No matter where I travel, I try to experience public transport, especially trains and light rail. You’d think that after living in Sydney for 40 years, I would have had more than my fill, but I still have a fascination with the emerging technologies, and I much prefer a ride in a tram or train to sitting in a traffic jam.
Having visited Bangkok for 20 years, I have noticed the evolution of mass rapid transit in that sprawling city. Despite at least three independent systems (BTS, MRT, and SRT) that initially required circus-like athleticism to negotiate, these once isolated systems are becoming increasingly contiguous.
The best-known of the main trio, the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), began operations in 1999. It greatly relieved the city’s chronic congestion and now carries 750,000 passengers every day.
The Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) added capacity in 2004 and is mostly underground in the central city district. It now carries around 600,000 people daily. It was once a chore to transfer between systems, and one still needs to buy a separate ticket, but accessways have been built, and you no longer have to brave crossing Bangkok’s busy roads. You can also ‘tap on’ now with a credit card, while BTS still requires cash.
The SRT heavy trains are limited in coverage, but you can now access the second airport served by the Low Cost Carriers at Don Muang (DMK) using the Red Line.
On my most recent visit, I was particularly interested in the new Pink Line (main pic above) with its French Alstom driverless monorail system, which adds a ‘ring road’ function north of the city and is actually part of the MRT on a completely new infrastructure. I found it useful for getting to the Impact Exhibition Centre for the Motorshow. This fancy new system began operating in late 2023 and now carries around 50,000 passengers per day. A similar Yellow Line also operates, extending to the south in an extension of the ‘ring’ system.
And what about the Airport Rail Link (ARL)? It’s actually a state-owned system that opened in 2010 and (thankfully) offers a very cost-effective (about AU$1.50) transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). I remember gazing at the stark, empty towers during the stalled construction phase, longing for the chance to avoid the sometimes frustrating taxi rides..It now carries 70,000 daily, which is pretty impressive for a single line. And yes, it can be a pretty tight squeeze sometimes.
You can be sure there will be more expansion to come, as Bangkok's burgeoning population is set to exceed 11.5 million before year’s end. So stay tuned for more cool rail and tram news.
The Hard Facts
- Bangkok's urban transport system is relatively affordable. A single trip on the BTS or MRT costs around 20-40 THB ($0.60-$1.20 USD).
- 10 lines with a total of 190 stations out of the planned 310
- 276.15 km of track, making it one of the most extensive urban rail networks in Asia
The system includes:
- BTS Skytrain: elevated train lines with two main branches, Sukhumvit and Silom
- MRT: underground train lines with multiple branches, including the Blue, Purple, and Orange lines. This system now incorporates the Pink and Yellow Lines driverless monorail.
- ARL: Airport Rail Link connects the city center to Suvarnabhumi Airport
- SRT: Commuter rail connects the city center to outlying suburbs
These lines are operated by different authorities, including the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). This necessitates different fare structures and ticketing systems that can confuse newcomers.
MORE THAILAND TRAVEL TALES
- Amazing Thailand blog from Tourism Thailand Australia
- Thai Travel Tales launched by author and Thailand expert, Stu Lloyd
- Thailand Jing Jing from Julie Miller and her Thai expert friends
Photos by Roderick Eime and as credited
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