Monorail MRI Yellow Line in Thailand: A project waiting for success
On Saturday, June 19, the official opening ceremony of the Yellow metro monorail line will take place, after which all 23 stations will begin full operation. Commercial service is scheduled for July 1st.
The Yellow Line project is being implemented by BTS Group Holdings Plc (BTS), which has received a construction and operation permit from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).
Most of the route passes through the eastern part of Bangkok and the northern part of the province of Samut Prakan. The Yellow Line links with other major rail lines, namely the Blue Line at Lat Phrao Station, the Airport Railroad at Hua Mak Station, and the Green Line at Samrong Station.
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The new route should help develop the surrounding areas. According to the country's largest real estate agency, Colliers International Thailand, over the past 10 years, more than 19,229 new apartments have appeared along the Yellow Line route. This caused a significant rise in land prices, with the largest increase occurring around Sanam Luang Rama 9 Station, where land prices increased by 7.3%. In the area of Samrong station, the price of land increased by an average of 6.8%.
BTS will certainly benefit from increased passenger numbers both on the Yellow Line and nearby metro stations through the convenience of passenger transfers and increased passenger traffic. VGI Global Media will also benefit from sales of advertising space in stations and trains. BTS recently increased their stake in VGI by 6.7367%, reaching a total shareholding of 60.33%.
Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) will also benefit from an increase in the number of passengers transferring to the underground Blue Line.
Krungsri Securities estimates that in the first year of operation of the Yellow Line, the average daily ridership will be around 130,000 trips, generating revenue of around 2 billion baht. The company expects to reach the break-even point in its first year of operation. Another new monorail project, the Pink Line, will be launched in early 2024. The Green Line is projected to increase passenger numbers in 2023/2024 by 31%, reaching pre-COVID-19 travel levels of 700,000-750,000 per day.
Another 22 yellow line stations will be free
The Bangkok MRI Yellow Line Monorail is open for a one-month trial period from June 3rd to 30th - all rides will be free.
On Monday, nine new stations - Fawana, Chokchai 4, Lat Phrao 71, Lat Phrao 83, Mahadthai, Lat Phrao 101, Bang Kapi, Yaek Lam Sali and Sri Krita - were added to the previous 13. The train schedule was also expanded from 6:00 until 20:00 to meet the demand for services during peak hours.
Lat Phrao Station, connected to the MRI Blue Line, is not yet included in the free ride. Work is currently underway. The opening of Lat Phrao station for passengers is scheduled for June 19. The opening ceremony of Lat Phrao Station will be presided over by Acting Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The Lat Phrao-Samrong Yellow Line route is 30.4 kilometers long and covers 23 stations. Traffic starts at the Ratchada-Lat Phrao junction next to the Lat Phrao MRT station and runs along Lat Phrao road, crosses the Bang Kapi junction, then turns right onto Srinakarin road. Passing Srinooch, Srinakarin and Si Thep junctions, the train turns right onto Teparak road and ends at Samrong station at Sukhumvit junction.
Five key facts about the Bangkok Yellow Line
In a Facebook post on Friday, former Bangkok Deputy Governor Samarth Ratchapolsitt listed five key facts about the 30.4-kilometer monorail line that runs from Lat Phrao to Samrong:
Why choose a monorail system?
"Using a monorail instead of a heavy electric train is around 40% cheaper and helps the country save money," Samart said. In his post, he explained that a "monorail" is an electrical train system that uses only one rail or track on which the train is either supported or suspended. The first method is more popular.
The monorail carries fewer passengers than the heavy electric trains used on the BTS and MRT lines and is chosen to cover the distance between Lat Phrao and Samrong as those areas are not as densely populated, Samarth said.
How many types of electric trains are used in Bangkok?
Three types of electric trains are used in the capital of Thailand:
- Heavy electric trains that operate on five routes: BTS Green and Dark Green Lines, MRT Blue and Purple Lines, Railway Light Red and Dark Red Lines.
- Light electric trains that operate on the BTS Light Green Line.
- Monorail trains that will operate on the MRT Yellow Line.
What efforts are being made to attract passengers to the Yellow Line?
In order to attract passengers to the MRT Yellow Line, the following efforts are being made:
- Free trial period during which passengers can travel free of charge from June 3rd to 30th.
- Increase in the number of stations from 13 to 22 from 7 June.
- Expansion of train operating hours from 6:00 to 20:00.
What is the expected passenger flow on the Yellow Line?
The average daily ridership on the MRT Yellow Line is expected to be around 130,000 trips in its first year of operation.
What are the future plans associated with the Yellow Line?
In addition to the launch of the Yellow Line, it is planned to expand another monorail line, the Pink Line. The Pink Line is expected to be fully operational in early 2024.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
