MRT Yellow Line Monorail from Lat Phrao to Samrong (Bangkok)

The MRT Yellow Line is the first monorail line in Bangkok for mass rapid transit, and first fully automated driverless train system, plying between Lat Phrao and Samrong with 23 stations, running above the Lat Phrao Road and Srinagarindra Road corridors. The alignment also acts as a bypass from the congested city centre, forming sort of a semi-circle away on the eastern side of the city.

YL01 Lat Phrao MRT Station

Lat Phrao MRT Station of the MRT Yellow Line is just outside the existing Lat Phrao MRT Station of the MRT Blue Line. However, while both lines are owned by Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), the MRT Blue Line is operated by Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) while the MRT Yellow is operated by Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (EBM). 2 separate ticketing systems are in place for each line and company, with no paid link between them.

To make things more interesting, Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (NBM) for the MRT Pink Line and Eastern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (EBM) for the MRT Yellow Line are subsidiary companies of BTS Group Holdings PCL (BTSG), Sino Thai Engineering and Construction PCL (STEC) and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL (RATCH) with share proportions of 75%, 15% and 10% respectively.

Can you see where this is going?

There is a sheltered walkway and linkbridge connecting the 2 Lat Phrao MRT Stations.

The MRTA Lat Phrao MRT Station Park & Ride Building and Parking Area are also directly connected to both Lat Phrao MRT Stations. Transferring passengers can either use this new walkway or walkthrough the Park & Ride Building to transfer between stations.

The fare gates at MRT Yellow Line Lat Phrao MRT Station.

EBM adopts, you guessed it, BTS’ ticketing system.

While the MRT Yellow Line uses BTS’ ticketing, there is no paid link to the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Samrong, and tickets for the MRT Yellow Line are for use within the MRT Yellow Line only.

While it is good that rail lines are expanding rapidly in Bangkok, the lack of ticket and fare integration is proving to be a hassle for passengers, both for carrying multiple cards, and paying base fares when changing between different generations of line, thus paying higher fares due to more base fares needed.

The maximum fare on the MRT Yellow Line is 45 Baht.

Tickets can also be purchased at the passenger service counter.

Heading directly to the fare gates with my Rabbit Card.

I had also just topped up my Rabbit Card at the passenger service counter. First transaction on the MRT Yellow Line done.

Lat Phrao MRT Station of the MRT Yellow Line features side platforms, with Platform 2 used for arriving terminating trains only and Platform 1 for departures to Samrong.

Heading up the escalator to Platform 2 towards Samrong.

The overrun tracks are used as a turnback siding for arriving trains.

A train was already at the platform when I arrived, so I quickly tried to catch it. The MRT Yellow Line operates with a low frequency of about 10 minutes per train.

Boarding the MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 set YM11.

The interior of the MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300.

The interior of the train car has seats facing inwards with the position of the vestibules.

There is a large hump up front which feels like wasted space. This, however, may house the necessary hardware for the train to run, or even the bogie. I’m not sure.

YL02 Phawana MRT Station

Arriving at Phawana MRT Station.

Making a brief stop at Phawana MRT Station.

The dynamic route map is laid out in a U-shape but yet facing in some form of direction, so depending on which part of the line you are at, the dynamic route map is either pointing correctly or wrongly in the direction of travel.

YL03 Chok Chai 4 MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Chok Chai 4 MRT Station.

YL04 Lat Phrao 71 MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Lat Phrao 71 MRT Station.

The interior fixtures of seats and handgrips are in yellow to fit the colour of the MRT Yellow Line. A similar interior but in pink will be used for the future MRT Pink Line.

The gangway of the Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 feels a bit odd with the pathway by the side instead of in the middle. This design takes up a lot of interior space which feels wasted, especially if there are crush loads in future.

The slim aisle connecting between the train cars. While no vertical grab poles are installed here, horizontal ones running along the low encasing is available.

YL05 Lat Phrao 83 MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Lat Phrao 83 MRT Station.

YL06 Mahat Thai MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Mahat Thai MRT Station.

The view out the front of the train.

YL07 Lat Phrao 101 MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Lat Phrao 101 MRT Station.

The view out of the front and rear windows is actually quite a long distance away from the nearest possible standing point.

YL08 Bang Kapi MRT Station

Arriving at Bang Kapi MRT Station.

Making a brief stop at Bang Kapi MRT Station.

Bang Kapi MRT Station is located adjacent to The Mall Bangkapi, which makes it easier to get to for shopping.

Taking a right curve after Bang Kapi towards Srinagarindra.

YL09 Yaek Lam Sali MRT Station

Arriving at Yaek Lam Sali MRT Station.

Making a brief stop at Yaek Lam Sali MRT Station.

YL10 Si Kritha MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Si Kritha MRT Station.

Looking out ahead with the Airport Rail Link AERA1 tracks in sight.

Dipping below the Airport Rail Link AERA1 tracks.

Hua Mak AERA1 City Station is seen quite some distance away, but it is an interchange with the MRT Yellow Line.

Passing under the Airport Rail Link AERA1 tracks.

Passing by Hua Mak AERA1 City Station.

The long connection between Hua Mak AERA1 City Station and Hua Mak MRT Station.

YL11 Hua Mak MRT Station

Arriving at Hua Mak MRT Station.

Making a brief stop at Hua Mak MRT Station.

The next stop is the Malaysians’ favourite of Kalantan MRT Station.

YL12 Kalantan MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Kalantan MRT Station.

Kalantan MRT Station’s name is derived from Khlong Kalantan which was a canal constructed as a link between Khlong Saen Saep and Khlong Phra Khanong, named after the workers who dug it who were from the Patani Kingdom which was ruled by the Kelantanese dynasty, hence the name reflecting the history. Kalantan is not meant to represent the state of Kelantan.

Taking a zig-zag alignment to cross over Khlong Phra Khanong.

Passing by an opposing MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 set YM03.

YL13 Si Nut MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Si Nut MRT Station.

YL14 Srinagarindra 38 MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Srinagarindra 38 MRT Station.

Passing by Seacon Square Srinakarin, one of the biggest malls in Thailand.

The name Seacon Square Srinakarin might sound familiar to tourists, because it is a recommended drop-off point by taxi to visit Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin, located behind it. Now you can take the MRT Yellow Line to Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin, also known as Train Market.

YL15 Suan Luang Rama IX MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Suan Luang Rama IX MRT Station.

Suan Luang Rama IX MRT Station is located adjacent to Seacon Square Srinakarin and Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin, which makes it easier to get to for shopping.

YL16 Si Udom MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Si Udom MRT Station.

Passing by the junction to MRT Yellow Line Si Iam Depot.

Passing by Si Iam Depot. This is the only depot on the MRT Yellow Line.

YL17 Si Iam MRT Station

Arriving at Si Iam MRT Station.

Making a brief stop at Si Iam MRT Station.

YL18 Si La Salle MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Si La Salle MRT Station.

YL19 Si Bearing MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Si Bearing MRT Station.

Passing by an opposing MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 set YM22.

YL20 Si Dan MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Si Dan MRT Station.

The line takes a sharp curve after Si Dan to Si Thepha to head to Samrong.

YL21 Si Thepha MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Si Thepha MRT Station.

The Samut Prakan Learning Park And Tower can be seen from the MRT Yellow Line. I didn’t think I’d be travelling this far on this trip.

Passing by an opposing MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 set YM15.

YL22 Thipphawan MRT Station

Making a brief stop at Thipphawan MRT Station.

Heading on the final stretch to Samrong.

Arriving at Samrong MRT Station.

A set of facing and trailing crossovers are fitted before Samrong MRT Station.

I was surprised that the train was crossing over here, as I thought that the station would operate similar to Lat Phrao.

YL23 Samrong MRT Station

Entering Samrong MRT Station.

Ah now I see why, there’s no turnback siding here and the tracks end in front of the BTS viaduct.

That’s quite poor planning in my opinion as this means that there is no way to future-proof the MRT Yellow Line for an extension after Samrong.

The almost-empty interior with passengers disembarking and new passengers boarding.

Thank you MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 set YM11 for my first ride on the MRT Yellow Line!

The short overrun track at Samrong, probably just for speed purposes when entering the station for the safety distance, and not for stabling.

Samrong BTS Station is located just adjacent to Samrong MRT Station.

A linkbridge connects the 2 stations.

The station sign of Samrong MRT Station.

The next train arrival time is displayed on screens on the platform.

Looking out to the wide viaduct housing the beam replacement switches for both a facing and trailing crossover.

The facing beam replacement switch is set for the next arriving train.

The next MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 train glides through the switch with ease.

MRT Yellow Line Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 set YM07 at Samrong MRT Station for the next batch of passengers.

Heading down the stairs to exit the station.

The signs pointing to the connection to the BTS Sukhumvit Line also has the train set on the sign for easier identification without needing to read any words.

The vicinity of Samrong MRT Station.

Heading out of the fare gates.

The route map and fare table of the MRT Yellow Line.

The linkbridge connecting Samrong MRT Station to Samrong BTS Station is just ahead.

Turn right at the junction towards Samrong BTS Station.

Looking back at Samrong MRT Station.

Samrong BTS Station is just ahead with green panels below the bridge guard rails.

Heading in to Samrong BTS Station.

With my Rabbit Card, I headed in to Samrong BTS Station directly at the fare gates. There is no special interchange fare, separate fares apply for the MRT Yellow Line and BTS, even with the same ticketing system used.

The island platform of Samrong BTS Station.

Looking back at Samrong MRT Station from Samrong BTS Station.

The signs in Samrong BTS Station pointing to Samrong MRT Station also has the train set on the sign for easier identification without needing to read any words.

Here, I continued my journey back to the city by the BTS Sukhumvit Line.

Conclusion

The MRT Yellow Line provides new connections along major arterial roads which are otherwise much undiscovered by tourists yet. The driverless monorails operating also prove that it is not the type of rolling stock which provides the capacity, but how it is being operated, with high-capacity terminal stations and sufficient sets to ramp up capacity in future should the need arise. The space inside the Bombardier Innovia Monorail 300 is also quite wide for most parts, except for the ends of the train and vestibules.