Sukhumvit Line

The Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday 1st line, also known as Sukhumvit Line, is one of the rapid transit lines of the BTS Skytrain System in Bangkok, Thailand.^[4] The line runs from Siam Station, where it interchanges with the Silom Line, and continues both northwards along Phaya Thai and Phahon Yothin Roads to Khu Khot in Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani, and eastwards along Rama I, Phloen Chit and Sukhumvit Roads, through Bang Na District to Kheha Station in Samut Prakan.

BTS Sukhumvit Line สายสุขุมวิท
EMU-A2 from Kasetsart University station arriving at Sena Nikhom station
Overview
Owner	Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
Locale	Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Pathum Thani
Termini	Khu Khot Kheha
Stations	Total : 57 stations 47 (operational) 9 (planned) 1 (provisional)
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 Depot (shared with  BTS ) Khu Khot Depot (shared with  BTS ) Kheha Depot
Rolling stock	Siemens Modular Metro EMU-A1: 35 four-car trains Siemens Bozankaya EMU-A2: 22 four-car trains CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles EMU-B1: 12 four-car trains CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles EMU-B2: 5 four-car trains CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles EMU-B3: 24 four-car trains
Daily ridership	926,294 ( BTS  and  BTS ) 30 August 2024[1]
History
Opened	5 December 1999; 24 years ago (1999-12-05)
Last extension	16 December 2020; 3 years ago (2020-12-16)
Technical
Line length	Total :69.07 km (42.92 mi) 51.17 km (31.80 mi) (operational) 17.9 km (11.1 mi) (planned)
Character	Fully elevated
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Signalling	Former: Siemens Trainguard LZB700M fixed block ATC under ATO GoA 2 (STO) Current: Bombardier CITYFLO 450 moving block CBTC ATC under ATO GoA 2 (STO), with subsystems of ATP, ATS and CBI[2][3]
Route map Legend Planned extension to Outer Ring Road-Lam Luk Ka Khu Khot Khu Khot depot Yaek Kor Por Aor Royal Thai Air Force Museum Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital Saphan Mai Sai Yud Phahon Yothin 59 Pink Line Wat Phra Sri Mahathat  MRT  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 Mo Chit 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 Samut Prakan depot Planned extension to Bang Pu This diagram: view talk edit

The line was first opened on 5 December 1999, along with the Silom Line. Both lines are operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited under a 30-year concession from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. When it opened, the line ran from Mo Chit to On Nut covering a total distance of 16.7 km (10.4 mi) with 17 stations. As of October 2024,^[update] Sukhumvit Line is one of the main arteries of the Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit System with 900,000 daily passengers per day (combined with the Silom Line). The line rapidly expanded from 2011 until 2021, tripling its distance through three extension projects and reaching a total length of 51.17 km (31.80 mi) with 47 stations.

History

Original plan

The Sukhumvit Line's initial proposal was for 12.8 km (8.0 mi) route running from N4 station to E9 station with the depot located at Lumphini Park near the Silom Line. However, this location for the depot faced backlash from the public opinion, which argued that it violated King Rama VI's intention in donating his land to establish Lumphini Park for the public. Additionally, there were protests demanding that the construction of both Skytrain lines be built underground instead of being fully elevated. Therefore, several alternative locations for the depot were considered, such as a vacant land plot in Soi Rangnam owned by the Crowned Property Bureau or the Phra Khanong pumping station in Sukhumvit 50. Ultimately, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration decided to relocate the depot to the former site of the Northern Bus Terminal (commonly known as the Mo Chit Bus Terminal). With the decision made, the Sukhumvit Line route was extended from N4 station to N8 station. Several changes were made during the construction, as follows:^[5]

• N3, N4, E8, and E9 stations were changed from an island platform to side platforms.
• The fully operational year was pushed from the end of 1996 to the end of 1999.
• Station designs were drastically changed from the EIA reports.
• CEN station was moved from the east side of Chaloem Phao junction to the west side.
• E1 station was moved from the east side of the Chit Lom junction to the west side, in front of Mater Dei School, with the two entrances in front of the school being canceled due to protests from school staffs and students concerned about privacy, landscape, and air pollution issues.
• E2 station was originally located between Sukhumvit 2 and Soi Nana but was later moved to the west side of the Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway.
• E4 station was moved from the east side of the Asok junction to the west side.

Extensions

Bearing Extension

Construction started in August 2006 on a four-billion baht, 5.25 km (3.26 mi) extension from On Nut to Bearing which included 5 new stations^[6] The extension was funded by the BMA.^[7] The original scheduled opening date was mid-2009. However, a delay in tendering the contract for the electrical and signaling 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 on this extension until the end of 2011 as compensation.

Samut Prakan Extension

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.^[8]

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.^[9] 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.^[10]

The first 1.2 km (0.75 mi) section of the extension to Samrong station opened on 3 April 2017.^[11] The full extension to Kheha opened on 6 December 2018.^[12]

Khu Khot Extension

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^[13] with an April deadline before being delayed until late May 2014 due to concerns from bidders.^[14] 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.^[15] Five bidders qualified and the successful bids were announced in December 2014.^[16] The tender specified a construction period of 1,350 days.

On 3 April 2015, MRTA signed four contracts for this extension:^[17]

Contract	Notes	Contractors	Length	Costs
1	Mo Chit to Saphan Mai	Italian-Thai Development	2.8 km (1.7 mi)	฿15,269 million
2	Saphan Mai to Khu Khot	UN-SH-CH joint-venture	2.6 km (1.6 mi)	฿6,657 million
3	Khu Khot Depot and Park & Ride buildings at Yaek Kor Por Aor and Khu Khot stations	STEC-AS joint-venture	11 km (6.8 mi)	฿4,019 million
4	Track laying and system design	STEC-AS joint-venture	10.5 km (6.5 mi)	฿2,841 million

Construction of the viaduct before entering Ha Yaek Lat Phrao station in 2018.

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.^[18]

At 31 December 2017, the progress of civil works construction was at 53.31% according to the MRTA.^[19] As of April 2018,^[update] the MRTA stated that civil works progress had advanced to 63.27%.^[20] As of 30 September 2018,^[update] overall construction had progressed to 78.79%.^[21] By the end of March 2019, civil construction had nearly been completed having progressed to 99.42%.^[22]

Testing of the final 9.8 km, seven-station-section from Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (N17) to Khu Khot (N24) began on 5 October.^[23] The final section was officially opened on 16 December 2020 by the Prime Minister.^[24]

Tamru Extension (future)

There is a plan to extend Sukhumvit Line from Kheha to Tamru for 10.1 km (6.3 mi), including 5 additional stations: Sawangkhaniwat, Mueang Boran, Si Chan Pradit, Bang Pu, and Tamru. This extension has been suspended indefinitely until clarity is reached regarding passenger guarantees.

Code	Station Name		Planned Opening	Platform Type
	English	Thai
↓ Continue from Kheha ↓
	Sawangkhaniwat	สวางคนิวาส	TBA	Side
	Mueang Boran	เมืองโบราณ		Side
	Si Chan Pradit	ศรีจันทร์ประดิษฐ์		Side
	Bang Pu	บางปู		Side
	Tamru	ตำหรุ		Side

Lam Luk Ka Extension (future)

There is a plan to extend Sukhumvit Line from Khu Khot Station eastwards for 7.8 km (4.8 mi), including four additional stations: Khlong Sam, Khlong Si, Khlong Ha, and Eastern Ring Road-Lam Luk Ka. This extension has been suspended indefinitely until clarity is reached regarding passenger guarantees.

Code	Station Name		Planned Opening	Platform Type
	English	Thai
↓ Continue from Khu Khot ↓
	Khlong Sam	คลองสาม	TBA	Side
	Khlong Si	คลองสี่		Side
	Khlong Ha	คลองห้า		Side
	Eastern Ring Road-Lam Luk Ka	วงแหวนตะวันออกลำลูกกา		Side

Opening timeline

Date	Project	Notes
5 December 1999	Bangkok Transit System	Full commercial service was commenced from Mo Chit to On Nut stations along with the Silom Line.
12 August 2011	Bearing Extension	Service extended to Bearing station.
14 May 2010		Sukhumvit Line was closed from 17.00 onwards due to 2010 Thai military crackdown.
29 May 2010		Resumed normal service.
22 May 2014		Sukhumvit Line operated with limited hours from 6:00 to 21:00 due to the curfew, which was a result of the 2014 Thai coup d'état.[25]
28 May 2014		Service hours were extended to 06.00-23.00[26]
14 June 2014		Resumed normal service.
3 April 2017	Samut Prakan Extension	Service extended to Samrong station.
6 December 2018		Shuttle service has been deployed from Samrong to Kheha stations.
11 May 2019		Full commercial service was commenced from Mo Chit to Kheha stations.[27]
9 August 2019	Khu Khot Extension	Service extended to Ha Yaek Lat Phrao station.
4 December 2019		Service extended to Kasetsart University station.
5 June 2020		Service extended to Wat Phra Si Mahathat station.
17 October 2020		Sukhumvit Line was temporarily closed from 15.00 due to the 2020–2021 Thai protests.[28]
18 October 2020		Mo Chit, Ha Yaek Lat Phrao, Phahon Yothin 24, Asok, Udom Suk, and Bang Na stations were temporarily closed due to the protests from 14.30[29]
16 December 2020	Khu Khot Extension	Service extended to Khu Khot station.

Stations

Further information: List of rapid transit stations in Bangkok

Code	Station Name		Image	Opened	Platform Type	Park & Ride	Transfers	Notes
	English	Thai
	Khu Khot	คูคต		16 December 2020; 3 years ago (2020-12-16)	Side	√
	Yaek Kor Por Aor	แยก คปอ.			Side	√
	Royal Thai Air Force Museum	พิพิธภัณฑ์กองทัพอากาศ			Side	-
	Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital	โรงพยาบาลภูมิพลอดุลยเดช			Side	-
	Saphan Mai	สะพานใหม่			Side	-
	Sai Yud	สายหยุด			Side	-
	Phahon Yothin 59	พหลโยธิน 59			Side	-
	Wat Phra Sri Mahathat	วัดพระศรีมหาธาตุ		5 June 2020; 4 years ago (2020-06-05)	Island	-	Interchange station with  MRT
	11th Infantry Regiment	กรมทหารราบที่ 11			Side	-
	Bang Bua	บางบัว			Side	-
	Royal Forest Department	กรมป่าไม้			Side	-
	Kasetsart University	มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์		4 December 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-04)	Side	-	Connecting station to  MRT  (future)
	Sena Nikhom	เสนานิคม			Side	-
	Ratchayothin	รัชโยธิน			Side	-
	Phahon Yothin 24	พหลโยธิน 24			Side	-
	Ha Yaek Lat Phrao	ห้าแยกลาดพร้าว		9 August 2019; 5 years ago (2019-08-09)	Island	-	Connecting station to Phahon Yothin for  MRT  , via a 330-metre elevated pedestrian walkway.
	Mo Chit	หมอชิต		5 December 1999; 24 years ago (1999-12-05)	Side	√	Connecting station to Chatuchak Park for  MRT
	Saphan Khwai	สะพานควาย			Side	-
	Sena Ruam	เสนาร่วม[30]		TBA	Side	-		Provisional station
	Ari	อารีย์		5 December 1999; 24 years ago (1999-12-05)	Side	-
	Sanam Pao	สนามเป้า			Side	-
	Victory Monument	อนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ			Side	-
	Phaya Thai	พญาไท			Side	-	Connecting station to; •  ARL  •  SRT  (future)
	Ratchathewi	ราชเทวี			Side	-	Connecting station to  MRT  (under construction)
	Siam	สยาม			Stacked Island	-	Cross-platform interchange with  BTS
	Chit Lom	ชิดลม			Side	-
	Phloen Chit	เพลินจิต			Side	-
	Nana	นานา			Side	-
	Asok	อโศก			Side	-	Connecting station to Sukhumvit for  MRT
	Phrom Phong	พร้อมพงษ์			Side	-
	Thong Lo	ทองหล่อ			Side	-
	Ekkamai	เอกมัย			Side	-	Connecting station to  MRL  (north section; future)
	Phra Khanong	พระโขนง			Side	-	Connecting station to  MRL  (south section; future)
	On Nut	อ่อนนุช			Side	-
	Bang Chak	บางจาก		12 August 2011; 13 years ago (2011-08-12)	Side	-
	Punnawithi	ปุณณวิถี			Side	-
	Udom Suk	อุดมสุข			Side	-
	Bang Na	บางนา			Side	-	Connecting station to Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi LRT (future)
	Bearing	แบริ่ง			Side	-
	Samrong	สำโรง		3 April 2017; 7 years ago (2017-04-03)	Island	-	Interchange station to  MRT  via transfer gates
	Pu Chao	ปู่เจ้า		6 December 2018; 5 years ago (2018-12-06)	Side	-
	Chang Erawan	ช้างเอราวัณ			Side	-
	Royal Thai Naval Academy	โรงเรียนนายเรือ			Side	-
	Pak Nam	ปากน้ำ			Side	-
	Srinagarindra	ศรีนครินทร์			Side	-
	Phraek Sa	แพรกษา			Side	-
	Sai Luat	สายลวด			Side	-
	Kheha	เคหะฯ			Side	√

Rolling stock

Rolling stocks of Sukhumvit Line

EMU-A1 approaching Victory Monument station

EMU-A2 heading towards Sanam Pao station

EMU-B1/B2 approaching Ha Yaek Lat Phrao station

EMU-B3 at Ekkamai station

Route map

Gallery

• 
  Sukhumvit Line viaduct at Lak Si roundabout.
• 
  EMU-A2 with Elephant Building behind at Ratchayothin station.
• 
  Mo Chit Depot in 2013.
• 
  EMU-B3 at Victory Monument.
• 
  EMU-B1/B2 (left) and EMU-B3 at Victory Monument station.
• 
  View of Pathum Wan district.
• 
  Sukhumvit Line viaduct from Pathum Wan Skywalk.
• 
  The upper-level platform at Siam station in 2007, before the installation of platform screen doors
• 
  View from Chit Lom station.
• 
  3-cars EMU-A1 from 2007
• 
  Phloen Chit Road with Sukhumvit Line viaduct above.
• 
  Sukhumvit Line at Asok Junction.
• 
  EmSphere from Phrom Phong station.
• 
  EMU-A1 at Bang Na station with BITEC behind.
• 
  EMU-A2 departing Samrong station.
• 
  Sukhumvit Line viaduct runs through Samut Prakan province.

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

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2. "Mass transit signalling". Bombardier Transportation. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
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5. "Smart EIA Plus : รายละเอียดรายงาน". eia.onep.go.th. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
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12. "MRTA pushes to fast-track launch of South Green Line". Bangkok Post. 1 December 2017.
13. http://www.mrta.co.th/sysRegister/register131217/proc17122556.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
14. http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1401076541 "รฟม.ปรับทีโออาร์หมอชิต-คูคต กลางปี59 เปิดให้บริการสายสีม่วง" Prachachat News, 26 May 2014
15. "ข่าวรอบวัน". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ.
16. "5กลุ่มบริษัทผ่านคุณสมบัติสร้างรถไฟสีเขียว คาดหาผู้รับเหมาได้ไม่เกินต้นปี58 : มติชนออนไลน์". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
17. "รฟม.เซ็นสัญญารถไฟฟ้าสายสีเขียวเหนือ เริ่มสร้างมิ.ย 58 คาดเปิดใช้ต้นปี".
18. "ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ รวดเร็ว สด ทุกเหตุการณ์".
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20. https://www.mrta.co.th/th/news/information/ความก-าวหน-าการก-อสร-างรถไฟฟ-า-ณ-30-เมษายน-2561/. MRTA Press, 30 April 2018
21. "การรถไฟฟ้าขนส่งมวลชนแห่งประเทศไทย on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.MRTA Press^{[user-generated source]}
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. "BTS tests Green Line trains at seven new stations before public opening at year-end". The Nation. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
24. "นับถอยหลัง 4 ธ.ค. 63 รถไฟฟ้า BTS สายสีเขียว เปิดทุกสถานี เชื่อม 3 จังหวัด". TNN Thailand. 17 November 2020.
25. "รถไฟฟ้า BTS-MRT ปิดให้บริการ 3 ทุ่มตั้งแต่คืนนี้ เปิด 6". ryt9.com (in Thai). Retrieved 2024-09-12.
26. "รถไฟฟ้า BTS-MRT ปรับเวลาเดินรถใหม่ 06.00-23.00 น. ตั้งแต่ 28". ryt9.com (in Thai). Retrieved 2024-09-12.
27. "บีทีเอสปรับเดินรถสายสุขุมวิท วิ่งถึงสถานีเคหะฯ ไม่ต้องเปลี่ยนขบวน". THAIRATH Money. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
28. "ความเคลื่อนไหวก่อนชุมนุม 17 ตุลา". Thai PBS (in Thai). Retrieved 2024-09-12.
29. "รถไฟฟ้าMRT ปิด 5 สถานี ส่วน BTS ปิด10 สถานี จนกว่าสถานการณ์คลี่คลาย". www.thairath.co.th (in Thai). 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
30. 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)