In a bid to alleviate critical traffic congestion in Bangkok and neighboring provinces, the government is speeding up construction work on the much-anticipated Purple Line in Bangkok, which is expected to be open for service in 2015.
The Purple Line is a 23-kilometer long mass rapid heavy rail system that will connect Bang Yai district in nearby Nonthaburi province with the Tao Poon area in Bangkok’s Bang Sue district. The line will serve the northwestern suburbs and the southern area of the capital, passing through the center of the old city on an elevated line. Running past historical places in Dusit and Phra Nakhon districts, such as the National Library, Thewet Market, Bang Lamphu, the Democracy Monument and Wongwian Yai roundabout, the line is also set to serve the new Thai parliament construction site at Kiak Kai Intersection.
The Purple Line starts from Khlong Bang Phai depot and runs along Kanchana Phisek Road to reach Bang Yai Station. It will then turn left at Rattana Thibet Road and cross the Rama III Bridge over the Chao Phraya River before passing Wong Sawang Intersection flyover and terminating at Tao Poon Terminal. The route will be completely elevated and will have 16 stations.
Park and ride facilities will be available at Sam Yaek Bang Yai, Tha It, Yaek Nonthaburi and at the starting terminal. Many stations along the line will offer a variety of transport links, ranging from ferry services and buses to taxis. Khlong Bang Phai depot itself will serve as a maintenance, fleet parking and administrative facility and will house and control the train operating system of the Purple Line.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority also plans to extend the Purple Line from Tao Poon Terminal to Rat Burana. The proposed 17-kilometer long extension will have 14 stations. Tao Poon Terminal Station is poised to be a major interchange station, connecting the Purple Line to an MRT line and an electric Blue Line running between Bang Sue and Tha Phra.
Once fully completed, the Bang Yai-Bang Sue rapid transit line will be Bangkok’s first rapid transit system encroaching into the adjacent province of Nonthaburi.
The Purple Line will have an initial usage of 200,000 passengers a day, which is expected to increase to 290,000 passengers a day by 2022.
