MRT Blue Line

Officially named Chaloem Ratchamongkhon (Thai สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) – "Celebration of Royal Auspice" – or informally but recognised by operator as the "Blue Line", this was the first metro line under the newly formed government agency, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Initially the line started running fully underground from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue. It was later extended to run from Tha Phra to Lak Song, mostly on elevated tracks.

Most civil infrastructure was provided by this government agency and handed over to a private sector as an operator for a 25-year via concession agreement. The winning bidder was Bangkok Metro Company Limited (BMCL), subsequently renamed Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM). Under this agreement, BMCL/BEM must provide maintenance and engineering equipment, including electrical trains, signalling systems, SCADA, communication, platform screen doors and fully operate the system from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue.[3][4] BMCL/BEM has subcontracted maintenance of the system for 10 years to Siemens and seven-year maintenance contracts to two local maintenance services.[5]

Construction of the line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue began on 19 November 1996. The project suffered multiple delays not only because of the 1997 economic crisis, but also due to challenging civil engineering works of constructing massive underground structures deep in the water-logged soil upon which the city is built.

The Blue Line was opened for a limited public trial period of several weeks starting on 13 April 2004. On 3 July 2004 the line was officially opened at 19:19 local time by HM King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit,[1] who were accompanied by other members of the royal family. Within 30 minutes of its opening, sightseers filled the system to its maximum capacity, but after the initial rush ridership settled down to around 180,000 riders daily — considerably lower than projections of over 400,000, despite fares being slashed in half from 12-38 baht to 10-15 baht per trip.

In line with Bangkok's rapid transit master plan the Blue Line has been extended, from Hua Lamphong to Lak Song and from Bang Sue to Tha Phra, forming a circle open-loop route. The contract for the first part of extension was signed on 26 August 2009[6] but was part of MRT Purple Line program. The Bang Sue - Tao Poon extension was opened on 11 August 2017.[7] Adding 1.2 km and 1 elevated station, Tao Poon, to the Blue line.[8][9]

The Blue Line extension program itself was initiated in 2008.[10] It will be a 27 km extension to Tha Phra and Lak Song with 19 stations, four underground and 15 elevated stations. Under this scheme, contract for civil work will be divined into five contracts. Tender was held and win bidder was announced in late 2010.[11][12][13] On 17 February 2011 all five contracts were signed.[14][15]

Construction commenced in mid-2011 for a scheduled 2016 opening but was delayed to 2019-2020. In August, 2017, BEM awarded the automatic fare collection ticket for the extension to Thales which will install its TransCity system.[16] The contract also includes ongoing training and future support. In September 2017, BEM announced that Siemens and ST Electronics Thailand were awarded the contract (Contract 5) to supply, install and maintain the E&S systems systems, install station platform screen doors and fit out the depot. Siemens also will supply 35 sets of rolling stock.[17]

In 2017, the cabinet approved the amendment of the Blue line concession[18] with BEM, and the new agreement was signed on 31 March 2017.[19] Under the new agreement, BEM will extend the service from Hua Lampong to Lak Song and Bang Sue to Tha Phra. The concession period was extended from 2029 to 2050.

• 
  Wat Mangkon station under construction. The station opened on 29 July 2019.
• 
  Bang Wa station under construction. The station opened on 29 July 2019.

The extension was opened in stages. The Hua Lamphong - Lak Song extension was opened on 29 July with full commercial service from 29 September 2019.

The Tao Poon - Tha Phra extension was opened on 29 November 2019 with full commercial service from 30 March 2020.

19 three-car Siemens Modular Metro were ordered for the initial part of the line. Trains entering service on 3 July 2004.[32] In 2017, BEM starts removing some seats from the train to increase interior space to cope with rising number of passenger. In 2019, BEM stated that it is interesting in refurbish first generation train. Including CCTV camera and new dynamic route map replacing traditional ones.[33]

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  First Generation train near Tao Poon station.
• 
  Interior of first generation trains. Noted only 1 row of handrails and hanging strap are present and with traditional route map above doors.

In 2017, BEM ordered 35 three-car Siemens Inspiro as part of the line extension program.[34][35] Under the contract, Siemens were to supply 35 trains and provide maintenance for ten years with a price tag of 20 billion baht. The fleet will be built in the Siemens plant in Vienna. First train arrived in 2019 with all trains expected to be delivered by early 2020.[36]

• 
  Second Generation train, Siemens Inspiro, delivered to the operator
• 
  Second Generation train
• 
  Interior of second generation trains. With 3 rows of handrails and hanging strap. Along with dynamic route map.
• 
  Dynamic route map on new trains

Since 2011, there were requests from residents to extend the line further from Lak Song west to the Phutthamonthon area. The MRTA has indicated a willingness to undertake this extension. In July 2014, the MRTA submitted a request for 84 million baht to complete a route survey for a 7.8 km extension from Lak Song to Phutthamonthon Sai 4.[47] In late March 2017, the Transport Ministry stated that this 7.8 km extension would be submitted to Cabinet for approval in April 2017. The expected timeframe was for construction to commence in the 4th quarter of 2017.[48] However, the tender was delayed until late 2019. In late 2019, the project was put on hold indefinitely due to cost and low ridership expected.[49]