Sukhumvit line

The Sukhumvit line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้า สายสุขุมวิท) or Light Green line, is an elevated metro rail line of the BTS Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand. From the central Siam Station, where it connects with the Silom Line, the line runs both northwards along Phaya Thai and Phahon Yothin Roads to Khu Khot in Lam Luk Ka District in Pathum Thani, and eastwards along Rama I, Phloen Chit and Sukhumvit Roads, through Bang Na District to Kheha Station in Samut Prakan. BTS daily ridership (2019) is 740,000 passengers per day.^[3]

BTS Sukhumvit line สายสุขุมวิท
Two BTS Skytrains heading to both directions.
Overview
Owner	Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)
Locale	Bangkok, Samut Prakan Province, and Pathum Thani Province
Termini	Khu Khot Kheha
Stations	47
Color on map	Light Green
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	BTS Skytrain
Operator(s)	Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited
Depot(s)	Mo Chit, Kheha, Khu Khot
Rolling stock	Siemens Modular Metro EMU-A1 35 trains Siemens Bosankaya EMU-A2 22 trains CNR Changchun EMU-B1 12 trains CNR Changchun EMU-B2 5 trains CRRC Changchun EMU-B3 24 trains
History
Opened	5 December 1999
Technical
Line length	54.25 km (33.71 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Signalling	Bombardier CITYFLO 450 moving block CBTC ATC under ATO GoA 2 (STO), with subsystems of ATP, ATS and CBI^[1]^[2]
Route map Legend Khu Khot Yaek Kor Por Aor Royal Thai Air Force Museum Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital Saphan Mai Sai Yud Phahon Yothin 59 Wat Phra Sri Mahathat 11th Infantry Regiment Bang Bua Royal Forest Department Kasetsart University Sena Nikhom Ratchayothin Phahon Yothin 24 Ha Yaek Lat Phrao  MRT  Blue Line to Lak Song Don Mueang Tollway Main depot Mo Chit  MRT  Saphan Khwai Sena Ruam (future) Ari Sanam Pao Si Rat Expressway Victory Monument Phaya Thai  ARL  Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi SRT Eastern Line to Bangkok │ to Chachoengsao Ratchathewi Silom Line to National Stadium Siam  BTS  Silom Line to Bang Wa Chit Lom Phloen Chit Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway Nana Asok Blue Line to Tha Phra (via Bang Sue) Phrom Phong Thong Lo Ekkamai Phra Khanong Chalong Rat Expressway On Nut Bang Chak Punnawithi Udom Suk Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway Third stage Expressway System Bang Na Bearing Samrong  MRT  Pu Chao Kanchanapisek Expressway Chang Erawan Royal Thai Naval Academy Pak Nam Srinagarindra Phraek Sa Sai Luat Kheha This diagram: view talk edit

History

The first part of the line opened in December 1999 and consisted of seventeen stations from Mo Chit to On Nut. Currently, there are 47 stations in operation for 54.25 km (33.71 mi)^[4] from origin to destination. Its formal name is The Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday 1st line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้าเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 6 รอบพระชนมพรรษา สาย 1).^[5]

Stations

Further information: List of rapid transit stations in Bangkok

A planned station at N6 has never been built.

Code	Station Name		Transfers	Location
	English	Thai
	Khu Khot	คูคต		Lam Luk Ka	Pathum Thani
	Yaek Kor Por Aor (RTGS: Yaek Kho Po O)	แยกคปอ.		Don Mueang	Bangkok
	Royal Thai Air Force Museum (RTGS: Phiphithaphan Kong Thap Akat)	พิพิธภัณฑ์กองทัพอากาศ
	Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital (RTGS: Rong Phayaban Phumiphon Adunyadet)	โรงพยาบาลภูมิพล-อดุลยเดช
	Saphan Mai	สะพานใหม่		Bang Khen
	Sai Yud (RTGS: Sai Yut)	สายหยุด
	Phahon Yothin 59 (RTGS: Phahon Yothin Ha Sip Kao)	พหลโยธิน 59
	Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (RTGS: Wat Phra Si Mahathat)	วัดพระศรีมหาธาตุ	MRT
	11th Infantry Regiment (RTGS: Krom Thahan Rap Thi Sip Et)	กรมทหารราบที่ 11
	Bang Bua	บางบัว		Chatuchak
	Royal Forest Department (RTGS: Krom Pa Mai)	กรมป่าไม้
	Kasetsart University (RTGS: Maha Witthayalai Kasetsat)	มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์
	Sena Nikhom	เสนานิคม
	Ratchayothin	รัชโยธิน
	Phahon Yothin 24 (RTGS: Phahonyothin Yisip Si)	พหลโยธิน 24
	Ha Yaek Lat Phrao	ห้าแยกลาดพร้าว	MRT  Phahon Yothin
	Mo Chit	หมอชิต	MRT  Chatuchak Park
	Saphan Khwai	สะพานควาย		Phaya Thai
	Sena Ruam	เสนาร่วม^[6]
	Ari	อารีย์
	Sanam Pao	สนามเป้า
	Victory Monument (RTGS: Anusawari Chai Samoraphum)	อนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ		Ratchathewi
	Phaya Thai	พญาไท	ARL
	Ratchathewi	ราชเทวี
	Siam (RTGS: Sayam)	สยาม	BTS	Pathum Wan
	Chit Lom	ชิดลม
	Phloen Chit	เพลินจิต
	Nana	นานา		Khlong Toei and Watthana
	Asok	อโศก	MRT  Sukhumvit
	Phrom Phong	พร้อมพงษ์
	Thong Lo	ทองหล่อ
	Ekkamai	เอกมัย
	Phra Khanong	พระโขนง
	On Nut	อ่อนนุช
	Bang Chak	บางจาก		Phra Khanong
	Punnawithi	ปุณณวิถี
	Udom Suk	อุดมสุข		Bang Na
	Bang Na	บางนา
	Bearing (RTGS: Baering)	แบริ่ง
	Samrong	สำโรง	MRT	Mueang Samut Prakan	Samut Prakan
	Pu Chao	ปู่เจ้า
	Chang Erawan	ช้างเอราวัณ
	Royal Thai Naval Academy (RTGS: Rongrian Nairuea)	โรงเรียนนายเรือ
	Pak Nam	ปากน้ำ
	Srinagarindra (RTGS: Si Nakharin)	ศรีนครินทร์
	Phraek Sa (RTGS: Phraekkasa)	แพรกษา
	Sai Luat	สายลวด
	Kheha	เคหะฯ

Services

BTS operates services throughout the line from Khu Khot to Kheha at all times. At peak hours between 07.00-09.00 and 16.00-20.00, some "short-run" services run terminate at Mo Chit and Kasetsart University northbound, and at Samrong, eastbound. Trains run generally at three to six-minute intervals. The last eastbound trains from Khu Khot terminate at Kheha, Samrong or Ha Yaek Lat Phrao. The last northbound trains from Kheha terminate at Khu Khot, Mo Chit, or Samrong.

A few off-peak eastbound trains run a through service on the Silom Line to Bang Wa, in order to increase the line capacity at peak hours. At night, these trains will run back northbound and head to depot.^[7] Some late northbound trains on the Silom line switch to the Sukhumvit line at Siam to reach the depot at Mo Chit.

Extensions and current construction

 

Station sign at Thong Lo BTS station shows the extension beyond Samrong which opened in 2018.

Summary of BTS Sukhumvit extensions

• 12 August 2011: On Nut (E09) – Bearing (E14)
• 3 April 2017: Bearing (E14) – Samrong (E15)
• 6 December 2018: Samrong (E15) – Kheha (E23)
• 9 August 2019: Mo Chit (N8) – Ha Yaek Lat Phrao (N9)
• 4 December 2019: Ha Yaek Lat Phrao (N9) – Kasetsart University (N13)
• 5 June 2020: Kasetsart University (N13) – Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17)
• 16 December 2020 Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17) – Khu Khot (N24).

East

1st extension to Bearing Construction started in August 2006 on a four billion baht, 5.25 km (3.26 mi) extension from On Nut (E9) to Bearing.^[8] The extension was funded by the BMA.^[9] The original scheduled opening date was mid-2009. However, a delay in tendering of the contract for the electrical and signalling works resulted in a two-year delay.

The extension did not open until over two years later, on 12 August 2011. The delay in opening prompted the BMA to offer free travel for this extension until the end of 2011 as compensation. An additional flat fee is charged additionally to the distance-based fare of the rest of the BTS network.

2nd extension to Kheha Construction started in April 2012 on a 12.6 km (7.8 mi), nine station extension from Bearing station to Kheha station. The extension was funded by the MRTA as it is outside BMA city limits, Bangkok Province. Construction was contracted to take 1,350 days and the extension was originally scheduled to open by early 2017. In April 2013, the MRTA awarded Ch Karnchang the contract for track laying and electrical systems.^[10]

In June 2014, civil works were stated to be 28.3 percent complete. In August 2016, the BMA agreed to take over the operation of the extension from MRTA. Delays over the agreement of how much the BMA should pay MRTA caused a delay in the commencement of test runs on the extension. Track works were 98% completed by November 2016. The total cost of the extension was estimated at 21.4 billion baht.^[11] In January 2017, it was announced that the opening of the extension could be further delayed to 2018-2019 due to budgetary concerns and ongoing disputes between the MRTA and BMA.^[12]

The first 1.2 km (0.75 mi) section of the extension to Samrong station (E15) opened on 3 April 2017.^[13] The full extension to Kheha opened on 6 December 2018.^[14]

North

 

Map of North Extension at Thong Lo station. Station N9 was opened on 9 August 2019 and stations N10 to N24 opened in 2020.

1st and 2nd extension

• 1) Mo Chit station to Saphan Mai: 11.4 km, 12 stations (N9–N20)
• 2) Saphan Mai to Khu Khot: 7.5 km, four stations (N21-N24)

An 11.4 km, 11 station northern extension from Mo Chit station to Saphan Mai in Don Mueang District had been planned since the Sukhumvit line opened. Originally, this extension was scheduled to be completed by 2008. However, due to a combination of changes in government, a prolonged environmental study, and problems with locating a suitable train depot the extension was continually delayed. A further 16.5 km (10.3 mi), nine station extension from Saphan Mai to Khu Khot was also planned once the extension to Saphan Mai had been completed.

After multiple delays, in mid-2013 a decision was made to tender extensions (1) and (2) at the same time, by the end of 2013. However, the dissolution of parliament in November 2013 delayed this yet again. A tender was finally released in January 2014^[15] with an April deadline before being delayed until late May 2014 due to concerns from bidders.^[16] A military coup in late-May 2014 suspended the bidding process whilst the military administration reviewed all major projects. In late June, the military administration affirmed that the tender would proceed before the end of 2014. In August 2014, the MRTA announced that the new tender deadline was 30 September 2014.^[17] Five bidders qualified and the successful bids were announced in December 2014.^[18] The tender specified a construction period of 1,350 days.

On 3 April 2015, MRTA signed four contracts for this extension:^[19]

• Contract 1: Civil works of 11.4 km from Mo Chit to Saphan Mai, will be constructed by Italian-Thai Development (15,269 million baht)
• Contract 2: Civil works of 7.5 km from Saphan Mai to Khu Khot, will be constructed by UN-SH-CH joint venture (6,657 million baht)
• Contract 3: Civil works of Depot and Park and Ride building, will be constructed by STEC-AS joint venture (4,019 million baht)
• Contract 4: Tracklaying and system design, will be constructed by STEC-AS joint venture (2,841 million baht)

The MRTA, contactors and Thai Traffic Police met on 2 September 2015 and confirmed construction would begin on 8 September 2015. A flyover at Kasetsart was demolished, which commenced on 12 September 2015.^[20]

At 31 December 2017, the progress of civil works construction was at 53.31% according to the MRTA.^[21] As of the end of April 2018, the MRTA stated that civil works progress had advanced to 63.27%.^[22] As of 30 September, overall construction had progressed to 78.79%.^[23] By the end of March 2019, civil construction had nearly been completed having progressed to 99.42%.^[24]

Testing of the final 9.8 km, 7 station section from Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17) to Khu Khot (N24) began on 5 October and will continue until the full extension opens.^[25] The final section will be officially opened on 16 December 2020 by the Prime Minister.^[26]

Opening dates

1. The first section to Ha Yaek Lat Phrao station (N9) opened on 9 August 2019.
2. The next 4 stations from a Yaek Lat Phrao station (N9) to Kasetsart University (N13) opened on 4 December 2019.
3. The next 4 stations from Kasetsart University (N13) to Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17) opened on 5 June 2020.
4. The remaining section of 9.8 km and 7 stations from Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17) to Khu Khot (N24) opened on 16 December 2020.

Future extension plans

East:

• A further 7 km, four station extension from Kheha station to Bang Pu station is planned.

Code	Station Name		Transfers	Location
	English	Thai
	Sawangkhaniwat	สวางคนิวาส		Mueang Samut Prakan	Samut Prakan
	Mueang Boran	เมืองโบราณ
	Si Chan Pradit	ศรีจันทร์ประดิษฐ์
	Bang Pu	บางปู

North:

• A further 9 km, four station extension east along Lam Lukka Road from Khu Khot station to Wongwaen-Lam Luk Ka station is planned.

Code	Station Name		Transfers	Location
	English	Thai
	Wongwaen-Lam Luk Ka	วงแหวน-ลำลูกกา		Lam Luk Ka	Pathum Thani
	Khlong Ha	คลองห้า
	Khlong Si	คลองสี่
	Khlong Sam	คลองสาม

See also

• Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
• BTS Skytrain
• Silom Line
• MRT (Bangkok)
• MRT Brown Line
• MRT Blue Line
• MRT Grey Line
• MRT Light Blue Line
• MRT Orange Line
• MRT Pink Line
• MRT Purple Line
• MRT Yellow Line
• AERA1 City
• SRT Dark Red Line
• SRT Light Red Line
• BMA Gold Line
• Bangkok BRT

References

1. . Bombardier Transportation. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
2. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-23.
3. Limviphuwat, Phuwit (18 May 2019). "Mass Transit not keeping up". The Nation. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
4. "Structure and Stations : Routes". www.bts.co.th. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
5. "รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส (BTS Skytrain)".
6. Charuvastra, Teeranai; Chief, News (2019-04-10). "Construction of Sathorn BTS 'Ghost Station' Underway". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2020-03-25. {{cite news}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
7. "เวลาการให้บริการ". BTS Skytrain.
8. Groundbreaking starts on new BTS extension, Daily News, 15 August 2006
9. BTS extension budget cut, Bangkok Post, 15 December 2006
10. "Ch Karnchang gets Phase 2 of Bearing-Samut Prakan route" The Nation, 13 April 2013
11. "BMA to postpone test run of Bearing-Samrong skytrain". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
12. Sasiwan Mokkhasen (2017-01-31). "Green Line Going Nowhere for at Least Two Years". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
13. Asaree Thaitrakulpanich (2017-02-24). "First Station of Stalled BTS Green Line to Open April 1". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
14. "MRTA pushes to fast-track launch of South Green Line". Bangkok Post. 1 December 2017.
15. http://www.mrta.co.th/sysRegister/register131217/proc17122556.pdf^{[bare URL PDF]}
16. http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1401076541 "รฟม.ปรับทีโออาร์หมอชิต-คูคต กลางปี59 เปิดให้บริการสายสีม่วง" Prachachat News, 26 May 2014
17. "ข่าวรอบวัน". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ.
18. . Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
19. "รฟม.เซ็นสัญญารถไฟฟ้าสายสีเขียวเหนือ เริ่มสร้างมิ.ย 58 คาดเปิดใช้ต้นปี".
20. "ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ รวดเร็ว สด ทุกเหตุการณ์".
21. https://www.mrta.co.th/th/news/information/ความก-าวหน-าการก-อสร-างรถไฟฟ-า-ณ-31-ธ-นวาคม-2560/. MRTA Press, 16 January 2018
22. https://www.mrta.co.th/th/news/information/ความก-าวหน-าการก-อสร-างรถไฟฟ-า-ณ-30-เมษายน-2561/. MRTA Press, 30 April 2018
23. "การรถไฟฟ้าขนส่งมวลชนแห่งประเทศไทย on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.MRTA Press^{[user-generated source]}
24. https://www.mrta.co.th/th/news/information/ความก-าวหน-าการก-อสร-างรถไฟฟ-า-ณ-30-เมษายน-2561/. MRTA Press, 30 April 2018
25. . The Nation. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
26. "นับถอยหลัง 4 ธ.ค. 63 รถไฟฟ้า BTS สายสีเขียว เปิดทุกสถานี เชื่อม 3 จังหวัด". TNN Thailand. 17 November 2020.