View source for Rail transport in Bangkok

== History ==
Bangkok's first rail line was the private [[Paknam Railway]] linking Bangkok to Samut Prakan which opened in 1893. The national railway network was subsequently developed and first opened in 1896, linking Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima and then expanding to reach Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani and Su-ngai Kolok.

Electric trams served the city from 1894 to 1968. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, King [[Rama V]] eagerly built a tram network for Bangkok by employing foreign engineers and technicians, especially Danish engineers. However, due to a lack of interest and maintenance, the tram network was completely scrapped in 1968.

Although proposals for the development of rapid transit in Bangkok had been made since 1975,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rujopakarn|first=Wiroj|date=October 2003|title=Bangkok transport system development: what went wrong?|journal=Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies|volume=5|pages=3302–15}}</ref> leading to plans for the failed [[Lavalin Skytrain]], it was only in 1999 that Thailand's first [[rapid transit]] system, the [[BTS Skytrain]], began operation.

The underground [[MRT (Bangkok)|MRT]] subsequently opened in 2004, the [[Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)|Airport Rail Link]] began operation in 2010, and the [[SRT Red Lines]] began trial operation in 2021.

== Inter-city and high-speed rail ==
{{Main|State Railway of Thailand|}}
[[File:Bang Sue Grand Station Bangkok.jpg|thumb|Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal]]
Bangkok is the location of the [[Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal]], the central rail hub for most long-distance trains as of 2023, as well as the older [[Hua Lamphong Railway Station|Hua Lamphong station]], both operated by the [[State Railway of Thailand]] (SRT). From Bangkok, trains travel on the [[Northern Line (Thailand)|Northern Line]] to [[Chiang Mai]], the [[Northeastern Line (Thailand)|Northeastern Line]] to [[Nong Khai]] and [[Ubon Ratchathani]], and the [[Eastern Line (Thailand)|Eastern Line]] to [[Aranyaprathet]], and the [[Southern Line (Thailand)|Southern Line]], which terminates at [[Su-ngai Kolok]] and has a connection to Malaysia (the other Southern terminus is [[Thon Buri railway station|Thonburi]]). 

=== High-speed rail ===
{{Main|High-speed rail in Thailand|}}

There are multiple planned [[High-speed rail in Thailand|high-speed rail lines in Thailand]]. The [[Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed railway]] and [[Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed railway]] are under construction as of 2023. The [[Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal]] will act as a future hub for all high-speed services.

== Commuter Rail ==
[[File:HUALAPHONG STATION BANGKOK THAILAND JAN 2012 (6859522124).jpg|180px|thumbnail|Commuter rail at [[Hua Lamphong Railway Station]]]]
{{Main|Greater Bangkok Commuter rail|SRT Red Lines}}
In addition to long-distance services, the SRT also operates a few daily commuter trains running from and to the outskirts of the city, and the newer electrified SRT Red Lines.

== Mass Rapid transit (Metro Train System) in Bangkok ==
{{Main|Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region}}

Bangkok is currently served by four rapid transit systems: the BTS Skytrain, the MRT, the Airport Rail Link, and the SRT Red Lines.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="background-color:lightgrey" | System
! style="background-color:lightgrey" | Began operation
! style="background-color:lightgrey" | Lines in operation
! style="background-color:lightgrey" | Lengths in operation
! style="background-color:lightgrey" | Stations in operation
! style="background-color:lightgrey" | Operators
|-
| {{rint|bangkok|bts}} [[BTS Skytrain]]
| 1999
| 3
| 100 km (62<ref>{{Citation |title=BTS Skytrain |date=2024-01-23 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=BTS_Skytrain&oldid=1198187184 |access-date=2024-02-02 |language=en}}</ref>.2 mi)
| 63
| [[Bangkok Mass Transit System|BTSC]] under concession from [[Bangkok Metropolitan Administration|BMA]]
|-
| {{rint|bangkok|mrt}} [[MRT (Bangkok)|MRT]]
| 2004
| 4
| {{convert|135.9|km|abbr=on}}
| 107
| [[Bangkok Expressway and Metro|BEM]] (Blue Line and Purple Line) 
[[Eastern Bangkok Monorail]] (Yellow Line) under concession from [[Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand|MRTA]]
[[Northern Bangkok Monorail]] (Pink Line) under concession from [[Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand|MRTA]]
|- 
| [[File:ARLbangkok.svg|18px|link=Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)]] [[Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)|Airport Rail Link]]
| 2010
| 1
| {{convert|28.6|km|abbr=on}}
| 8
| Asia Era One under concession from [[State Railway of Thailand|SRT]]<ref>{{cite news |title=CP-led group to take over airport link |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2201967/cp-led-group-to-take-over-airport-link |access-date=16 October 2022 |work=Bangkok Post}}</ref>
|-
| [[SRT Red Lines]]
| 2021
| 2
| {{Convert|41|km|mi}}
| 14
| [[State Railway of Thailand|SRT]]
|-
! colspan="2" | Total 
! 10
! {{Convert|275.55|km|abbr=on}}
! 162
|}
[[File:2023versionofbangkokmassrapidtransitmap.png|center|thumb|500px|Map of current & future Bangkok Mass Rapid network as of June 2023]]

=== BTS Skytrain ===
[[File:Bangkok Skytrain 07.jpg|180px|thumb|[[BTS Skytrain]]]]
{{Main|BTS Skytrain}}
The Skytrain consists of three lines, totalling {{convert|70.05|km|mi|sp=us}}: [[Sukhumvit Line]] running southwards from [[Khu Khot BTS station|Khu Khot]] Station along [[Phahon Yothin Road]] and then eastwards along [[Sukhumvit Road]] to Kheha Station in [[Samut Prakan]]. The [[Silom Line]] runs eastwards from National Stadium Station in [[Pathum Wan District]], then southwest along [[Ratchadamri Road|Ratchadamri]], [[Si Lom Road|Si Lom]], [[Narathiwat Ratchanakharin Road|Narathiwat Ratchanakharin]] and [[Sathon Road|Sathon]] Roads, crossing the [[Chao Phraya]] passing Wong Wian Yai Station in [[Khlong San District|Khlong San]] towards Bang Wa Station in [[Phasi Charoen District]]. Both lines are elevated, and interchange at [[Siam Station]] in Pathum Wan. And [[Gold Line (Bangkok)]] which run along [[Charoen Nakhon Road|Charoen Nakhon]] in [[Khlong San District|Khlong San]] from [[Krung Thon Buri Station]] that interchange with Silom Line to [[Khlong San Station]] at the end.

=== MRT (Metro) ===
[[File:MRT Purple Line Train T013 20160806.jpg|thumb|180px|[[MRT Purple Line]]]]
{{Main|MRT (Bangkok)}}
The MRT system opened in July 2004, and currently consists of four lines, the [[MRT Blue Line|Blue Line]] (partially underground heavy rail), [[MRT Purple Line|Purple Line]] (above-ground [[Medium-capacity rail system|medium capacity rail]]) and [[Yellow Line (Bangkok)|Yellow Line]] and [[Pink Line (Bangkok)|Pink Line]] (monorail). The Blue Line runs for {{convert|37.1|km||abbr=}} from Tao Poon Station in a southward arc through the east along [[Ratchadaphisek Road]], via Hua Lamphong, where it connects to the central railway station, to Lak Song. It has 38 stations, and connects to the BTS system at BTS stations Mo Chit, Asok, Sala Daeng and Bang Wa. The Blue Line was  extended to form a circle in 2020. The [[MRT Purple Line|Purple Line]] opened in 2016.

Although initial passenger numbers were low, these systems have become indispensable to many commuters. The BTS reported an average of 392,167 daily trips in 2010, while the MRT had 178,334 passenger trips per day. However, relatively high fare prices have kept these systems inaccessible to a portion of the population. The Pink and Yellow monorail lines opened in 2023.

=== Airport Rail Link ===
{{Main|Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)}}
The Airport Rail Link, opened in August 2010 after many delays, connects the city centre to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan Province to the east. It is operated by the SRT, and offers services between the airport and Makkasan where it connects with Phetchaburi Station of the MRT. It terminates at Phaya Thai Station, where it connects to the BTS. Its eight stations span a distance of {{convert|29|km}}.

=== SRT Red Lines ===
The Red Line Mass Transit System Project is a commuter rail system serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Construction began in January 2009 and free public trial operation began on 2 August 2021, with full commercial service beginning on November 29, 2021 when [[Bang Sue Grand Station]] opened. It consists of two lines, the [[SRT Dark Red Line|Dark Red Line]] and [[SRT Light Red Line|Light Red Line]].

=== Lines in operation ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:20%;" rowspan="2" | Line
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:20%;" rowspan="2" | System
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:5%;" rowspan="2" | Stations
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:5%;" rowspan="2" | Length
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:20%;" rowspan="2" | Terminus
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:5%;" rowspan="2" | Daily ridership
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:5%;" colspan="2" | Began operation
|-
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:9%;" | Initial part
! style="background-color:lightgrey; width:9%;" | Last extension
|-
| {{rcb|BTS Skytrain|Sukhumvit|link}} [[Sukhumvit line]] || rowspan="3" | [[BTS Skytrain]] || style="text-align:center:" | 47 || {{convert|53.58|km|abbr=on}} ||[[Khu Khot BTS station|Khu Khot]] ↔ [[Kheha BTS station|Kheha]] || rowspan="2" | 910,866<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=นิวไฮ! "ศุกร์ 11 ส.ค." ผู้โดยสารใช้บริการรถไฟ-รถไฟฟ้า 1.72 ล้านคน |url=https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/2617700/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=เดลินิวส์ |language=th}}</ref>|| rowspan="2" | 1999 || 2020
|-
| {{rcb|BTS Skytrain|Silom|link}} [[Silom line]] || style="text-align:center:" | 14 || {{convert|14.67|km|abbr=on}}||[[National Stadium BTS Station|National Stadium]] ↔ [[Bang Wa BTS Station|Bang Wa]] || 2021 (infill station)
|-
| {{rcb|BTS Skytrain|Gold|link}} [[Gold Line (Bangkok)|Gold Line]] || style="text-align:center:" | 3 || {{convert|1.8|km|abbr=on}}||[[Krung Thon Buri BTS station|Krung Thon Buri]] ↔ [[Khlong San BTS station|Khlong San]] ||8,091<ref name=":0" />|| 2020 || –
|-
| [[File:MRT (Bangkok) logo.svg|18px|link=Blue Line (Bangkok)]] [[Blue Line (Bangkok)|Blue Line]] || rowspan="4" | [[MRT (Bangkok)|Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT)]] || style="text-align:center:" | 38||{{convert|47|km|abbr=on}}|| [[Tha Phra MRT station|Tha Phra]] ↔ [[Tao Poon MRT station|Tao Poon]] ↔ [[Lak Song MRT station|Lak Song]]|| 498,709<ref name=":0" />|| 2004 || 2019
|-
| [[File:MRT (Bangkok) Purple logo.svg|18px|link=Purple Line (Bangkok)]] [[Purple Line (Bangkok)|Purple Line]] || style="text-align:center:"  | 16|| {{convert|23.6|km|abbr=on}} || [[Khlong Bang Phai MRT Station|Khlong Bang Phai]] ↔ [[Tao Poon MRT Station|Tao Poon]] || 76,171<ref name=":0" />|| 2016 || –
|-
|[[File:MRT (Bangkok) Yellow Logo 01.svg|18px|link=Yellow Line (Bangkok)]] [[Yellow Line (Bangkok)|Yellow Line]]
|23
|{{convert|28.7|km|abbr=on}}
|[[Samrong station|Samrong]] ↔ [[Lat Phrao MRT station|Lat Phrao]]
|43,954<ref name=":0" />
|2023
|
|-
|[[Pink Line (Bangkok)|Pink Line]]
|30
|34.5 km (21.4 mi<ref>{{Cite web |title=รายละเอียดโครงการ – โครงการรถไฟฟ้าสีชมพู |url=https://www.mrta-pinkline.com/project_detail/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |language=th}}</ref>)
|[[Nonthaburi Civic Center MRT station|Nonthaburi Civic Center]] ↔ Min Buri
|
|2023
|
|-
| [[File:ARLbangkok.svg|18px|link=Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)]] [[Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)|Airport Rail Link]] || [[Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)|Airport Rail Link]] || style="text-align:center:" | 8 || {{convert|28.6|km|abbr=on}}||[[Phaya Thai Station|Phaya Thai]] ↔ [[Suvarnabhumi Station|Suvarnabhumi]] || 76,097<ref name=":0" />|| 2010 || –
|-
| [[File:SRT Bangkok Commuter Rail Dark Red Line Logo.svg|18px|link=SRT Dark Red Line]] [[SRT Dark Red Line|Dark Red Line]] 
| rowspan="2" | [[SRT Red Lines]]
| 10
| {{convert|26|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Bang Sue Grand Station|Bang Sue]] ↔ Rangsit
| rowspan="2" |27,337<ref name=":0" />
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| rowspan="2" | –
|-
| [[File:SRT Bangkok Commuter Rail Light Red Line Logo.svg|18px|link=SRT Light Red Line]] [[SRT Light Red Line|Light Red Line]]
| 4
| {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Bang Sue Grand Station|Bang Sue]] ↔ [[Taling Chan railway station|Taling Chan]]
|-
! colspan="3" | Total 
! {{Convert|238.95|km|abbr=on}}
|}

=== Future expansion ===
{{Main|Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region}}
{{see also|BTS Skytrain#Future extension plans|MRT (Bangkok)#Expansion_plans}}

The entire [[Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region]] consists of eight main lines and four feeder lines totalling {{convert|508|km}} to be completed by 2029.

New lines under construction are the [[Orange Line (Bangkok)|Orange Line]] and an extension to the [[Purple Line (Bangkok)|Purple Line]] and extensions to the [[Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)|Airport Rail Link]].

=== Rolling stock ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Line
! Class (family{{efn|If applicable only}})
! Image
! Manufacturer(s)
! Manufactured in
|-
| rowspan="4" | {{Legend2|#{{rcr|BTS Skytrain|Sukhumvit}}}} [[Sukhumvit line]]<br />{{Legend2|#{{rcr|BTS Skytrain|Silom}}}} [[Silom line]]
| EMU-A1 ([[Siemens Modular Metro|Modular Metro]])
| [[File:EMU-A1 Train No23 .jpg|150px]]
| [[Siemens Mobility]]<br />[[Simmering-Graz-Pauker|SGP Verkehrstechnik]]
| {{flag|Austria}}<br />{{flag|Germany}}
|-
| EMU-A2
| [[File:BTS EMU-A2 arriving at Ha Yaek Lat Phrao Station.jpg|150px]]
| Siemens Mobility<br />[[Bozankaya]]
| {{flag|Turkey}}
|-
| EMU-B1 and EMU-B2
| [[File:Bangkok Skytrain 05.jpg|150px]]
| [[CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles|CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flag|China}}
|-
| EMU-B3
| [[File:EMU-B3 77.jpg|150px]]
| CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{Legend2|#{{rcr|MRT|Blue}}}} [[Blue Line (Bangkok)|Blue Line]]
| EMU-IBL (Modular Metro)
| [[File:MRT blue Line Train 14 20180917.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="3" | Siemens Mobility
| {{flag|Austria}}
|-
| EMU-BLE (Modular Metro)
| [[File:MRT-BLUELINE-BLE.jpg|150px]]
| {{flag|Austria}}<br />{{flag|Germany}}
|-
| {{Legend2|#{{rcr|ARL|ARL}}}} [[Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)|Airport Rail Link]]
| Modified [[British Rail Class 360|Class 360]] ([[Siemens Desiro|Desiro]])
| [[File:ARL Bangkok CityLine1.JPG|150px]]<br />[[File:ARL Bangkok Express1.JPG|150px]]
| {{flag|Germany}}
|-
| {{Legend2|#{{rcr|MRT|Purple}}}} [[Purple Line (Bangkok)|Purple Line]]
| S24-EMU ({{ill|J-TREC sustina|ja|sustina|lt=sustina}})
| [[File:MRT Purple Line Train T013 20160806.jpg|150px]]
| [[Japan Transport Engineering Company]]
| rowspan="3" | {{flag|Japan}}
|-
| {{Legend2|#{{rcr|SRT Red Lines|Dark red}}}} [[SRT Dark Red Line|Dark Red Line]]
| 1000 series ([[Hitachi A-train|AT100]])
| [[File:SRTRedline 1000series WiteePhotography. For wikipedia.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Hitachi#Hitachi Rail|Hitachi Rail]]
|-
| {{Legend2|#{{rcr|SRT Red Lines|Light red}}}} [[SRT Light Red Line|Light Red Line]]
| 2000 series ([[Hitachi A-train|AT100]])
| [[File:SRTRedline 2000series WiteePhotography. For wikipedia.jpg|150px]]
|-
| {{legend2|#{{rcr|BTS Skytrain|Gold}}}} [[Gold Line (Bangkok)|Gold Line]]
| [[Innovia APM|INNOVIA APM 300]]
| [[File:Gold Line APM at Krung Thonburi 01.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Bombardier Transportation]]<br />[[CRRC Nanjing Puzhen]]
| rowspan="3" | {{flag|China}}
|-
| {{Legend2|#{{rcr|MRT|Pink}}}} [[Pink Line (Bangkok)|Pink Line]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Innovia Monorail|INNOVIA Monorail 300]]
| [[File:Mrt-pinkline-testing.jpg|150px]]
|-
| {{Legend2|#{{rcr|MRT|Yellow}}}} [[Yellow Line (Bangkok)|Yellow Line]]
| [[File:Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 YellowLine.jpg|150px]]
|}

=== Ticketing and fare rates ===

==== MRT Blue line ====
There are many types of stored value cards separated by passengers' age. Elder card is for over 65 years olds and provides 50% discount from the full fare. Student card is for under 23 years olds and provides 10% discount from the full fare. Child card is for under 14 years olds and under 120&nbsp;cm tall and provides 50% discount from the full fare. Adult card is for everyone doesn't provide any discount from the full fare.

The fare rates are counted by the number of stations, starting from 16 Baht for a station, increasing by 2-3 Baht for each station up to 42 Baht for 17 stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/ticket.aspx?Menu=11&Lang=En|title=Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited|website=www.bangkokmetro.co.th|access-date=2017-05-04}}</ref>

==== MRT Purple line ====
Use the stored value cards as [[Blue Line (Bangkok)|MRT Blue Line]]. The fare rates start from 15 Baht for a station, increasing 1 Baht for each station up to 29 Baht for 15 stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/ticket.aspx?Menu=200&Lang=En|title=Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited|website=www.bangkokmetro.co.th|access-date=2017-05-04}}</ref>

For the passengers that don't have cards, the fare rates start from 17 Baht for a station, increasing 2-3 Baht for each station, then reach the maximum values at 42 Baht for 11 stations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pantip.com/topic/35237256|title=เอาตารางราคา ค่าโดยสารรถไฟฟ้าสายสีม่วงมาให้ดูครับ (จากแผ่นพับ)|work=Pantip|access-date=2017-05-04|language=th}}</ref>

==== Airport Rail Link ====
For the city line, the fare rates start from 15 Baht for a station, increase 5 Baht for each station up to 45 Baht for 7 stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://portal.rotfaithai.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=4962|title=Rotfaithai.Com Forums-viewtopic-แอร์พอร์ต เรล ลิงค์เตรียมให้บริการระบบเช็คอินและขนส่งสัมภาระแล้ว|last=Rotfaithai.Com|website=portal.rotfaithai.com|access-date=2017-05-04}}</ref>

==== BTS ====
[[BTS Skytrain|BTS]] (not to be confused with [[BTS|K-pop group]]) has its own stored value cards called "[[Rabbit Card|Rabbit card]]". There are 3 types of [[Rabbit Card|Rabbit card]]: adult, student, and senior, with 100 Baht initial stored value.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://card.rabbit.co.th/en|title=About Rabbit Card|website=Rabbit|access-date=2017-05-04}}</ref>

BTS fare rates start from 16 Baht. The costs is based on the distance travelled. Travelling between Wongwian Yai - Bang Wa stations, On-Nut - Bearing stations cost 15 Baht. 15 baht will also be added when travelling between these stations to the other station on the main line. There are now currently free access between Khu Khot - Mo Chit stations, and Bearing - Kheha stations which will not cost any money.

== See also ==
*[[Rail transport in Thailand]]
*[[Rapid transit in Thailand]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Rail transport in Bangkok}}

{{Public transport in Bangkok}}
{{Urban public transport in Thailand}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rail Transport In Bangkok}}
[[Category:Rail transport in Bangkok| ]]
[[Category:Public transport in Thailand]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Thailand|Bangkok Rail Transport]]
[[Category:Rapid transit in Bangkok]]