Bangkok’s Pink Line monorail to open on December 18: Free rides until January 2

Passengers can now embark on a thrilling ride through Bangkok‘s Pink Line monorail, soaring 34.5 kilometres from northwest to northeast.

Offering an early holiday treat, the city is generously providing free rides until January 2, creating a buzz of excitement among locals and tourists alike. Mark your calendars for the grand opening on Monday, December 18.

The Pink Line, an engineering marvel, weaves through 30 stations, connecting Nonthaburi Civic Centre on the Purple metro line to Min Buri on the future Orange metro line, currently in construction. With a colossal capacity of 17,000 passengers per hour in each direction, this monorail promises to redefine Bangkok’s commuting experience.

In December 2016, the BTS Group, Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction, and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating joined forces to form the BSR joint venture. This powerhouse trio secured the rights to build and operate not just the Pink Line but also the Yellow Line, making significant strides in Bangkok’s public transport development.

Crafted by Alstom, the Pink Line boasts 42 state-of-the-art four-car driverless monorail trainsets equipped with the cutting-edge Cityflo 650 signalling system. Assembled at the Puzhen plant in China, these Innovia Monorail 300 vehicles are capable of GoA4 unattended driverless operation, reaching a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour. A 3 kilometre branch from Muang Thong Thani to Muang Thong Thani Lake is also in the pipeline, scheduled to open in 2025.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, after personally experiencing the monorail, exclaimed his delight.

“The new monorail line marked a great step in infrastructure development for the kingdom as it provides ease of transport for locals and tourists travelling in Bangkok’s suburbs, and helps attract foreign investments.”

With the 61 year old Thai leader’s endorsement, the Pink Line signifies not just a transport revolution but a pivotal moment in Thailand’s progress.

In related news, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is pressing for a fare cap of 20 baht per trip on the impending Pink Line monorail. This monorail, whose commercial service launch is planned for December 18, would then comply with the current Red and Purple Line services’ rates. This is part of the government’s strategy to alleviate living costs. Read more about this story HERE.