Silom Line

BTS Silom Line สายสีลม
A BTS Train at Talat Phlu Station
Overview
Owner	Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)
Locale	Bangkok
Termini	National Stadium Bang Wa
Stations	14
Color on map	Dark Green
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	BTS Skytrain
Operator(s)	Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited
Depot(s)	Mo Chit Depot (shared with  BTS ) Bang Wa Depot
Rolling stock	Siemens Modular Metro EMU-A1: 35 trains Siemens Bozankaya EMU-A2: 22 trains CNR Changchun EMU-B1: 12 trains CNR Changchun EMU-B2: 5 trains CRRC Changchun EMU-B3: 24 trains
Daily ridership	1,758,544 ( BTS  and  BTS )
History
Opened	5 December 1999
Technical
Line length	13.09 km (8.13 mi)
Character	Full elevated
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Signalling	Former: Siemens Trainguard LZB700M fixed block ATC under ATO GoA 2 (STO) Current: Bombardier CITYFLO 450 moving block CBTC ATC under ATO GoA 2 (STO), with subsystems of ATP, ATS and CBI
Route map National Stadium  BTS  ( Khu Khot – Kheha ) Siam Ratchadamri  MRT : Si Lom ( Lak Song – Tha Phra (via Bang Sue) ) Sala Daeng Chong Nonsi Saint Louis Surasak Si Rat Expressway Saphan Taksin Chao Phraya River Krung Thonburi  BTS   SRT  (planned): (Hua Lamphong )  MRT  (planned): ( Khlong Bang Phai – Rat Burana ) Wongwian Yai Pho Nimit Talat Phlu SRT Maeklong Railway ( SRT  planned): (Maha Chai ) Wutthakat Bang Wa  MRT : ( Lak Song – Tha Phra (via Bang Sue) ) Light Depot

The BTS Silom Line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้า สายสีลม) is an elevated rapid transit line of the BTS Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL (BTSC), a subsidiary of BTS Group Holdings, under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The line serves Silom and Sathon Roads, the central business district of Bangkok, terminates at National Stadium and Bang Wa. The line is 14 km in length and consists of 14 stations.

Route alignment

It runs eastward from the National Stadium Station in Pathum Wan District over Rama I Road and interchanges with the Sukhumvit Line at Siam BTS station, then turns southward, following Ratchadamri, Si Lom, Narathiwat Ratchanakharin and Sathon Roads to Taksin Bridge where it crosses the Chao Phraya River to the Thonburi side of Bangkok and Wong Wian Yai. It continues west along the Ratchapruek Road corridor before it terminates at Bang Wa Station in Phasi Charoen District.

History

Originally consisting of seven stations from National Stadium (W1) to Saphan Taksin (S6) when the BTS first opened 5 December 1999. A planned station at S4 was not built originally but was completed in 2021. Its formal name is The Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday 2nd line (Thai: รถไฟฟ้าเฉลิมพระเกียรติ 6 รอบพระชนมพรรษา สาย 2). A 2.2 km (1.4 mi) extension across the river to Wongwian Yai (S8) opened on 15 May 2009 after two years of delay. A further 5.3 km (3.3 mi), 4 station extension from Wongwian Yai (S8) to Bang Wa (S12) opened on 5 December 2013 after delays caused by the Bangkok floods of late 2011.

Stations

Further information: List of rapid transit stations in Bangkok

Route map as of 2015

Curved viaduct between Siam and Ratchadamri

Code	Station Name		Opened	Platform Type	Transfers/Notes	Location
	English	Thai				District	Province
	National Stadium (RTGS: Sanam Kila Haeng Chat)	สนามกีฬาแห่งชาติ	5 December 1999	Side		Pathum Wan	Bangkok
	Siam (RTGS: Sayam)	สยาม		Stacked Island	Cross-platform interchange with  BTS
	Ratchadamri	ราชดำริ		Side
	Sala Daeng	ศาลาแดง		Side	Connecting station to Si Lom for  MRT	Bang Rak
	Chong Nonsi	ช่องนนทรี		Side	Connecting station to Sathorn for Bangkok BRT
	Saint Louis (RTGS: Sen Lui)	เซนต์หลุยส์	8 February 2021	Side	Infill station	Bang Rak and Sathon
	Surasak	สุรศักดิ์	5 December 1999	Side
	Saphan Taksin	สะพานตากสิน		Side (single)	Connecting station to Sathorn Pier for •  Mine Smart Ferry  •  CHAOPHRAYA EXPRESS  The station will be closed for upgrading into a dual-platform configuration
	Krung Thon Buri	กรุงธนบุรี	15 May 2009	Side	Connecting station to  BTS	Khlong San
	Wongwian Yai	วงเวียนใหญ่		Side	Future connecting station to  MRT  (under construction)
	Pho Nimit	โพธิ์นิมิตร	12 January 2013	Side		Thon Buri
	Talat Phlu	ตลาดพลู	14 February 2013	Side	Connecting station to Ratchaphruek for Bangkok BRT Proposed connecting station to  MRL  (south section)
	Wutthakat	วุฒากาศ	5 December 2013	Side	Connecting station to Wutthakat Halt for Mae Klong Railway (Wongwian Yai - Mahachai) Proposed connecting station to  SRT	Thon Buri and Chom Thong
	Bang Wa	บางหว้า		Side	Connecting station to  MRT  and Bang Wa Pier for Khlong Phasi Charoen Boat Service	Phasi Charoen

Operation

Due to the short length of the line, all trains run from National Stadium to Bang Wa. Some trains however, terminate at Krung Thon Buri station. Some off-peak through services from the northern section of the Sukhumvit Line terminating at Bang Wa. Trains run at 6-minute intervals, with the shortest interval of 3 minutes 45 seconds during peak hours. The shortest interval cannot be narrowed further to 2 minutes 40 seconds as on the Sukhumvit Line due to the single-track section at Saphan Taksin station.

Extensions and current construction

Summary of BTS Silom Line Extensions:

• 5 December 1999: National Stadium (W01) – Saphan Taksin (S06)
• 15 May 2009: Saphan Taksin (S06) – Wong Wian Yai (S08)
• 12 January 2013: Wong Wian Yai (S08) – Pho Nimit (S09)
• 14 February 2013: Pho Nimit (S09) – Talat Phlu (S10)
• 5 December 2013: Talat Phlu (S10) – Bang Wa (S12)
• 8 February 2021: Saint Louis (S4, infill station)

1st extension to Wong Wian Yai

On 18 October 2005, with no approval from the central government forthcoming, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) decided to fund and complete the 2.2 kilometers (1.4 mi) Silom Line route extension to Krung Thonburi Station (S07) and Wongwian Yai Station (S08). Construction began on 13 December 2005 with completion originally expected within two years for a late 2007 opening. However, problems with the tendering and installation of a new Bombardier open signalling system repeatedly pushed back the schedule. The extension finally opening on 15 May 2009. However, the single platform Saphan Taksin station which has only one track, has caused repeated delays during rush hour. In 2012, the BMA announced plans to demolish Saphan Taksin station in the future. There are now plans to construct new platforms and remove the bottleneck and keep the station which provides an important link between river boats. The plan includes redesigning the road bridges either side of the viaduct to fit the new station.

2nd extension to Bang Wa

The third extension to the network, a 5.3 km (3.3 mi), a four station extension from Wongwian Yai (S8) to Bang Wa (S12) in Phasi Charoen District began construction in the 2nd quarter of 2011, with a deadline of the end of 2012. Only the stations had to be constructed as the viaduct had been completed some years prior. However, construction was delayed for many months by the Bangkok floods of late 2011. It eventually opened in stages. Pho Nimit opened on 12 January 2013, Talat Phlu opened on 14 February 2013, with the last two stations opening on 5 December 2013. The extension was initially operated by a separate 6 car shuttle service due to the absence of a turnout between Wongwian Yai (S8) and Talat Phlu (S10). The remaining two stations Wutthakat (S11) and Bang Wa (S12) were opened on 5 December 2013.

Saint Louis (S4) station – Silom Line

In 2018, it was decided to finally build the missing Saint Louis (S4) station (originally named Sueksa Wittaya), the EIA was finalised in March 2019. Construction of the station began in August 2019 and by the end of 2019 had reached 25% progress. By August 2020, construction had reached 50% but was 30% behind schedule due to COVID related delays.

The station was opened on 8 February 2021.

Future extension plans

South: Bang Wa to Taling Chan

After the opening of Wutthakat (S11) and Bang Wa (S12) stations 5 December 2013, the BMA announced a new proposal to further extended the Silom Line by 7 km (4.3 mi) from Bang Wa (S12) station, by six stations to Taling Chan. At Taling Chan it would connect with the SRT Light Red line.

A public hearing was held in 2015. Three route options were considered, with construction intended to start in 2017. Part of the basis for this further extension by the BMA is that it would provide proximate access to the Southern Bus Terminal. The BMA Transport and Traffic Office completed an economic evaluation of the extension in October 2018 which found a cost benefit ratio of 2.37. The study recommended that an EIA be completed in 2019 but this was delayed.

Once the extension to Taling Chan is built the BMA has canvassed the possibility of a further future extension north to connect with the MRT Purple Line at Rattanathibet Road.

West: National Stadium to Yot Se

The BTS Silom Line is planned to be extended by two stations west from National Stadium (W1) to link with the SRT Dark Red line at Yot Se station. However, no time frame for this extension has been announced and this section of the SRT Dark Red Line will not be built until after 2022.

Originally, the plan was to extend the Silom Line west from National Stadium into Chinatown, then north to Democracy Monument where it would then run west to Rattanakosin Island and Sanam Luang, tunnel under the river to the Thonburi side before terminating at Phran Nok. However, this plan was shelved back in 2009 and much of this route has been replaced by alignment changes to the MRT Orange line which is under construction.

External links

• Airport Rail Link, BTS, MRT & BRT network map

See also

• Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region
• BTS Skytrain
• Sukhumvit Line
• Bangkok Metro
• MRT Blue Line
• MRT Brown Line
• MRT Grey Line
• MRT Light Blue Line
• MRT Orange Line
• MRT Pink Line
• MRT Yellow Line
• Airport Rail Link (Bangkok)
• SRT Light Red Line
• SRT Dark Red Line
• BMA Gold Line
• Bangkok BRT