Accelerated bidding process on four underground train lines by MRTA
Mass Rapid Transit Authority Accelerates Four Electric Rail Projects
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is pushing forward with four electric rail projects, each at different stages of progress and review as of August 2025.
- Grey Line (Watcharaphon to Thong Lor) and Silver Line (Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi)
These two lines, with a combined value of over 71 billion baht, have been transferred from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to the MRTA. Design work has already begun on both projects, with the BMA having conducted a partial study for the Grey Line and Silver Line. The MRTA will undertake updated feasibility and environmental reviews for these projects [1].
- Blue Line Extension (Din Daeng to Sathorn)
The Blue Line extension is expected to be handed over to the MRTA by mid-2025, indicating imminent progress towards implementation. The line, valued at 27.85 billion baht and consisting of 15 stations, will extend the existing Blue Line to Sathorn [1].
- Phuket Mass Transit System Project
This project, currently under close scrutiny by the Ministry of Transport, is dependent on the completion of road construction by the Department of Highways and the Expressway Authority of Thailand. Once the roadworks are completed, the transit project can advance [1][5].
The MRTA is also overseeing two operational electric rail lines: the Pink Line and the Yellow Line.
- The Pink Line, including the Muang Thong Thai spur, reached full commercial operation on June 17, 2025, after trial runs earlier in the year [2].
- The Yellow Line has been operational since mid-2023, with incremental openings, public trial runs, and phased station openings, due to ongoing technical adjustments [3].
The mass transit network is backed by policies such as the 20-baht flat fare and expanded feeder bus services, including an additional 1,500 electric buses, to improve accessibility and increase passenger uptake [1].
The MRTA is also working on the Brown Line project, which is expected to be the first of the four routes to be completed. Bidding for the Brown Line project is expected late next year, with the study for the Brown Line project set to be completed this year and submitted to the cabinet for approval early next year [1].
The four projects are the Brown Line (Khae Rai-Bung Kum), the Grey Line (Watcharaphon-Thong Lor), the Light Blue Line (Din Daeng-Sathon), and the Silver Line (Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi). The Light Blue Line spans 6.7 km with nine stations and has a budget of 14.73 billion baht, but its study is not expected to be completed this year or to be submitted to the cabinet for approval early next year [1].
The projects are actively being adjusted for feasibility and investment considerations post-COVID-19, affecting timelines but aiming for operational readiness aligned with broader urban transit goals [1]. No exact future operation dates beyond mid-2025 handover for the Blue Line extension are publicly specified for these projects yet. The MRTA continues to develop and coordinate with other agencies to ensure integration and service efficiency [1][5].
[1] MRTA News Release, August 2025. [2] Pink Line Operations Commence, June 2025. [3] Yellow Line Operations Update, September 2023. [4] BMA Transfers Projects to Government, February 2024. [5] Ministry of Transport Update, August 2025.
- The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is actively overseeing the development of technology-driven transportation solutions, including the Blue Line extension, the Brown Line project, the Grey Line, and the Silver Line.
- In alignment with broader urban transit goals, the MRTA is adjusting these projects for feasibility and investment considerations post-COVID-19, ensuring that technology remains a key component in advancing Thailand's mass transit network.
