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 Wat Phra Sri Mahathat in Bang Khen District, 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.[1]

BTS Sukhumvit line
Overview
Native name	สายสุขุมวิท
Type	Rapid transit
System	BTS Skytrain
Locale	Bangkok, Samut Prakan Province, and Pathum Thani Province
Termini	Wat Phra Sri Mahathat Kheha
Stations	40
Operation
Opened	5 December 1999
Depot(s)	Mo Chit, Kheha
Technical
Line length	38.82 km (24.12 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in)
Electrification	750V DC Third rail
Route map 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 Hua Lamphong 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 Saphan Taksin Chit Lom Phloen Chit Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway Nana Asok Blue Line to 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 Pu Chao Kanchanapisek Expressway Chang Erawan Royal Thai Naval Academy Pak Nam Srinagarindra Phraek Sa Sai Luat Kheha

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 40 stations in operation. Its formal name is The Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday First line (Sukhumvit).

Stations

Further information: List of rapid transit stations in Bangkok

A planned station at N6 has never been built.

Code	Station Name English	Station Name Thai	Transfers	Location
	Wat Phra Sri Mahathat	วัดพระศรีมหาธาตุ	( MRL  under construction)	Bang Khen	Bangkok
	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[2]
	Ari	อารีย์
	Sanam Pao	สนามเป้า
	Victory Monument (RTGS: Anusawari Chai Samoraphum)	อนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ		Ratchathewi
	Phaya Thai	พญาไท	ARL  ( SRT  planned)
	Ratchathewi	ราชเทวี
	Siam (RTGS: Sayam)	สยาม	BTS	Pathum Wan
	Chit Lom	ชิดลม
	Phloen Chit	เพลินจิต	( MRL  proposed)
	Nana	นานา		Khlong Toei
	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	BTS  (proposed)	Bang Na
	Bang Na	บางนา
	Bearing (RTGS: Baering)	แบริ่ง
	Samrong	สำโรง	( MRL  under construction)	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

Extensions and current construction

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

East

1st extension, in operation - Construction started in August 2006 on a four billion baht, 5.25 km extension from On Nut (E9) to Bearing.[3] The extension was funded by the BMA.[4] 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, in operation - Construction started in April 2012 on a 12.6 km, 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.[5]

As of 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.[6] 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.[7]

The first 1.2 km section of the extension to Samrong station (E15) opened in April 2017.[8] The full extension to Kheha opened on December 6, 2018.[9]

North

Map of North Extension at Thong Lo station. Station N9 will open in 2019 and stations N10 to N24 will open in 2020.

1st and 2nd extension, currently under construction

• 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 has 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 has been continually delayed. A further 16.5 km, nine station extension from Saphan Mai to Lam Lukka was also planned once the extension to Saphan Mai had been completed.

After multiple delays, in mid-2013 a decision was made to tender extension (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 [10] with an April deadline before being delayed until late May 2014 due to concerns from bidders.[11] 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 the tender will proceed before the end of 2014. In August 2014, the MRTA announced that the new tender deadline will be 30 September 2014.[12] Five bidders qualified and the successful bids were announced in December 2014.[13] The tender specifies a construction period of 1,350 days.

On 3 April 2015, MRTA signed four contracts for this extension:[14]

• 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.[15]

As of 31 December 2017, the progress of civil works construction was at 53.31% according to the MRTA.[16] As of the end of April 2018, the MRTA stated that civil works progress had advanced to 63.27%.[17] As of 30 September, overall construction had progressed to 78.79% [18]. By the end of March 2019, civil construction had nearly been completed having progressed to 99.42% [19]

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 next 3 stations from Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17) to Saphan Mai (N20) will open in October 2020.

5) The remaining stations to Khu Khot (N24) will open in December 2020.

Code	Station Name English	Station Name Thai	Transfers & opening date	Location
	Khu Khot	คูคต		Lam Luk Ka	Pathum Thani
	Yaek Kor Por Aor	แยก คปอ.		Don Mueang	Bangkok
	Royal Thai Air Force Museum	พิพิธภัณฑ์กองทัพอากาศ	Don Mueang Airport People Mover (Planned)
	Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital	โรงพยาบาลภูมิพลอดุลยเดช
	Saphan Mai	สะพานใหม่		Bang Khen
	Sai Yud	สายหยุด
	Phahon Yothin 59	พหลโยธิน 59
	Wat Phra Sri Mahathat	วัดพระศรีมหาธาตุ	MRL  (under construction)

Future extension plans

East:

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

Code	Station Name English	Station Name Thai	Transfers	Location
	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 Eastern Outer Ring station is planned to be constructed by 2029.

Code	Station Name English	Station Name Thai	Transfers	Location
	Wongwaen Rop Nok Tawan-ok	วงแหวนรอบนอกตะวันออก		Lam Luk Ka	Pathum Thani
	Khlong Ha	คลองห้า
	Khlong Si	คลองสี่
	Khlong Sam	คลองสาม

See also

• Silom Line
• BTS Skytrain
• Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)
• 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
• SRT Red Lines
• Bangkok BRT

References

1. Limviphuwat, Phuwit (18 May 2019). "Mass Transit not keeping up". The Nation. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
2. Charuvastra, Teeranai; Chief, News (2019-04-10). "Construction of Sathorn BTS 'Ghost Station' Underway". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
3. Groundbreaking starts on new BTS extension, Daily News, 15 August 2006
4. BTS extension budget cut, Bangkok Post, 15 December 2006
5. "Ch Karnchang gets Phase 2 of Bearing-Samut Prakan route" The Nation, 13 April 2013
6. "BMA to postpone test run of Bearing-Samrong skytrain". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
7. Reporter, Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff (2017-01-31). "Green Line Going Nowhere for at Least Two Years". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
8. Reporter, Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff (2017-02-24). "First Station of Stalled BTS Green Line to Open April 1". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
9. "MRTA pushes to fast-track launch of South Green Line". Bangkok Post. 1 December 2017.
10. http://www.mrta.co.th/sysRegister/register131217/proc17122556.pdf
11. http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1401076541 "รฟม.ปรับทีโออาร์หมอชิต-คูคต กลางปี59 เปิดให้บริการสายสีม่วง" Prachachat News, 26 May 2014
12. http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1408439328
13. http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1412581507
14. http://www.ryt9.com/s/iq03/2130477
15. http://www.manager.co.th/iBizchannel/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9580000099688
16. https://www.mrta.co.th/th/news/information/ความก-าวหน-าการก-อสร-างรถไฟฟ-า-ณ-31-ธ-นวาคม-2560/. MRTA Press, 16 January 2018
17. https://www.mrta.co.th/th/news/information/ความก-าวหน-าการก-อสร-างรถไฟฟ-า-ณ-30-เมษายน-2561/. MRTA Press, 30 April 2018
18. https://www.facebook.com/MRTA.PR/photos/a.1433440196872710/2109998672550189/. MRTA Press, 12 October 2018
19. https://www.mrta.co.th/th/news/information/ความก-าวหน-าการก-อสร-างรถไฟฟ-า-ณ-30-เมษายน-2561/. MRTA Press, 30 April 2018