Yellow Line (Bangkok)

The line starts at the intersection of Ratchadaphisek and Lat Phrao roads where it interchanges with the MRT Blue Line at Lat Phrao station. The line then heads east along Lat Phrao road to Bang Kapi intersection and south to Lam Sali station to interchange with the MRT Orange Line and the future MRT Brown Line. The line continues further south along Srinagarindra Road to Hua Mak where it interchanges with the Airport Rail Link at Hua Mak station.

From Hua Mak, the route continues south along Srinagarindra Road past the Debaratna (Bang Na-Trat) Road all the way to Thepharak Road in Samut Prakan Province, then heading west along Thepharak Road where it terminates at Samrong and interchanges with Samrong of the BTS Sukhumvit Line.[14]

The line stretches from Lat Phrao (YL1) to Samrong (YL23) and the depot is located at Debaratana Road adjacent to Si Iam station (YL17).

Si Iam MRT station during the trial period

The Yellow line was first proposed in the mid 1990s as a monorail line by Japanese consultants with little or no progress for 10 years. In 2004, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) reworked the proposal as a heavy rail line with underground and elevated sections as part of the 10 line metro plan which was taken to the February 2005 election. In 2009, it was suggested to change the line to an elevated monorail line as a cost saving measure. In December 2011, the MRTA was instructed by the MOT to divide the Yellow Line into two phases for tender and construction purposes and to reduce land appropriation costs.[15] In June 2012, the MRTA contracted consultants to undertake detailed designs of the line. In February 2013, OTP stated that the tender for the Yellow Line should be ready by late 2013 for tender in early 2014.[16] By August 2013, this timeline had changed to a mid 2014 tender date.[17]

However, similar to the MRT Pink Line, delays in finalising the technical requirements of the tender in relation to the selection of monorail rolling stock which determines the type of track to be constructed resulted in further delays. The subsequent political turmoil of late 2013 and early 2014 caused even more delays. Thereafter, a coup in May 2014 resulted in a new military administration and the tender being deferred while a review of all mass transit projects was undertaken for a period of 18 months. The MRTA was instructed by the junta government to change to a PPP tender process which was subsequently not released until mid-2016. In early December 2016, The BSR consortium consisting of BTS Group Holdings (75% majority stake) with Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction (STEC), and Ratchaburi Electricity Generation Holding (RATCH), won the bid construct and operate the Yellow Line. The BSR also won the bid to build and operate the MRT Pink Line.[18]

On June 16, 2017, the contract was signed for the project between the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and BSR consortium. The BSR established the Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (EBM) to operate the line. A proposed 2 station extension of the route north from the Lat Phrao terminus to link to the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Ratchayothin station has also been proposed by the BSR Joint Venture.[19] However, this extension is opposed by the MRT Blue Line operator BEM due to concerns regarding loss of revenue.[20]

Construction of the Yellow Line began in March 2018.[21]

The public trial run started on 3 June 2023, between Hua Mak and Samrong. The Phawana-Si Kritha section will open on 12 June,[11] while Lat Phrao station opened on 19 June.[12][13]

Innovia Monorail 300 rolling stock used on the line, approaching Chok Chai 4 station

BSR selected Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 rolling stock for the Yellow line.[22] The BSR announced that they would purchase 28 4-car sets to operate the Yellow line.[23] The trains were manufactured by CRRC Puzhen Bombardier Transportation Systems (joint venture of Bombardier Transportation and CRRC Nanjing Puzhen) in Wuhu, Anhui, China. The first set was assembled and shipped on 4 September 2020 with delivery to Thailand at the end of September 2020.[24] The first set arrived in Thailand on 1 October 2020 at Laem Chabang port with a handover ceremony attended by the Thai Prime Minister, BTSC Chairman, MRTA and Canadian Ambassador.[25] Two more sets arrived in mid December 2020 for a total of 5 sets by the end of 2020. By July 2021, 8 sets had been delivered and were being tested.[26] As of the end of October 2021, 12 sets had been delivered.[27] By the end of November 2021, the BSR stated that 20 sets had been delivered with the remaining sets expected to be fully delivered by the end of March 2022.[7] However, as of mid April 2022 only 26 sets had been received and were progressing undergoing testing.[28] The remaining sets were expected to be delivered by July 2022.

Technical Characteristics

• Low profile vehicles/low floor height above beam[29]
• Distinct sloped nose/end-cap
• Inter-car walkthrough[29]
• Rubber-tires and permanent magnet motor[29]
• Aluminium body, steel underframe, composite end cap
• 4-car sets have a capacity of 24,100 pax p/h each way and 8-car sets a capacity of 49.600 pax p/h each way with a 75-second headway.[30]
• Innovia Monorails are all fully automated and are equipped with CITYFLO 650 GOA 4 (Fully Automated Trian Control)communications-based train control for driverless operation to increase reliability, shorten head ways between trains and lower maintenance costs.[31]

The BSR stated that the passenger capacity for 4-car sets will be 17,000 passengers per hour each way.

Guidebeams

Construction of MRT Yellow Line on Lat Phrao road

The Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 operates on a narrow, elevated guidebeam. Pre-cast, post-tensioned guidebeams are constructed at an off-site location and later installed on the system. The guidebeams are 690 mm (27 in) wide.[29] The Innovia Monorail 300 was designed to navigate curves as tight as 46 m (151 ft) and a maximum grade of 6%. Monorail switches are either beam replacement or multi-position pivot switches.[32] The system has evacuation walkways down the entire length of the guidebeam. These walkways allow passengers to escape any onboard hazard. The maintenance crew also uses these walkways for repairs and general maintenance to the system.[33]

Code	Station Name		Transfers	Opened	Province
	English	Thai
YL1	Lat Phrao	ลาดพร้าว	MRT  Lat Phrao	19 June 2023[12][13]	Bangkok
YL2	Phawana	ภาวนา		12 June 2023[11]
YL3	Chok Chai 4	โชคชัย 4
YL4	Lat Phrao 71	ลาดพร้าว 71
YL5	Lat Phrao 83	ลาดพร้าว 83	MRL  Chalong Rat (proposed)
YL6	Mahat Thai	มหาดไทย
YL7	Lat Phrao 101	ลาดพร้าว 101
YL8	Bang Kapi	บางกะปิ
YL9	Yaek Lam Sali	แยกลำสาลี	MRT  Yaek Lam Sali (under construction)  MRT  Chalong Rat (design phase)
YL10	Si Kritha	ศรีกรีฑา
YL11	Hua Mak	หัวหมาก	SRT  Hua Mak (tender in 2023)  ARL  Hua Mak	3 June 2023[34]
YL12	Kalantan	กลันตัน
YL13	Si Nut	ศรีนุช
YL14	Srinagarindra 38	ศรีนครินทร์ 38
YL15	Suan Luang Rama IX	สวนหลวง ร.9
YL16	Si Udom	ศรีอุดม
YL17	Si Iam	ศรีเอี่ยม	BTS  (planned)
YL18	Si La Salle	ศรีลาซาล
YL19	Si Bearing	ศรีแบริ่ง			Samut Prakan
YL20	Si Dan	ศรีด่าน
YL21	Si Thepha	ศรีเทพา
YL22	Thipphawan	ทิพวัล
YL23	Samrong	สำโรง	BTS  Samrong

Route diagram shown at Si Thepha station

The 30.4 km Yellow Line has 23 stations.[35]

A typical station, pictured here is Si La Salle (YL18)

A proposed 2 station extension of the route north from the current Ratchada terminus to link to the BTS Sukhumvit Line Extension at Ratchayothin station has also been proposed by the BSR Joint Venture.[19] However, this extension is opposed by the MRT Blue Line operator BEM,[20] estimating about 988 million baht loss on the extension's first year of service and 2.7 billion baht throughout the 30-year concession period.[36]

The extension was approved in February 2021, with construction set to be completed in 2024.[37] However, EBM has repeatedly denied MRTA's request to provide a compensation for BEM, which may result in a cancellation of the extension if no decision has been made.[36][38]

The Yellow Line terminates at Samrong. A future extension from Samrong across the Chao Phraya River to link with the MRT Purple Line at Rat Burana was canvassed by the OTP in the early 2010s. However, the location and design of Samrong station excludes any further extension of the line west of Sukhumvit Road.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MRT Yellow Line.

• "MRTA Yellow Line website
• MRTA
• MRT Yellow Line and MRT Pink Line Alstom News