Bangkok opens Pink Line monorail

On 21 November the Pink Line straddle monorail in the Thai capital started carrying passengers (the first was Prime Minister Srettha Thavsin). There were free rides for all; fares will not be charged until 3 January 2024. 

 

The 34.5km West–east line has 30 stations and serves the northern part of the city from Nonthaburi Civic Center to Min Buri. The western terminus provides interchange with the MRTA Purple Line metro. The eastern terminus will provide interchange with the Orange Line metro when construction of the latter is completed. Service is provided 06.00-20.00 daily. 

 

Building work started in December 2017, but the original four-year construction period had to be extended due to the effects of the COVID pandemic. 

 

Builders were the BSR consortium of BTS Group, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction STEC, with a 30-year concession to build and operate the line. The Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Ltd was established to operate the line.  

 

A future 2.8km branch to Muang Thong is still under construction. 

 

42 four-car trains have been supplied by the CRRC Puzhen/Bombardier Transportation joint venture, with the first arriving in September 2020 and the last in March 2023. The total cost of the project is THB 53.5M (USD 1.516M), plus THB 4M for the Muang Thong branch.