The Ratchayothin and Lat Phrao stations on the Yellow Line monorail would be connected to the Green Line of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRT) by a 2.6-kilometer extension, according to the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTS), which stated its willingness to invest in the project.
BTS CEO Surapong Laoha-Unya said the extension would benefit commuters and that the business is eager to talk with the MRTA about the issue.
The Yellow Line, which runs 30.4 kilometers between Samrong in Samut Prakan and Lat Phrao in Bangkok, has 23 stations. At Samrong station, the monorail already has a connection to the MRT’s Green Line. According to Bangkok Post, the proposed extension will follow Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok and connect to the Green Line at Ratchayothin station.
The extension project is expected to cost between 3 and 4 billion baht, according to an unnamed source. Without the proposed link, commuters who wanted to change from the Yellow Line to the Green Line would have to reroute their trip through the MRT’s Blue Line, adding to the cost of their travel.
The source claimed that if the MRT accepts BTS’s offer to participate in the extension, it will probably demand compensation for lost income from the Blue Line. The Yellow Line will begin a trial service at 9 a.m. on Saturday before going into full operation at the beginning of the next month, according to Surapong.
With rates ranging from 15 to 45 baht, the BTS has submitted a tariff range based on the consumer price index (CPI) to the MRT for approval. The plan will then be presented by the MRT to the cabinet and the ministry of transportation for additional approval. Surapong stated…
The BTS is prepared for the trial run as the project’s safety and facilitation are now in place. On Lat Phrao Road, the project will assist reduce traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.
The BTS expects the opening of the Yellow Line to bring in about 1 billion baht in revenue.
