PM opens ‘missing link’, finally connecting dots on MRT map
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday morning formally opened the kilometre-long “missing link” in Bangkok’s MRT system, between the Purple Line’s Tao Poon station and the Blue Line’s Bang Sue station.
The ceremony began at 9am and the trains started rolling at noon.
MRT acting governor Ritthikar Suparat pointed out that passengers could now transfer directly between the Blue and Purple lines at Tao Poon. Those with MRT regular cards or MRT Plus cards can ride both lines with a single ticket.
Passengers can also travel directly from Ban Yai to Hua Lamphong with a transfer at Tao Poon.
Ritthikar said that, until January, the Purple Line fares would be Bt14-Bt29 weekdays and Bt15 on weekends and holidays.
The gap between the two stations had resulted in fewer passengers than expected using the service. Prime Minister Prayut had to invoke his absolute power under Article 44 of the interim charter last December to get the lines joined up.
The fares are now set at Bt14-Bt57 on weekdays with MRT or MRT Plus cards and Bt14-Bt70 with tokens purchased at the stations, and Bt14-Bt43 on weekends and holidays regardless of whether cards or tokens are used.