MRTA Pink Line

The Pink Line was originally intended to be a heavy rail line but this was changed to dual-track monorail in 2008 on the basis that construction costs would be cheaper. The director-general of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning had previously stated in an interview that the Pink Line was considered a priority scheme to be completed by 2017-18, as it ran past the then recently opened Government Complex.[3] A review in early 2012 was undertaken to consider the heavy rail option again. However, it was decided to proceed with the monorail plan on the basis that the overall cost would be cheaper than heavy rail. The review of the line also resulted in the addition of 6 extra stations. The environmental impact assessment for the Pink Line was finalised in late 2012. In late 2012, a request to extend the planned line east by 3.4 km from the Minburi terminus along Suwinthawongse Road to Nong Chok was submitted.[4] However, this was not implemented. The expected cost of the line in 2012 with the additional 6 extra stations was 55 billion baht.[5]

The MRTA Pink line was then due to be tendered in the 3rd quarter of 2013 with construction due to commence in early 2014.[6] However, delays in preparation of the tender in relation to the selection of monorail rolling stock and subsequent political protests resulting in a snap national election in early Feb 2014, further delayed the Pink Line tender.[7] A subsequent coup in 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 as a PPP tender.

In early December 2016, BSR Joint Venture (comprising BTS Group Holdings which owns 75%, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction - STEC, and Ratchaburi Electricity Generation Holding - RATCH), won the bid for the project and a 30 year concession to operate the line. The BSR also won the bid for the Yellow Line project. [8]

On 16 June 2017, the MRT Pink Line project contracts were signed with the BSR consortium by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand with a scheduled operational date of 2022. [9] The BSR has established Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited to operate the monorail.

Construction of the MRT Pink Line began in December 2017 with the BSR consortium establishing a number of preparation work sites along the Chaeng Wattana rd/Ram Inthra rd corridor with the closure of lanes along this busy east-west corridor. [10] By 30 September 2018, overall construction had progressed to 10.37% [11] Construction work on Tiwanon Rd. Nonthaburi began at the end of October 2018 closing long stretches of the middle lanes between Khae Rai and Pak Kret intersections. At the end of March 2019, construction has progressed to 31.46%[12] By the end of July 2019, civil construction had further advanced to 40.13% [13] At the end of November 2019, construction had progressed to 48.15% [14] By the end of January 2020, construction had progressed to 51.96%[15]

By the end of May 2020, construction had progressed to 58.78%[16]

BSR has selected Bombardier INNOVIA 300 monorail rolling stock for the Pink line.[17] The BSR has announced that they will purchase 42, 4 car sets to operate the Pink line.[18]

In 2016, Bangkok Mass Transit System PLC. (BTSC) received a fund for an extension to link Impact, Muang Thong Thani and the Muang Thong Thani condominium buildings, from Bangkok Land Public Company Limited (SET: BLAND). Accordingly, the BSR joint venture has proposed a 2.8km spur monorail route to link to Impact, Muang Thong Thani from Si Rat station. [19] This spur line will have two stations, the first will located behind Impact Challenger building and the second will be located near Muang Thong Thani Lake and Impact Forum in Pak Kred, Nonthaburi. The spur line is under consideration by the MRTA which is evaluating the proposal.

In early August a second public hearing was conducted by the MRTA into the extension proposal. [20] The proposal has received a positive response by the public. If the proposal is approved by Cabinet, construction could commence in 2019. The MRTA may also consider a further 2km extension from Muang Thong Thani to Tiwanon rd.[21]

Originally, the line was to have 24 stations, 4 of which will be transfer stations and 2 of which will be "park & ride" stations. However, 6 new stations were added in mid-2012 for a total of 30 stations.

The line will also have 2 additional service stations for train maintenance.

Code	Name[22]	No. of Platform	Transfer(s)	Province
PK01	Nonthaburi Civic Center	4	MRT   MRT  (approved)	Nonthaburi
PK02	Khae Rai	2
PK03	Sanambin Nam	2
PK04	Samakkhi	2
PK05	Royal Irrigation Department	2
PK06	Yeak Pak Kret	2
PK07	Pak Kret Bypass	2
PK08	Chaeng Wattana-Pak Kret 28	2
PK09	Muang Thong Thani	2
PK10	Si Rat	4	MRL  Impact Link
PK11	Chaeng Watthana 14	4	Bang Phlu Piban Line (under construction)	Bangkok
PK12	Government Complex	2
PK13	TOT	2
PK14	Lak Si	4	SRT  (under construction)  ARL  (under tender)
PK15	Rajabhat Phranakhon	2
PK16	Wat Phra Sri Mahathat	4	BTS
PK17	Ram Inthra 3	2
PK18	Lat Pla Khao	2
PK19	Ram Inthra Km.4	2
PK20	Maiyalap	2
PK21	Vatcharaphon	4	MRL  (proposed)
PK22	Ram Inthra Km.6	2
PK23	Khu Bon	2
PK24	Ram Inthra Km.9	2
PK25	Outer Ring Road - Ram Inthra	2
PK26	Nopparat	2
PK27	Bang Chan	2
PK28	Setthabutbamphen	2
PK29	Min Buri Market	2
PK30	Min Buri	4	MRT  (under construction)
Impact Link (Proposed spur line)
PK10	Si Rat	2	MRL  Main Line	Nonthaburi
PK41	Impact Challenger	2
PK42	Mueang Thong Lake	2

• Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
• Bangkok Metro
• MRT Blue Line
• MRT Brown Line
• MRT Grey Line
• MRT Light Blue Line
• MRT Orange Line
• MRT Purple Line
• MRT Yellow Line
• BTS Skytrain
• Sukhumvit Line
• Silom Line
• Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)
• SRT Light Red Line
• SRT Dark Red Line
• Bangkok BRT
• BMA Gold Line.

• "MRTA Pink Line website"
• "2Bangkok Pink Line thread" Semi-regular updates, articles, pictures and commentary (In English)
• Airport Rail Link, BTS, MRT & BRT network map

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