MRT Brown Line
The MRT Brown Line is a 22.3 km rapid transit line in Bangkok, Thailand proposed as a monorail to run from Nonthaburi Civic Centre, Nonthaburi Province to Lam Sali intersection, Bang Kapi District. Between 20 and 23 stations are proposed for the line. The line has been integrated with the N2 expressway project and a feasibility study has been completed. The line will interchange with 7 other mass transit lines.
MRT Brown Line รถไฟฟ้าโมโนเรล สายสีน้ำตาล | |
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Overview | |
Type | Straddle-beam monorail |
System | MRT |
Status | Awaiting Cabinet approval |
Locale | Bangkok and Nonthaburi, Thailand |
Termini | Nonthaburi Civic Center Sammakon |
Stations | 20 (23) |
Operation | |
Opened | Awaiting Cabinet approval |
Owner | Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand |
Character | Elevated |
Rolling stock | N/A |
Technical | |
Line length | 22.3 kilometers (13.9 mi) (est.) |
Number of tracks | 2 monorail tracks |
Electrification | Third rail |
Operating speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
The MRT Brown line investment plan was approved by the MRTA Board in June 2019 for final detailed design. The project will still require final Cabinet approval and is planned to be tendered in 2020.
History
The line was first proposed as the Gold Line by the Pheu Thai party for the Bangkok Governors election held in March 2013. This was in response to objections by Kasetsart University and as an alternative to a long-proposed elevated Expressway extension, the N2 expressway project.[1] However, the Pheu Thai candidate did not win the election and the Gold Line proposal was dropped with the then Deputy Minister of Transport stating that land appropriation costs were too high.[2]
(However, the Gold Line name has been reworked into a now under construction automated people mover (APM) line of the BTS network.) Subsequently, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) reworked the Gold Line proposal into a new Brown Line monorail proposal following a comparable route.[3] The route was under preliminary study by OTP from June 2013, but did not progress much before the May 2014 coup and change of government.[4] Subsequently, the route was finalised by OTP and public hearing into the project were held during 2017 as the government proposed integrating the design with a new expressway. In mid 2017, the MOT announced that a final feasibility study would be completed over 14 months.
Note: This line is not to be confused with the original OTP 2004 13 km MRT Brown Line proposal from Bangkapi to Min Buri which was taken to the 2005 election. In 2009, this plan was subsequently changed and the original 13 km Brown Line was merged into an extended MRT Orange Line, which is currently under construction.
Route
The Brown Line starts at Nonthaburi Civic Centre where it interchanges with both the MRT Purple Line & MRT Pink Lines. It heads east along Ngam Wong Wan road to Khae Rai intersection and then Vihavadi-Rangsit road to interchange with the SRT Dark Red Line. The Brown line continues past Kasetsart University to interchange with the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Phahon Yothin Road.
The line continues east along Prasote Manukitch road (AKA Kaset-Nawamin rd) past Chalong Rat Expressway (interchanging with the proposed BMA Grey Line) to Nawamin Rd. It then turns south along Nawamin Road over Lam Phang Phuai and past Klong Chan Stadium. The line continues southeast along Nawamin rd where it terminates at Ramkhamhaeng rd (soi 129/1), Lam Sali junction to interchange with the MRT Orange Line and MRT Yellow Line.
Progress
In August 2013, the MRTA approved the line in principle with a goal to complete design by 2016 with an expected 3-year construction period.[5] However, the line was delayed while a long planned expressway along much of the same route was prioritized.[6] Public hearings on the Brown line where held in 2017. The MOT announced that a 14-month feasibility study into the line would be completed by 2018.[7]
The feasibility study was initially undertaken during the same period where design for the N2 expressway (which runs along Kaset-Namawin rd) is being finalised by EGAT without catering for the MRT Brown Line. Work is expected to commence on the expressway in 2019.[8] OTP and MOT subsequently proposed an integrated design and construction of the Brown Line jointly with the N2 expressway which was approved by Cabinet. However, the Brown Line crossing of Vihavadi-Rangsit rd and the Don Muang elevated expressway may require a diversion of the Brown Line further north as there may not be enough space for the line to pass at this point depending on the final route design of the N2 expressway.[9] In February 2018, OTP confirmed that the study integrating the Brown Line with the Expressway design would be done by June 2018.[10]
By August 2018, OTP had completed the feasibility study and conducted public hearings. Although, there was much public support for building the MRT Brown line, public opposition to the N2 expressway remained high. OTP intends to submit the project for Cabinet approval by the end of October 2018.[11] In early June, the MRTA Board approved the investment plan for the Brown Line and integrated design with the N2 Expressway conducted by EXAT.[12] The project is expected to tendered in 2020.
Stations
The 22.3 km Brown line is proposed to have between 20 and 23 stations:
Note: Station names are provisional.
Code | Station Name | Transfers | Opening | Province |
---|---|---|---|---|
Planned | B1 | Nonthaburi Civic Center | MRT MRL Nonthaburi Civic Center | Nonthaburi |
B2 | Khae Rai | |||
B3 | Khlong Yat Lao (Ngam Wong Wan 12) | Bangkok | ||
B4 | Pracha Chuen intersection | |||
B5 | Chinnakhet | |||
B6 | Klong Prem (TBC) | |||
B7 | Bang Khen | SRT Bang Khen Station (under construction) | ||
B8 | Kasetsart University (Gate 2) | |||
B9 | Bank of Agriculture | BTS Kasetsart Uni | ||
B10 | Bang Bua | |||
B11 | Lat Pla Khao | |||
B12 | Prasoet Manu Kit 25 | |||
B13 | Prasoet Manu Kit 18 | |||
B14 | Sukhonthasawat | |||
B15 | Chalong Rat | MRL Kaset Nawamin (proposed) | ||
B16 | Khlong Lamchiak | |||
B17 | Nuan Chan 11 | |||
B18 | Yaek Nawamin | |||
B19 | Inthrarak | |||
B20 | Nawamin 2 | |||
B21 | Nawamin Phirom | |||
B22 | Seri Thai/Khlong Chan Stadium | |||
B23 | Yaek Lam Sali | MRT MRL Lam Sali (under construction) | ||
References
- http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/335419/kasetsart-backs-light-rail-move
- http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/349823/city-expressway-plan-redrawn-to-go-north
- "MRTA endorses Brown Line (Khae Rai-Lam Salee)". The Nation. 21 August 2013.
- MRT Brown Line on Facebook
- "MRTA endorses Brown Line (Khae Rai-Lam Salee)". The Nation. Bangkok. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- http://www.manager.co.th/iBizChannel/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9590000088905
- "Govt mulls Brown Line feeder route to connect rail network". Bangkok Post. 27 July 2017.
- https://mgronline.com/business/detail/9600000095476
- "เคาะรถไฟสายสีน้ำตาล เสนอ'บิ๊กตู่'พิจารณามี.ค.นี้.... อ่านต่อได้ที่". Post Today. 24 January 2018.
- "Brown Line monorail, expressway take shape". Bangkok Post. 20 February 2018.
- "Monorail plan heads to cabinet". Bangkok Post. 24 August 2018.
- https://www.khaosod.co.th/economics/news_2589584
See also
- Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
- Bangkok Metro
- MRT Blue Line
- MRT Grey Line
- MRT Light Blue Line
- MRT Orange Line
- MRT Pink 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.