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BTS Light Green Line (Sukhumvit)
East:
1) Bearing to Samut Prakan, 12.6 km, 7 stations + 2 to be built later (E15-E23) (construction started March 2012 for completion in 2015).

North:
1) Mo Chit station to Saphan Mai, 11.4 km, 11 stations (N9 – N20), (planned)
2) Saphan Mai to Lam Lukka, 14 km, 9 stations (N21-N28), (planned)

South:
1) Wong Wian Yai to Bang Wa (Phetkasem road), 5.3 km - 4 stations (S9 - S12) only to be built as the viaduct is already completed; Construction started early 2011; with S9 & S10 having opened in early 2013, and S11 & S12 may follow in late 2013.

SRT: Suburban Rail System (elevated, 1000 mm gauge):

1) Light Red Line: Bang Sue - Taling Chan (narrow gauge), 5 stations, 15 km. Construction commenced early 2009. Line opened for trial services (3 stations) on 5 Dec 2012. (Website)
2) Dark Red Line: Bang Sue - Rangsit (narrow gauge), 8 stations, 26 km (Contracted)
3) Light Red Line extension: Taling Chan to Salaya, 4 stations, 12 km. (Planned)

Airport Rail Link:
Extension from Makkasan (City Air Terminal) to new Bang Sue Terminal and Don Muang Airport (2nd Airport): 5 stations, 21.8 km (18.3 km elevated, 3.5 km underground)

MRTA:

1) Purple Line (Tao Pun - Phra Nangklao - Bang Yai): 16 stations, 23km. (Construction started early 2010, opening 2015) (Website)

2) Blue Line extension (Ring Line - construction started mid-2011, opening 2016) (Website):
a) Bang Sue - Tha Phra, 13.1 km with 7 elevated stations;
b) Taopoon - Tha Phra, 11.9 km with 6 elevated stations;
c) Hua Lamphong - Lak SOng, 13.9 km of which 8.9 km elevated and 4.8 km underground (including 4 underground stations);

3) Pink Line (Pak Kret-Lak Si-Min Buri): 22 stations, 36km (elevated monorail).

4) Orange Line (Bang Bamru-Bang Kapi-Min Buri ): 37 km long (26 km, underground, 11 km elevated); (Website)

5) Yellow Line (Lat Phrao-Bangkapi-Samrong): 21 stations, 31 km long (elevated). (Planned)

System
The present Bangkok mass transit system comprises two different types of metros: 1) the elevated BTS system, the so-called Skytrain - rot fai fah in Thai, and 2) the underground MRT subway. Although BTS and MRT use similar technology (trains, signalling & train control), there is no track connection between them. All MRT stations are equipped with platform-screen-doors, which does not apply to any BTS station. Besides the mass transit rail systems, Water Buses provide a fast transport service on the Chao Phraya River; at present, transfer to the BTS system is only possible at Saphan Taksin station.
	Green Lines (BTS-Skytrain)
This is a completely elevated system built by Siemens as a turnkey project, opened in 1999, initially 23 km long with 23 stations. The BTS system consists of two lines: the *Sukhumvit Line* (22 km) and the Silom Line (8.5 km). Track gauge is 1435 mm and power supply is via third rail at 750 V DC. 3-car trains are 65 m long (a fourth car being added to all trains between 2012 and 2013), air-conditioned and run at an average speed of 35 kph. Saphan Taksin station on the Silom Line was only planned as a temporary station, but as it offers an excellent connection to the Water Buses on Chao Phraya River, it remains open after the extension to Wongwian Yai, although the single-track section at Saphan Taksin station limits the capacity on the Silom Line. The elevated Green Line depot is connected to Mo Chit station. 05 Dec 1999: basic BTS network - Sukhumvit Line Mo Chit - On Nut - Silom Line National Stadium - Saphan Taksin 15 May 2009: Silom Line Saphan Taksin - Wong Wian Yai 12 Aug 2011: Sukhumvit Line On Nut - Bearing (5.25 km) 12 Jan 2013: Silom Line Wong Wian Yai - Pho Nimit 14 Feb 2013: Silom Line Pho Nimit - Talat Phlu Photos © Neil Madhvani \| Craig Moore
	Blue Line (MRTA)
In August 1997 construction work began on this 21 km underground full metro with 18 stations; it finally opened for trial service in April 2004. In December 2001, Siemens was awarded the contract to build 19 three-car trains for this line and to provide the necessary operating equipment. A 1-station extension from Bang Sue to Tao Pun is planned to create an interchange with the future Purple Line; the Blue Line would be on surface at Tao Pun station. The standard Blue Line station has an island platform on level -3. Sam Yan, Silom and Lumphini stations have side platforms on different levels, each with trains to Bang Sue on level -2, and trains to Hua Lamphong on level -4, whereas Bang Sue and Khlong Toei stations have two side platforms on the same level. Thailand Cultural Centre is much bigger than other comparable stations: the Blue Line stops on level -3, while level -2 is prepared to accommodate the Orange Line in the future. The surface Blue Line depot is connected directly to both Thailand Cultural Centre and Phra Ram 9 stations. A track connection between Blue and Orange Lines will be made via this depot. 13 April 2004 - Blue Line trial service 03 July 2004 - Blue Line Bang Sue - Hua Lampong (normal revenue service) Phetchaburi station © Neil Madhvani
	City Line & Airport Rail Link
28 km elevated line with 8 stations, standard gauge, from Phrayat Thai via Makkasan/City-Terminal to Suvarnabhumi Airport), every 15 minutes, shared with special non-stop airport express which departs from Makkasan/City-Terminal, opened for commercial operation on 23 August 2010. 23 Aug 2010 - City Line & Airport Rail Link Photos © Amnat Phutthamrong
Projects
BTS Light Green Line (Sukhumvit) East: 1) Bearing to Samut Prakan, 12.6 km, 7 stations + 2 to be built later (E15-E23) (construction started March 2012 for completion in 2015). North: 1) Mo Chit station to Saphan Mai, 11.4 km, 11 stations (N9 – N20), (planned) 2) Saphan Mai to Lam Lukka, 14 km, 9 stations (N21-N28), (planned) Dark Green Line (Silom) South: 1) Wong Wian Yai to Bang Wa (Phetkasem road), 5.3 km - 4 stations (S9 - S12) only to be built as the viaduct is already completed; Construction started early 2011; with S9 & S10 having opened in early 2013, and S11 & S12 may follow in late 2013. SRT: Suburban Rail System (elevated, 1000 mm gauge): 1) Light Red Line: Bang Sue - Taling Chan (narrow gauge), 5 stations, 15 km. Construction commenced early 2009. Line opened for trial services (3 stations) on 5 Dec 2012. (Website) 2) Dark Red Line: Bang Sue - Rangsit (narrow gauge), 8 stations, 26 km (Contracted) 3) Light Red Line extension: Taling Chan to Salaya, 4 stations, 12 km. (Planned) Airport Rail Link: Extension from Makkasan (City Air Terminal) to new Bang Sue Terminal and Don Muang Airport (2nd Airport): 5 stations, 21.8 km (18.3 km elevated, 3.5 km underground) MRTA: 1) Purple Line (Tao Pun - Phra Nangklao - Bang Yai): 16 stations, 23km. (Construction started early 2010, opening 2015) (Website) 2) Blue Line extension (Ring Line - construction started mid-2011, opening 2016) (Website): a) Bang Sue - Tha Phra, 13.1 km with 7 elevated stations; b) Taopoon - Tha Phra, 11.9 km with 6 elevated stations; c) Hua Lamphong - Lak SOng, 13.9 km of which 8.9 km elevated and 4.8 km underground (including 4 underground stations); 3) Pink Line (Pak Kret-Lak Si-Min Buri): 22 stations, 36km (elevated monorail). 4) Orange Line (Bang Bamru-Bang Kapi-Min Buri ): 37 km long (26 km, underground, 11 km elevated); (Website) 5) Yellow Line (Lat Phrao-Bangkapi-Samrong): 21 stations, 31 km long (elevated). (Planned)
Photos
Photos © Ron Morris Photos © Neil Madhvani


Links
BTS Skytrain Official Page Bangkok Metro Company (Blue Line - official) MRTA Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand Airport Rail Link Bangkok Skytrain and Bangkok Metro at Wikipedia Suvarnabhumi Airport Link at Wikipedia 2bangkok.com (News about Mass Transit) Railway Technology - Bangkok Metro Skytrain Map on city map Norbert Pogrzeba has some more pictures Bangkok Rapid Transit Map at Johomaps.com Bangkok Rapid Transit map at SEA City Maps