TRIAL operation has begun on Bangkok’s Pink Line monorail, with services free until the end of October ahead of the start of commercial services in November.
The 34.5km Pink Line has 30 stations and runs from Nonthaburi Civic Centre station, which interchanges with the Purple Line, to Min Buri station, which will interchange with the under-construction Orange Line. Construction of the Pink Line has been underway since 2016, with the government helping the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) of Thailand with land acquisition.
Trial operation was launched after Northern Bangkok Monorail (NBM), which was granted the concession to operate the line, completed its systems testing.
A source told the Bangkok Post that the line is opening earlier than planned.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced that it will begin operating services on the Red Line from Bang Sue at 05.00 instead of 05.30 due to growing ridership. SRT has also reduced the headways along the line, with trains operating every 10 minutes between 07.00-09.30 and 17.00-19.30 on the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal - Rangsit section. Services on this section will run every 15 minutes outside peak periods.
Between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and Taling Chan, services will continue to operate every 20 minutes.
The trial run follows the opening of the 30.4km Yellow Line, Thailand’s first staddle beam monorail, on June 19. The Yellow Line runs from Lat Phrao to Samrong, serving a total of 23 stations. The Yellow Line provides interchange with the Green Line elevated metro at Samrong, with the Airport Rail Link at Hua Mak and the Blue Line underground at Lat Phrao. It will also have an interchange with the Orange Line at Yaek Lam Sali.
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