MRT Purple Line

Description

The Purple Line serves travellers between the northwestern suburbs of Bangkok in Nonthaburi Province and the southern area of Thonburi in Rat Burana District. It runs through downtown along Samsen Road, passing the Rattanakosin old quarter and historical places in Dusit and Phra Nakhon District: the national library, Thewet market, Bang Lamphu, the Democracy Monument, the Golden Mount, Phahurat, the Memorial Bridge, and the Wongwian Yai roundabout. It will also serve the new Thai parliament at the Kiak Kai intersection.

The line is divided into two sections, 23 km from Tao Poon - Khlong Bang Phai, which is operational, and 19.8 km from Tao Poon - Rat Burana. The first section was originally scheduled to be open in late 2014, but was delayed until August 2016.

This is the first Bangkok metro line into an adjacent province: the northern terminus, Khlong Bang Phai Station, is in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi Province.

There is a one kilometre missing link between the Purple Line's terminus at Tao Poon and the MRT Blue line at Bang Sue. An extension to the Blue Line is under construction to join the two lines. Until completion, passengers must take shuttle buses to transfer between the two lines. The missing link is blamed for low ridership, with only 22,000 daily passengers compared to projected numbers of 100,000.

The line is indicated by the colour purple on network maps.

Alignment

The Tao Poon - Khlong Bang Phai section starts from the Tao Poon elevated station at Tao Poon junction, where it transfers to the MRT Blue Line extension. It runs north on a viaduct along Krung Thep-Nonthaburi Road, providing transfer to the Red commuter railway at Bang Son railway station, and approaches Mueang Nonthaburi District of Nonthaburi Province. The line goes further north via Tiwanon Road, passes the Ministry of Public Health, then turns at the Khae Rai junction to west Nonthaburi via Rattanathibet Road, passes the Nonthaburi Government Centre, crosses the Chao Phraya River on a viaduct parallel to the Phra Nangklao Bridge. Then it continues to a large residential area in Bang Yai District and turns to the north along Kanchanaphisek Road, passes Bang Yai market, and terminates at Khlong Bang Phai in Bang Bua Thong District. The total length is 23 kilometres (14 mi).

Construction contracts

Construction is divided into three separate contracts. The first covers Bang Sue - Tao Poon - Phra Nangklao Bridge, a distance of 12 km, with nine stations. This contract includes construction of a 1.2 km extension of the MRT Blue Line from Bang Sue to Tao Poon where the Blue Line and the Purple Line will interchange.

The second contract covers the Phra Nangklao Bridge (including a new bridge) - Bang Yai District - Khlong Bang Phai terminus, with a length of 11 km and seven stations. The third contract is for the construction of a train depot at the Bang Yai terminus and four park and ride buildings at Khlong Bang Phai, Sam Yaek Bang Yai, Tha It, and the Yaek Nonthaburi stations.

In September 2013, BEM (operator of the MRT Blue Line) signed an 82.6 billion baht contract with the MRTA for the procurement of rolling stock, installation of E&S systems, and operation and maintenance of the Purple Line. The concession is for a 30-year period.

The sixth contract, which was due to be awarded in mid-2011 for the laying of track was delayed for over one year due to internal disputes within the MRTA and uncertainty about the bidding process. However, this contract was finalised in October 2012.

In October 2012, BEM, private operator of the MRT Blue line, was granted a 30-year concession to operate the Purple Line and supply rolling stock and electrical systems.

As of July 2014, civil works construction was 94 percent complete which is three percent behind schedule. As of October 2014, civil works were stated to be 99% complete.

Rolling stock

In November 2013, BEM contracted with Marubeni Corp, Toshiba Corp, and East Japan Railway Company to install E&S systems, supply 63 cars of rolling stock, and provide maintenance for 10 years as part of a contract worth 12.6 billion baht.

East Japan Railway train manufacturing subsidiary J-TREC will build the 21 trains (three car sets) in Yokohama with delivery due in early 2016.

Stations

In the table below, names in italics indicate that the station is under construction and not yet in operation.

Future extension

Phase 2, south: The proposed extension from Tao Pun - Rat Burana will run south through Bangkok's old quarter from Tao Pun junction on a viaduct. It then will go into an underground structure along Sam Sen Road, passing the new Thai parliament site, and transfers to the proposed Red inner-city shortcut commuter at Sanghi intersection. It passes the national library in Dusit District before it reaches Phra Nakhon District at Thewet Market. The line turns east at Bang Lamphu and goes along the city moat to the south, with transfers possible to the planned MRT Orange Line at Ratchadamnoen Road near the Democracy Monument. It passes Golden Mount before possible transfers to the southern extension of the Blue Line at Wang Burapha near Yaowarat Road in Chinatown and the Phahurat textile market.

The route traverses the Chao Phraya River near the Memorial Bridge, heading towards the Wongwian Yai roundabout in Thonburi on the west bank. Here, passengers can transfer to the Dark Red Line commuter service or the Wongwian Yai BTS Station. It then proceeds south to Chom Thong, extending onto an elevated structure for approximately 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles), and concludes in Rat Burana District. This final stretch is situated near the Phra Pradaeng suburb in Samut Prakan Province. The entire line spans roughly 19.8 kilometers, featuring eleven underground stations and five elevated ones.

North: A 4.5 km extension from Bang Yai to Bang Bua Thong intersection, which is not part of the original Purple Line plan, is under consideration due to a request from the Nonthaburi governor.