Blue Line (Bangkok)

MRT Blue Line or Chaloem Ratchamongkon Line สายเฉลิมรัชมงคล
EMU-BLE rolling stock on the line's elevated section
Overview
Native name	รถไฟฟ้าสายสีน้ำเงิน รถไฟฟ้าสายเฉลิมรัชมงคล
Owner	Mass Rapid Transit Authority
Locale	Bangkok
Termini	BL01  Tha Phra  BL38  Lak Song (via  BL19  Thailand Cultural Centre)
Stations	38
Color on map	Blue
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	MRT
Operator(s)	Bangkok Expressway and Metro
Depot(s)	Phra Ram 9 Phetkasem
Rolling stock	Siemens Modular Metro EMU-IBL: 19 trains Siemens Modular Metro EMU-BLE: 35 trains
Daily ridership	470,346 (18 October 2023)
History
Commenced	2 December 1996; 27 years ago (1996-12-02)
Opened	3 July 2004; 20 years ago (2004-07-03)
Last extension	23 December 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-23)
Technical
Line length	46.91 km (29.15 mi) Elevated:20.78 km (12.91 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 original 20 km (12.43 mi) MRT Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue opened on 3 July 2004. A 1.2 km (0.75 mi) extension to Tao Poon opened on 11 August 2017. The 15.9 km (9.88 mi) western extension to Lak Song opened for full service on 29 September 2019 and the 11 km (6.84 mi) extension from Tao Poon to Tha Phra to form the quasi loop, opened for full service on 30 March 2020.

The line has a total length of 48 km (29.83 mi), being a quasi circle route of the Bangkok rapid transit network. The MRT Blue line connects major business, residential and cultural areas of Bangkok. In late 2019, the average daily ridership was 400,000.^[1] In mid 2021, during a COVID-19 3rd wave in Bangkok ridership plummeted to between 76,000 - 116,000 per weekday.^[2]