Blue Line (Bangkok)

MRT Blue Line
EMU-BLE approaching Tha Phra station upper-level platform.
Overview
Other name(s)	MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line
Native name	สายสีน้ำเงิน สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล
Owner	Mass Rapid Transit Authority
Locale	Bangkok
Termini	BL01  Tha Phra  BL38  Lak Song (via  BL19  Thailand Cultural Centre)
Stations	Total : 42 stations 38 (operational) 4 (future)
Color on map	Blue
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	MRT
Operator(s)	Bangkok Expressway and Metro
Depot(s)	Phra Ram 9 Depot Phetkasem Depot
Rolling stock	Siemens Modular Metro EMU-IBL: 19 three-car trains Siemens EMU-BLE: 35 three-car trains Future Siemens Rolling Stocks 21 three-car trains [1]
Daily ridership	424,398 (2024)
History
Commenced	2 December 1996; 28 years ago (1996-12-02)
Opened	3 July 2004; 20 years ago (2004-07-03)
Last extension	23 December 2019; 5 years ago (2019-12-23)
Technical
Line length	Total: 55.63 km (34.57 mi) 46.91 km (29.15 mi) (operational) 8.72 km (5.42 mi) (future)
Character	Elevated: 29.5 km (18.3 mi) Underground: 26.13 km (16.24 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Signalling	Siemens Trainguard LZB700M fixed block ATC under ATO GoA 2 (STO)
Route map Legend Tha Phra  MRT  Charan 13 Fai Chai Bang Khun Non  MRT  Bang Yi Khan Sirindhorn Bang Phlat Bang O Chao Phraya River Bang Pho Tao Poon  MRT  Bang Sue Bang Sue Central  SRT   SRT   ARL  Kamphaeng Phet Chatuchak Park  BTS  Sukhumvit Line Phahon Yothin Lat Phrao  MRT  Ratchadaphisek Sutthisan Huai Khwang Thailand Cultural Centre  MRT  Rama 9 Depot Phra Ram 9 Airport Rail Link Light Red Line Phetchaburi  SRT   ARL  Sukhumvit  BTS  Sukhumvit Line Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre Khlong Toei Lumphini Si Lom  BTS  Silom Line Sam Yan Hua Lamphong  SRT  Dark Red Line Wat Mangkon Sam Yot  MRT  Sanam Chai Chao Phraya River Itsaraphap Tha Phra  MRT  Bang Phai Silom Line Bang Wa  BTS  Phetkasem 48 Phetkasem Depot Phasi Charoen Bang Khae Lak Song Phutthamonthon Sai 2 Thawi Watthana Phutthamonthon Sai 3 Phutthamonthon Sai 4 This diagram: view talk edit

The MRT Blue Line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายสีน้ำเงิน) or MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkon Line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล) is Bangkok's third rapid transit line, following the Sukhumvit line and Silom line of the BTS Skytrain. It is the first line of the MRT system and is operated by Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM). The line has a total length of 48 km (29.83 mi), operating as a semi-circle or spiral route from Lak Song to Tha Phra which also serves as a self-interchange station.

The first stage of the MRT Blue Line, a 20 km (12.43 mi) semi-circle alignment from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue opened on 3 July 2004, which was then followed by a 1.2 km (0.75 mi) extension to Tao Poon opened on 11 August 2017. The line was extended to the west from Hua Lamphong through new stations in Bangkok Chinatown and Ko Rattanakosin on 29 September 2019. Finally, the line was extended south from Tao Poon to Tha Phra through new stations in Thonburi on 30 March 2020, completing the semi-circle line. Another 7.8 km (4.8 mi), 4 station extension from Lak Song to Phutthamonthon Sai 4 is planned but remains unbuilt.

The MRT Blue line connects major business, residential and cultural areas of Bangkok. In late 2019, the average daily ridership was 400,000.^[2] During the third wave of COVID-19 in Bangkok, ridership fell to between 76,000 - 116,000 per weekday during the year 2021.^[3]