Bangkok’s MRT Orange Line due to fully open in 2030
The MRT Orange Line electric railway system linking Bangkok’s east and west is expected to be fully opened by November 2030, with the eastern section due to be opened as soon as 2028.
Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on Thursday presided over the signing ceremony of the investment contract for the MRT Orange Line Project “Bang Khun Non-Min Buri (Suwinthawong)” made between the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM).
Several high-level officials attended the ceremony, including Department of Rail Transport (DRT) chief Pichet Kunadhamraks, MRTA board chairman Sarawut Songsivilai and BEM board chairman Plew Trivisvavet.
Mr Suriya said the government and the Transport Ministry have been actively pushing for the improvement of the country’s transport infrastructure to provide citizens with more convenience, with the signing ceremony of the investment contract for the MRT Orange Line marking an important beginning of the full-scale cooperation between the private and public sectors.
He added that the Transport Ministry has assigned the MRTA and BEM, the bid winners of the MRT Orange Line project, to speed up the construction of the line’s eastern section so that it will be completed earlier than scheduled.
MRTA acting governor Vithaya Punmongkol revealed that the MRT Orange Line’s eastern and western sections are expected to become operational by May 2028 and November 2030, respectively.
BEM managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana said the BEM would be ready to begin construction as soon as the contract was signed.
He expects that during the first year of the eastern section’s operation, it will have around 150,000 passengers per day, and the number will go up to 400,000 once the whole line is opened.
The MRT Orange Line will be divided into the eastern section, linking the Thailand Cultural Centre and Min Buri (Suwinthawong), and the western section, which links Bang Khun Non and the Thailand Cultural Centre.
The eastern section will span 22.5km and comprise 17 elevated and underground stations, while the western section will be 13.4km with 11 underground stations.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2832487/orange-line-due-to-fully-open-in-2030
