Gold Line monorail service postponed to year-end
The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) has announced that the planned October opening of its Gold Line monorail will be postponed to December.
BTS chief executive officer Surapong Laoha-Unya said both the running system and the signalling system were presently undergoing tests.
He explained this would take time, so the Gold Line monorail opening would be postponed to the end of the year.
He did not confirm that all stations on this short line would be ready for passengers when the train services start.
“However, the BTS will hasten our operation to make sure that all stations are ready,” he added.
The monorail will have three stations – Krung Thonburi, Charoen Nakhon and Klong San – before linking up with the BTS Green Line.
According to BTS information, each train will consist of two bogies carrying 276 passengers at a time, with all monorail trains together transporting 4,000 to 12,000 passengers per hour. The trains will run every six to 12 minutes, covering a 1.7-kilometre distance.
The prominent places along the Gold Line route include Icon Siam, Lhong 1919, Taksin Hospital and Somdet Chaopraya Hospital.