Yappofloyd

For DMK, you really should just take the A1 or A2 bus from Mo Chit. However, aside from the intercity services that transpac mentioned there are actually around 10-12 SRT commuter services a day that run between Hualumphong and Rangsit but which aren't listed on english timetables. Cost to DMK is only 10 baht but you don't want to wait so long for one of those when the buses run every 10-15 mins.

Makkasan CAT was over built to be a city check in for the ARL but also to be a hub for a future eastern HSR line. The city check in was never going to work short term especially with the 5 years of delays in extending the ARL to Bang Sue and DMK. Now that the privately funded Eastern HSR line will take over the ARL it will go someway towards fulfilling the original aim of Makkasan CAT. The ARL will need to be shut down for a lengthy period to configure the line for HSR operations and also as the rail that was used was cheaper, substandard Chinese steel.

Another metro line, the MRT Light Blue line, was previously also planned to run via the Makkasan CAT. However, this line has been deferred and is not part of the M-MAP2 list of lines to be built by 2029. Perhaps, thereafter?

Yappofloyd

Yes, urbanrail is a good site and a new projects update has been done (but not uploaded).

As transpac said, the northern extension of the Sukhumvit line was planned years ago originally to open 11.4km to Saphan Mai (behind the airport) by 2008. Years of delays due to changing govts and poor project planning resulted resulted in this being combined with what was then going to be a later extension to Khu Khut. This only started construction in Sept 2015. (PM Thaksin infamously said in the Feb 2005 election that he would build all 10 new metro lines within 3 years!)

When the 2 BTS lines opened in Dec 1999 the original 3 planned extensions to be built by 2008 were;
1) Silom line south ext across the river to Wong Wian Yai and Bang Wah - in fact the bridge across the river and viaduct to Phetkasem were built in 2000-02 even though the first 2.2km, 2 station ext to WWY wasn't tendered until April 2005 and didn't open until May 2009!
2) Silom spur extension from Chong Nonsi down Narithiwat rd and Rama III - this was dispensed with in 2004 and later became the first BRT line - both MOT and BMA had previous plans to build 10-12 BRT lines.
3) Sukhumvit line 11.4km north extension to Saphan Mai

Yappofloyd

The AOT plans to build an internal APM - not monorail - between the old domestic terminal (T3) when it rebuilt by 2025 and T1 & T2 given that is is 1km from T1 to the domestic. Once this is built the plan is to extend it to the backside of the airport to connect with the BTS Sukhumvit line at N23. However, let's see if they build the first stage between the terminals first.

Kalboz

What's this huge station outside DMK?

Yappofloyd

[QUOTE=Kalboz;32913507]What's this huge station outside DMK?/QUOTE]

You'd answer your own question if you took a quick look at the 2 maps above in the thread - see post #165.

It's the DM station for the SRT Dark Red line. future ARL extension (Eastern HSR line), future NE HSR line and SRT intercity services to the north and NE.

transpac

Shades of the ARL-BTS "connector".

Looks like a long jump?

Yes, I know it will be finished, eventually.

Walkway between DMK-Dark Red Line and the airport:

Kalboz

From the archives: January 2018 during construction!

Kalboz

Currently the final station at the Gold Line as seen from 360 at the Millennium Hilton ...

Yappofloyd

Construction progress as at 31 December:

1) MRT Orange Line: 73.37%
2) MRT Pink Line: 70.32%
3) MRT Yellow Line: 73.26%

Other Updates:
1) BTS Silom line S4 update: this is nearly done and due to open by the end of March. The BMA has decided to change the name from Suksa Wittaya to Saint Louis as this is a more familiar local name given the hospital, school and church near the station.

2) MRT Purple line southern extension: This tender was due out by March 2020 but it was delayed for obvious reasons. Expected to be released by the end of Feb/early March

3) MRT Brown line: final design (integrated with the N2 expressway project) should be completed by mid year and it is anticipated that this tender will be done by the end of 2021)

4) MRT Orange line western extension tender: Bids were received by the end of Sept as scheduled but then the BTSC lodged objections to the process in the Admin Court. This will hopefully be resolved in the next 2-3 months as construction was expected to begin by Jan 2021.

transpac

Delay in rail line trials likely

The launch of the Pink and Yellow electric train lines is likely to be postponed to the end of the year, as the Covid-19 outbreak has disrupted the delivery of construction equipment, says the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...-trials-likely


Seems like BTS fare increases will take a bigger bite out of the regular person's budget.

BMA under fire over Green Line fare hike

The Department of Rail Transport (DoRT) is seeking talks with City Hall over its decision to raise the fare ceiling on the BTS skytrain Green Line electric train from 65 baht to 104 baht from Feb 16.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...line-fare-hike

transpac

Interesting video, guess they had some press event on Wednesday...


Bang Sue Grand Station

https://fb.watch/3jma_JoFjb/

Kalboz

Passed by it couple of weeks back while traveling on the Purple Line!

SKT-DK

It is an impressive piece of architecture, I have to say - and I really like the small detail like the facade clock having no numbers except for ๙ in place of 9. Nice tribute

Yappofloyd

The MRTA has cancelled the tender for the MRT Orange Line western ext after the BTSC court challenge. A new tender will be issued in the next few months. Another unfortunate delay for this ext which was originally scheduled to be tendered in 2018 before the gov decided to delay and proceed with a PPP tender. This delay will probably end up adding nearly another year as it is doubtful that construction will start before Q4 2021 assuming that the new tender proceeds smoothly.

Kalboz

New Saint Louis BTS station opens today?