The Yellow Line is finally taking off, and Bangkok residents will be able to use it from Saturday 3 June to take advantage of this new means of transport.
The "Yellow Line" monorail suspension train has completed its test phase, making its first journey over the Lat Phrao section of the Chalong Rat motorway on Thursday 1 May.
The yellow line is currently free and will become chargeable from 1 July.
Fares should vary between 15 and 45 baths (0.40 to 1.21 euros) depending on the distance travelled.
The yellow line is 30.4 km long and has 23 stations.
It runs from Lat Phrao in Bangkok to Samrong in Samut Prakan.
The monorail links up with the MRTA's green line at Samrong station.
Eventually, there should be a junction with Ratchayothin station, also on the Green Line.
The Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) has said it is prepared to invest in building the additional 2.6 km of line needed to link its Yellow Line to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand's (MRTA) Green Line.
Surapong Laoha-Unya, CEO of BTSC, said on Thursday that the extension would benefit commuters.
"We are ready to invest in the project because extending the line will benefit everyone.
We are ready to discuss the matter with the MRTA", said Mr Surapong.
The missing link would run along Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok and be connected to the Green Line at Ratchayothin station.
A well-informed source estimates that the extension project will cost around 3 or 4 billion baht.
Without this additional section, users wishing to change from the yellow line to the green line are forced to change back to the MRTA's blue line by buying a new ticket.
Under these conditions, if the MRTA accepts the BTSC's proposal to invest in this missing section, the MRTA will ask in exchange for compensation for the loss of revenue from its Blue Line.
Mr Surapong said that the yellow line would be brought into service on a trial basis this Saturday 3 June at 9am.
The full commercial launch of the Yellow Line will begin on 1 July.
"The BTSC is ready for the testing phase, because the safety and facilitation of the project are now assured.
The project will help to reduce traffic congestion, particularly at peak times, on the Lat Phrao road", he said.
At present, the BTSC has submitted a tariff range based on the consumer price index (CPI) to the MRTA for approval.
This range indicates a fare that should be between 15 and 45 baht, subject to approval by the Ministry of Transport.
The BTSC has estimated that the launch of the yellow line should bring in around one billion baht.
Source: All of Thailand
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