The entrance to Huay Kwang station The Bangkok Metro is Bangkok's underground metro system. It was constructed by the Bangkok Metro Co. Ltd (BMCL) under the direction of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The Bangkok Metro is distinct from the elevated Bangkok Skytrain.
Construction of the first line, officially known as the Chaloem Ratchamongkorn Line ("Celebration of Royal Auspice") but informally as the Blue Line, started in 1999. Delayed multiple times, the line finally opened for limited public trial on April 13, 2004, and had its official opening on July 3, 2004. The 21 kilometer, 18 station line presently runs from Bang Sue to Hualamphong, with interchanges to the Skytrain at Silom/Saladaeng, Sukhumvit/Asok and Chatuchak/Mo Chit. The line's capacity is 40,000 people in each direction each hour. Extensions north to Charansanitwongse and Tha Phra and south to Bang Khae are planned, possibly joined up as a ring in the future.
As a curiosity, all of the metro's station entrances/exits were made elevated from the ground level in order to avoid water inundating the system during possible future floods.
The Metro's Thai name is รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร (pronounced 'rotfaifaa mahaa nakhon'), or "metropolitan electric train". It is more commonly known as 'rotfai tai din', literally, "underground train".
Opening
On July 3, 2004 the first line was officially opened at 19:19 local time by King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit. Within 30 minutes, riders reported that the system was filled to capacity, but after the initial crush of sightseers ridership has settled down to around 200,000 riders daily.
Other lines being planned include the Orange Line (Bang Kapi – Samsen) and the Purple Line (Bangyai – Phra Nanklao – Bangsue). Construction will start in 2005 at the earliest.
Operation The system uses an RFID contactless round token system for individual trips, and also a stored value contactless card system for regular travellers.
Crash Incident On January 17, 2005, an empty train collided with a train full of passengers at the Thailand Cultural Centre station. 262 people were injured and the entire system network was closed for two weeks. Criticism has been levelled by authorities and passengers at the operating company for the incident itself, and the slow response of staff which mostly consisted of a classic Thai smile. [1] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4180109.stm)
List of stations - Bang Sue
- Kamphaeng Phet station (named after the town Kamphaeng Phet)
- Chatuchak Park
- Phahon Yotin
- Lat Phrao
- Ratchadaphisek
- Sutthisan
- Huai Khwang
- Thailand Cultural Centre
- Phra Ram 9
- Phetchaburi station (named after the town Phetchaburi)
- Sukhumvit
- Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
- Khlong Toei
- Lumphini
- Silom
- Sam Yan
- Hua Lamphong
External links - Bangkok Metro Company Limited (http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/)
- Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (http://www.mrta.co.th/eng/)
- Unofficial Bangkok Subway site (http://www.bangkoksubway.com)
- Bangkok Mass Transit (http://www.urbanrail.net/as/bang/bangkok.htm)
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