Gold Line to open in mid-December
Bangkok’s delayed Gold Line monorail will open in mid-December, city deputy governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul has confirmed.
The confirmation came after Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang visited the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Gold Line’s Krung Thonburi station on Thursday to check its progress.
The Gold Line was meant to begin operating this month, but the date was postponed to December due to delayed delivery of trains and work to improve its entrances.
The construction of the 2.75-kilometre Gold Line, which has four stations, is divided into two phases. The first phase comprises three stations – Krung Thonburi, Charoen Nakhon and Klong San – which link to the BTS Green Line, while the second phase comprises one station, Prajadhipok, which links to the Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) Purple Line.
Urging Bangkok commuters to "please wait a little longer", Aswin explained that passengers will be carried by three unmanned Bombardier Innovia APM 300 trains from Canada with a maximum speed of 80km per hour.
After safety checks, the Gold Line will open and charge Bt15 per ride, he said.
"Travel on Bangkok’s mass transit system would soon be more convenient," he added.