The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has officially opened Bangkok Blue Line extension which able to carry approximately 500,000 passengers per day and seamlessly connects the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya river to the rest of the city which suffers from traffic congestion.
The fully completed Bangkok Blue Line extension adds 28-km of track and 19 new stations to the city’s MRT network. It is operated by 35 three-car trains delivered by Siemens Mobility.
Now the completed Blue MRT Line has a total length of 48 km, served by 38 stations, forming a loop around the city. The line is providing transport link in the network through the interchanges with Silom and Sukhumvit line, with Purple Line and the air-rail link (Suvarnabhumi Airport line).
The metro trains delivered for the extension are an evolution of the ones used on the original Blue Line, most notably they can carry more than 800 passengers and operate up to 80 km/h. They were primarily manufactured in Vienna, Austria, and tested in Germany prior to being shipped to Thailand.
The initial Blue Line in Bangkok was also delivered as a turnkey rail system by Siemens Mobility in 2004 and was the first underground metro line in Thailand’s capital, with around 320,000 passengers a day using the 20-km metro line with 18 stations. “Siemens Mobility was able to help deliver this important project on schedule by providing one system. It’s classic turnkey: because we are responsible for all aspects of this project, focusing fully on efficient operations from day one, and implementing perfect maintenance that guarantees unmatched availability,” said Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility.
The consortium of Siemens Mobility and ST Electronics (Thailand) has installed the signalling system, built the traction power supply, developed a passenger information system and implemented a SCADA system, provided depot workshop equipment, and instituted system integration by incorporating the telecommunications and platform screen door systems. In addition to delivering the overall project management, Siemens Mobility will also provide maintenance for 10 years.
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