King Taksin, after the previous capital Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese. ... Amphoe Mueang Samut Prakan is the capital district of Samut Prakan province in Thailand. ...

The Thai press has alleged that the ruling Thai Rak Thai party is intentionally obstructing progress, since the Skytrain is partly controlled by the opposition Democrat Party-linked Ch. Karnchang group and has refused government initiatives to be nationalized. [1] Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Thai political parties ...

Since 2002, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has requested the cabinet to amend a law in order to allow a private firm to finance the cost of operating the train system, while the government takes care of all the civil engineering works. The government has not responded to this request. Many accuse the government, controlled by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party, of stalling the Skytrain extentions in order to punish the BMA, which is controlled by the opposition Democrat Party, by doing so hoping to prevent the Democrats from gaining popularity among Bangkok residents. On October 18, 2005, with no approval from the central government forthcoming, the BMA decided to seek to complete the Wong Wian Yai extension using its own budget. Prime Minister Thaksin has pledged to make every effort to block the BMA's move[2] but his attempt backfired, resulting in a plunge of popularity for his beleaguered Thai Rak Thai party among Bangkok voters, particularly in the Thonburi wards. The Bangkok Skytrain at sunset on Thanon Narathiwat Ratcha Nakharin with Empire Tower at the back. ... The following is a list of Prime Ministers of Thailand: Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, (1932-1933) General Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena, (1933-1938) Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, (1938-1944) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1944-1945) Tawee Boonyaket, (1945) Seni Pramoj, (1945) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1946) Luang Praditmanutham, (1946) Rear Admiral Thawal Thamrong Navaswadhi... Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thaksin Shinawatra (Thai: ทักษิณ ชินวัตร, IPA: [ ; born July 26, 1949), Thai politician, is the current caretaker prime minister of Thailand and the leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Thai political parties ... Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thaksin Shinawatra (Thai: ทักษิณ ชินวัตร, IPA: [ ; born July 26, 1949), Thai politician, is the current caretaker prime minister of Thailand and the leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ...

Constructions of the 2.2 km Silom Line route extension (S7 Charoen Nakhon & S8 Wongwian Yai) began on December 13, 2005 and is expected to be completed within a year. Led by Governor Apirak Kosayothin, the BMA completed the Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) on other proposed extensions in early December 2005 and is currently seeking financial support from the central government on four other extension routes. If granted, priorities will be given to the E9 On Nut - Samrong (Soi Sukhumvit 119) and S8 Wongwian Yai - Bang Wa (Th. Phetchakasem) extensions and construction could begin immediately.

The extension plan for the BTS can be summarised as follows:

Phase I

• On Nut – Samrong (terminating at Sukhumvit Soi 119) – 8.9 km
• Saphan Taksin – Wong Wian Yai (terminating at Th. Somdet Chao Phraya) – 2.2 km

Samrong (Thai สำโรง) may refer to the following an area in northern Samut Prakan Province along the Sukhumvit Road a district of Ubon Ratchathani Province, see Amphoe Samrong a beach in the north-east corner of Ko Samui This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might...

Phase II

• Samrong – Samut Prakan – 7.9 km
• Wong Wian Yai – Bang Wa (terminating at Th. Phetchakasem) – 6.7 km
• National Stadium – Phran Nok (terminating at Th. Charan Sanit Wong) – 6.8 km
• Mo Chit – Saphan Mai – 12 km

It is estimated that most of the extension plans above will be completed by 2010 or 2012 at the latest. Note that these plans do not include the extensions proposed for the MRT. Amphoe Mueang Samut Prakan is the capital district of Samut Prakan province in Thailand. ...

Maps of the existing lines and proposed extension plans

• Download the System Map of Bangkok Rail Transit Network in PDF format
• Download the Master Plan of Bangkok Transport Network in PDF format

External links

• Bangkok Transit System
• 2Bangkok.com Skytrain site
• UrbanRail.net: Bangkok