Yellow Line (Bangkok)


The Yellow Line is an elevated mass rapid transit line currently under construction in Bangkok and Samut Prakan Province, Thailand.
The line will have 23 stations and cost 55 billion baht. It was originally proposed to be an underground and elevated heavy rail line. However, it was decided in 2012 to build an elevated monorail line in order to reduce construction costs.
Preliminary site works began in late 2017 with major construction work starting from March 2018. By the end of May 2020, construction had progressed to 59.42%
The line is due to open in June 2022.

Alignment

The line starts at the intersection of Ratachadapisek and Lat Phrao roads where it interchanges with the MRT Blue Line at Lat Phrao station. The line then heads east along Lat Phrao road to Bangkapi junction where it will interchange with the Orange Line Lam Sali station, before heading south along Srinagarindra Road to Hua Mark where it will interchange with the Airport Rail Link Hua Mak station.
From Hua Mark the route continues south along Srinagarindra Road past Bangna-Trat Road all the way to Thepha Rak Road in Samut Prakan Province, then heading west along Thepha Rak Road before terminating at Samrong of the BTS Sukhumvit Line.
The line will be built from Ratchada to Samrong, with construction planned to take four years to complete. The Yellow Line depot will be located at Debaratana Road adjacent to Si Iam station.

History

The line was first proposed by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning in 2004 as a heavy rail underground and elevated metro line as part of the 10 line metro plan which was taken to the February 2005 election. In 2009, it was suggested to change the line to an elevated monorail line as a cost saving measure. In December 2011, the MRTA was instructed by the MOT to divide the Yellow Line into two phases for tender and construction purposes and to control land appropriation costs. In June 2012, the MRTA contracted consultants to undertake detailed designs of the Yellow Line. In February 2013, OTP stated that the tender for the Yellow Line should be ready by late 2013 for tender in early 2014. By August 2013, this timeline had changed to a mid-2014 tender date.
However, similar to the MRT Pink Line, delays in finalising the technical requirements of the tender in relation to the selection of monorail rolling stock which determines the type of track to be constructed resulted in further delays. The subsequent political turmoil of late 2013 and early 2014 caused even more delay. Thereafter, the coup of May 2014 resulted in a new military administration and the tender being deferred for 2014. The MRTA tender was subsequently not released until mid-2016. In early December 2016, BSR Joint Venture, won the bid for the line. The BSR also won the bid for the Pink Line.
On June 16 2017, a contract was signed for the line with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and a consortium including BTS Group Holdings, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, and Ratchaburi Electricity Generation Holding. BSR has also established Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited to operate the monorail. A proposed 2 station extension of the route north from the current Ratchada terminus to link to Sukhumvit Line Extension at Ratchayothin station is awaiting approval from the government.

Construction Progress

Construction of the MRT Yellow Line began in March 2018 with the BSR consortium establishing a number of preparation work sites along the Lat Phrao rd with the closure of lanes along this traffic dense east-west corridor. By August 2018, construction had expanded to along the Srinakarin rd section which is also where the depot will be built By 30 September 2018, overall construction had progressed to 9.61% At the end of March 2019, construction has progressed to 30.40% By the end of July 2019, civil construction had further advanced to 39.92% At the end of October 2019, construction had progressed to 45.88% By the end of January 2020, construction had progressed to 51.81%
By the end of May 2020, construction had progressed to 59.42%

Rolling stock

BSR has selected Bombardier INNOVIA 300 monorail rolling stock for the Yellow line. The BSR has announced that they will purchase 28, 4 car sets to operate the Yellow line.

List of planned stations

The 30.4 km Yellow Line will have 23 stations :
CodeStation NameTransfersOpeningProvince
YLEX-02Phaholyothin 24 Phahon Yothin 242022Bangkok
YLEX-01Chankasem 2022Bangkok
Y1Lat Phrao Lat Phrao2022Bangkok
Y2Phawana2022Bangkok
Y3Chok Chai 42022Bangkok
Y4Lat Phrao 712022Bangkok
Y5Lat Phrao 83 Chalong Rat
Chalong Rat		2022Bangkok
Y6Mahatthai2022Bangkok
Y7Lat Phrao 1012022Bangkok
Y8Bang Kapi2022Bangkok
Y9Yaek Lam Sali Yaek Lam Sali
Yaek Lam Sali		2022Bangkok
Y10Si Kritha2022Bangkok
Y11Patthanakan Hua Mak
Hua Mak		2022Bangkok
Y12Khlong Kalantan2022Bangkok
Y13Si Nut2022Bangkok
Y14Srinagarindra 382022Bangkok
Y15Suan Luang Ro 9 2022Bangkok
Y16Si Udom2022Bangkok
Y17Si Iam Wat Si Iam 2022Bangkok
Y18Si La Salle2022Bangkok
Y19Si Bearing2022Samut Prakan
Y20Si Dan2022Samut Prakan
Y21Si Thepha2022Samut Prakan
Y22Thipphawan2022Samut Prakan
Y23Samrong Samrong2022Samut Prakan

Potential future extension

When completed the Yellow Line will terminate at Samrong. A future extension from Samrong across the Chao Phraya River to link with the MRT Purple Line at Rat Burana has been canvassed by OTP.