The MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line or more commonly known as MRT Blue Line commenced operations on the extension to Tao Poon on 11 August 2017, enabling through integrated travel and fares between the MRT Blue Line and the once-seperated MRT Chalong Ratchadham Line or MRT Purple Line, boosting the ridership numbers on the MRT Purple Line immensely.
The former terminus of the Blue Line at Bang Sue, now an intermediate interchange station with the State Railway of Thailand Northern, Northeastern and Southern Lines.
Lots of Happy Blue Line banners around the station celebrating this extension. With this extension, the once fully-underground Blue Line can also see daylight in passenger service for the first time in 13 years.
Signs pointing to the new terminal at Tao Poon.
Welcome to the overground, Blue Line.
Tao Poon is currently a one-station extension completed urgently to connect to the Purple Line. The final terminus of this extension in 2 years time will be Tha Phra, with the Blue Line interchanging with itself for the extension from Hua Lamphong to Lak Song.
The Blue Line train terminating at the overground Tao Poon station.
The format of the signs at Tao Poon are also matching with the new Purple Line.
The Blue Line is located one level below the Purple Line. There isn’t much confusion now as only one platform is used for the Blue Line, so just follow the signs to and from the Purple Line. However, this will change once the extension to Tha Phra is completed as the Blue Line operates with side platforms at Tao Poon.
The Tao Poon tunnel portal of the Blue Line.
Happy Blue Line!
The Blue Line returning to the underground sector.
Exterior shots of Blue Line trains are now possible with this overground extension.
To get back down to the Blue Line, just follow the many signs around.
Lots of Happy Blue Line branding around Tao Poon too.
The Blue Line train entering Tao Poon.
The MRT Blue Line extension to Tao Poon certainly improves connectivity to the outskirts of Bangkok and offers more convenient access to places of interests such as Siam Gypsy Market at Bang Son and CentralPlaza WestGate at Talad Bang Yai with the convenient interchange to the Purple Line.
If there was a downside, it would probably mean a tighter squeeze on trains on both the Blue and Purple Lines now.
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