Pink Line (Bangkok)

MRT Pink Line
สายสีชมพู
MRT Pink Line; สายสีชมพู
Overview
Status	Under Construction
Owner	Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand
Locale	Nonthaburi and Bangkok, Thailand
Termini	; Min Buri
Stations	30
Service
Type	Monorail
System	Metropolitan Rapid Transit
Operator(s)	Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited
Depot(s)	Min Buri
Rolling stock	Bombardier INNOVIA Monorail 300; 4 cars per trainset
History
Planned opening	1st Section: after June 2022
Technical
Line length	34.5 kilometers (21.4 mi) (est.)
Number of tracks	2 monorail tracks
Character	Elevated
Electrification	750 V DC
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
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The MRT Pink Line is an elevated mass rapid transit line (monorail train) currently under construction in Bangkok and Nonthaburi Province, Thailand.

The monorail will be 34.5 km long and will contain 30 stations. It will run in the northern part of the city from Minburi District in east Bangkok, along Ram Inthra Road, to Chaeng Watthana Road and Tiwanon Road in Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi (northwest Bangkok), ending at the Nonthaburi Civic Center. At the terminus there will be an interchange with MRT Purple Line and the proposed MRT Brown Line. The BSR joint venture (BTS Group Holdings 75% majority stake, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction STEC, and Ratch Group RATCH) won the bid to construct and operate the Pink Line. The Pink Line will also connect with the SRT Dark Red Line currently under construction, the BTS Sukhumvit Line extension to Khu Khot, and the planned BMA Grey Line, and interchange with the MRT Orange Line currently under construction. The line is designed to link the northern areas of Bangkok & Nonthaburi by connecting with 5 mass transit lines along a major east–west transport corridor.

Construction of the Pink Line began in December 2017. In October 2020, the BSR stated that they aimed to open the first section of the MRT Pink Line by October 2021, with trains initially operating from stations Miniburi (PK30) to Government Complex (PK12). The remainder of the line was to then fully open by June 2022.^[1] However, due to ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks in Bangkok delaying construction, the BSR has stated that the first section will now probably not open until after June 2022.^[2]

Construction progress was 80.56% by the end of July 2021.^[3]

The BSR joint venture proposed an additional 2.8 km, 2 station spur line link from Si Rat station to Impact, Muang Thong Thani, which has been subsequently approved by the MRTA.^[4] The spur line proposal required a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which was completed in August 2020.^[5] The proposal was presented to Cabinet for approval, with the goal of beginning its construction before the end of 2020.^[6] On 22 October 2020, the National Environment Board, chaired by the Deputy PM, approved the EIA. On 9 February 2021, Cabinet approved the 2.8 km spur line which is expected to cost 3.37 billion baht.^[7] Construction of the spur line was due to commence in July 2021. However, due to Covid-19 outbreaks in greater Bangkok construction has been delayed until December 2021.

Route[]

The line begins at Nonthaburi Civic Center near Khae Rai Junction, Nonthaburi Province, in the northwest of Greater Bangkok. It heads north along Tiwanon Road to Pak Kret Intersection, Pak Kret District, before turning east to run parallel with Chaeng Watthana Road. It interchanges with the SRT Dark Red Line and passes over Vibhavadi Rangsit Road running east through the Ram Inthra intersection and the Lak Si monument in Bang Khen District, where it meets the BTS Sukhumvit Line. The line then continues farther east along Ram Inthra Road to the northeast of Bangkok before terminating at Minburi, where it meets the MRT Orange Line.

History[]

The MRT Pink Line was first proposed in 2005 by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning as a heavy rail underground line. It was changed to a monorail line in 2008 to reduce construction costs. 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 Bangkok Government Complex.^[8] A review was undertaken in early 2012 to reconsider the heavy rail option, but cost restraints prevailed and the Office decided to continue with the monorail plan. The review of the line did result, however, in the addition of 6 new stations. The environmental impact assessment for the Pink Line was finalized in late 2012. In late 2012, a request to extend the planned line east an additional 3.4 km (from the Minburi terminus along Suwinthawongse Road to Nong Chok) was submitted.^[9] However, the extension was not implemented. The expected cost of the line in 2012 with the additional 6 extra stations was 55 billion baht.^[10]

The MRT Pink line was due to be tendered in the 3rd quarter of 2013 with construction due to commence in early 2014.^[11] However, delays in preparation of the tender in relation to the selection of monorail rolling stock and political protests resulting in a snap national election in early Feb 2014 further delayed the Pink Line tender.^[12] A coup in May 2014 resulted in a new military administration and the tender being deferred to 2014. The MRTA tender was not released as a PPP tender until mid-2016.

In early December 2016, the BSR Joint Venture won the bid for the project and a 30-year concession to operate the line. The BSR also won the bid for the MRT Yellow Line.^[13]

On 16 June 2017, the MRT Pink Line project contracts were signed by the BSR consortium with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand.^[14] The BSR has established Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited to operate the line.

Construction Progress[]

Construction of the MRT Pink Line began in December 2017 with the BSR consortium establishing a number of preparation work sites and closing lanes along the east-west Chaeng Wattana-Ram Inthra corridor.^[15] By 30 September 2018, overall construction was 10.37% complete.^[16] Construction work on Tiwanon Road began at the end of October 2018 with the temporary closure of long stretches of the middle lanes between Khae Rai and Pak Kret intersections. Construction had progressed to 31.46% complete by the end of March 2019.^[17] By the end of July 2019, completion of civil constructions had further progressed to 40.13%.^[18] Overall construction was 48.15% complete at the end of November 2019.^[19] By the end of January 2020, construction had progressed to 51.96%.^[20] By the end of May 2020, construction had progressed to 58.78%.^[21] At the end of July 2020, construction had progressed to 61.83%.^[22] At the end of September 2020, construction was 66.31% complete.^[23] Construction was 70.32% complete by the end of December 2020.^[24] Construction progress was 74.14% complete by the end of February 2021.^[25] Construction progress was 77.57% complete by the end of April 2021.^[26]

The terminus station at Nonthaburi Civic Center (PK01) has been moved 337 meters closer to the Esplanade at Khae Rai junction due to objections from civil servants working at the provincial office who were concerned that their view of the outside would be obstructed. A new EIA was completed for the relocation but the new station location required Cabinet approval, causing delays in the opening of this section of the line.^[1] Nopparat station (PK26) has also been moved 313 meters away from Nopparat Rajathanee hospital due to the construction of a new Department of Highways bridge. The Cabinet agreed to the amended EIA for the relocation of both stations on 20 October 2020.^[27]

Construction progress was 80.56% complete by the end of July 2021.^[28]

Muang Thong Thani Spur Line[]

In 2016, the 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. Accordingly, the BSR joint venture proposed a 2.8 km, 2 station spur monorail route to link to Impact, Muang Thong Thani from Si Rat station.^[4] The two stations will be located adjacent to the Impact Challenger building near Muang Thong Thani Lake and the Impact Forum. In early August 2018, a second public hearing was conducted by the MRTA into the extension proposal.^[29]

The spur line proposal required a new EIA, which was completed in August 2020.^[5] The proposal was then presented to Cabinet for approval with the goal of commencing construction before the end of 2020.^[6] On 22 October 2020, the National Environment Board chaired by the Deputy PM approved the EIA. The MRTA will evaluate construction costs of the spur line with BSR, with the final proposal to be presented to Cabinet for approval by the end of November 2020.^[30] On 9 February 2021, Cabinet approved the 2.8 km spur line which is expected to cost 3.37 billion baht.^[7] Construction of the spur line was due to commence in July 2021. However, due to Covid-19 outbreaks in greater Bangkok construction has been delayed until December 2021.

The MRTA may also consider a further 2 km extension from Muang Thong Thani to Tiwanon rd.^[31]

Rolling stock[]

BSR has selected Bombardier INNOVIA 300 monorail rolling stock for the Pink Line.^[32] The BSR has announced that they will purchase 42 four car sets to operate the line.^[33] The total order of 70 sets of trains for the MRT Pink and MRT Yellow lines costed 50 billion baht. These trains will be manufactured at CRRC Puzhen Bombardier Transportation factory in Wuhu, Anhui, China. The first set has been assembled and was shipped on 4 September 2020, arriving Thailand at the end of September 2020.^[34] The first set arrived in Thailand on 1 October at Laem Chabang port with a handover ceremony attended by the Thai Prime Minister, the Bangkok Mass Transit System PLC. (BTSC) Chairman, MRTA and the Canadian Ambassador to Thailand.^[35] By July 2021, 8 sets had been delivered and were being tested. ^[36]

All sets are due to be delivered by early 2022.

Innovia Monorail 300, Line 15 (Silver), São Paulo Metro, Brazil

Technical Characteristics

Low profile vehicles/low floor height above beam^[37]
Distinct sloped nose/end-cap
Inter-car walkthrough^[37]
Rubber-tires and permanent magnet motor^[37]
Aluminum body, steel underframe, composite end cap
Innovia Monorails are all fully automated and are equipped with CITYFLO 650 communications-based train control for driverless operation to increase reliability, shorten head ways between trains and lower maintenance costs.^[38]

Guidebeams[]

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.^[37] The Innovia Monorail 300 was designed to navigate curves as tight as 46 m and a maximum grade of 6%. Monorail switches will be either beam replacement or multi-position pivot switches.^[39] The system will have evacuation walkways down the entire length of the guidebeam. These walkways will allow passengers to escape onboard hazards. These walkways will be used by the maintenance crew for repairs and general maintenance to the system.^[40]

List of planned stations[]

Originally, the line was designed to have 24 stations, 4 of which would be transfer stations and 2 of which would 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^[41]	No. of Platform	Transfer(s)	Province

	Nonthaburi Civic Center	2	MRT MRT (approved, design phase)	Nonthaburi
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2	MRL Impact Link (under construction)
		2		Bangkok
		2
		2
	Lak Si	2	SRT
		2
	Wat Phra Sri Mahathat	2	BTS
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2	MRL (proposed)
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2
		2	MRT (under construction)

Impact Link (Spur line)

		2	MRL Main Line	Nonthaburi
PK41		2
PK42		2