Grey Line (Bangkok)

The route runs from Ram Indra Road, in the northeast of Bangkok, where it interchanges with the MRT Pink Line (under construction)

running south on Pradit Manuthum Rd along the Chalongrat Expressway corridor. It then interchanges with the proposed MRT Brown Line at Chalongrat Intersection (Kaset-Namawin rd) and continues further south to interchange with MRT Yellow Line at Lat Phrao rd before continuing further south along Pradit Manuthum Rd to interchange with the MRT Orange Line at Rama 9. Finally, the line continues south then south west into Sukhumvit soi 55 before terminating at the downtown district of Thong Lo where it interchanges with BTS Sukhumvit Line.

In August 2011, the newly elected Yingluck Shinawatra government decided to defer plans for the Grey Line and the Light Blue Line, citing that the lines are not a priority within their current 10 lines Master plan. The government suggested the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration pursue construction but stated that the BMA would have to fully fund the line itself.{{Cite web|url=http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1314757223&grpid=00&catid=&subcatid=|title=เพื่อไทยรื้อแผนปชป. ตัดทิ้งรถไฟฟ้าสองสาย เส้นวัชรพล-พระราม 9 และดินแดง-สาธร}}

The BMA stated in mid 2013 that it considered the line a priority and wanted to progress planning by completing an EIA by the end of 2013 with the aim for the line to be tendered by early 2014.http://www.dailynews.co.th/bkk/21223., กทม.เข็นโมโนเรลสายแรก "วัชรพล-ลาดพร้าว"Daily News, 15 June 2013 Construction would have then taken place from 2015 - 2017 for a potential opening in 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailynews.co.th/Content/bangkok/195462/อีก3ปีตอกเสาเข็มโมโนเรล/ |access-date=29 August 2021 |date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217043146/https://www.dailynews.co.th/Content/bangkok/195462/อีก3ปีตอกเสาเข็มโมโนเรล/ |archive-date=2013-12-17}}

In March 2014, the OTP stated that they would contract a consultant to undertake further study of the line.http://www.thanonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224171:2014-03-25-05-25-41&catid=129:2009-02-08-11-47-38&Itemid=479#.U8l7I_mSwnV 25 March 2014 In May 2014, a consultant was contracted to undertake a financial feasibility study of the line, scheduled to complete the work by the end of 2014.{{cite web |url=http://its.in.th/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/12672---9 |title=เร่งทำโมโนเรลวัชรพล-พระราม9 |website=its.in.th |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530113523/http://its.in.th/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/12672---9 |archive-date=2014-05-30}} A second public hearing on the proposed line was held in January 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNPOL5801200010007|title=BMA holds public hearing on Grey Line monorail project|website=thainews.prd.go.th|access-date=2016-10-30}} An environmental impact assessment was completed in September 2016.{{cite news |title=EIA for 'Grey Line' monorail completed |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1094740/eia-for-'grey-line-monorail-completed |newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=28 September 2016}} However, the EIA did not receive approval from the National Environment Board thus suspending the project.

In June 2018, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) vowed to revive the project by rectifying the EIA and resolve opposition from locals in the Thong Lor area. The BMA also sought to gain approval and support from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) to construct the line along the Pradit Monutham rd/Chalongrat Expressway corridor.{{cite news |title=City Hall seeks to revive grey line project|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/1485316/city-hall-seeks-to-revive-grey-line-project |newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=15 June 2018 }} In September 2018, the MRTA Governor stated that the MRTA would like to build the proposed Grey line in order to provide a feeder line to the MRT Pink Line and the MRT Brown Line. Also, given that the MRTA was already working with the Expressway Authority of Thailand regarding an integrated design for the MRT Brown line, the MRTA could use that experience to gain access to land needed for the Grey line, especially at the MRT Brown line interchange at Kaset-Namawin rd.{{cite news |title=รฟม.เปิดแผนสร้างรถไฟฟ้าโมโนเรลสายสีเทา 'วัชรพล-ท่าพระ' แก้ปัญหารถติด |url=https://www.thaipost.net/main/detail/18015 |newspaper=Thai Post |date=20 September 2018 }} However, the BMA refused to transfer the line to the MRTA.

In August 2021, the BMA hired consulting firms to provide analysis for a public-private partnership (PPP) to build the line.{{cite news |title=City Hall hires consultants to oversee new monorail |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2162131/city-hall-hires-consultants-to-oversee-new-monorail |newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=9 August 2021 |last1=Wancharoen |first1=Supoj }} The consultants feasibility study was expected to completed by March 2022.{{cite news |title=Plans for new grey line gather steam|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2214599/plans-for-new-grey-line-gather-steam |newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=13 November 2021}} However on 17 March 2022, the BMA held a market sounding seminar with companies interested in potentially bidding for the line and updated that the feasibility study would be completed by early June 2022.{{cite news |title=พ.ค.นี้ ปิดจ๊อบผลศึกษา PPP รถไฟฟ้าสีเทา "วัชรพล-ทองหล่อ" 2.7 หมื่นล้าน |url=https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/865815/ |newspaper=Dailynews |date=17 March 2022}} During the seminar, the BMA also presented engineering and environmental data to the companies.{{cite news |title=BMA starts courting Grey Line investors |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2280962/bma-starts-courting-grey-line-investors |newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=18 March 2022 |last1=Wancharoen |first1=Supoj }} The BMA forecasts 97,000 pax per day when the line is planned to open in 2030 rising to 161,000 pax per day by 2034. After 40 years, the line is forecast to have 370,000 daily pax. A final seminar was held on 27 May 2022. The BMA advised that it would seek approval for the line from the Ministry of Interior in 2–3 months. Reporters in attendance also noted that the newly elected BMA Governor had expressed a preference for the MRTA to handle the project.{{cite news |title=กทม.เดินหน้าสายสีเทา 2.7 หมื่นล้านสัมปทาน30ปี |url=https://www.facebook.com/TransportDailynews/posts/561293742114531 |newspaper=Daily News |date=26 May 2022}}

Also under consideration is a Phase 2 and Phase 3 extension along the length of Rama 3 rd, over the Chao Phraya river and along Ratchadapisek rd (Inner Ring rd) to Tha Phra to replace the BRT along this route. This would enable the Grey Line to interchange with the BTS Silom Line at Talat Phlu station, the future MRT Purple Line (Phase 2) southern extension and link with the MRT Blue Line extension at Tha Phra station. If the Phase 3 extension is built, the total route distance would be 39.9 km. In September 2019, it was announced that the monorail would be built as two disconnected sections and could be ready by 2023.{{cite news |title=Bangkok transit map to feature new Grey Line|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1761279/bangkok-transit-map-to-feature-new-grey-line |newspaper=Bangkok Post |date=30 September 2019}}

A possible Phase 2 extension would extend from Sukhumvit Rd., along Rama IV Rd., and Ratchadaphisek - Rama 3 Rd and end at The Rama IX Bridge at the Chao Praya river and service the Sathupradit area in Yan Nawa District. The Phase 2 extension would result in a route that is approximately 26 km long. It would also essentially replace much of the Bangkok BRT route.

A planned Phase 3 extension from The Rama IX Bridge /Rama 3 rd and would continue along Ratchadapisek rd to link with the BTS Silom Line at Talat Phlu station, the future MRT Purple Line (Phase 2) southern extension and eventually terminate with the MRT Blue Line extension at Tha Phra station. A Phase 3 expansion would result in a total distance for the Grey Line of 39.9 km.

The route has a total of 15 planned stations. A number of station working names were changed by the Department of Rail Transport in August 2022 to better reflect localities of the stations.{{cite news |title=Department of Rail Transport meeting with BMA on Grey line update |url=https://www.facebook.com/DRT.OfficialFanpage/posts/358201859837616|newspaper=DRT Facebook page |date=2 August 2022}}

For the potential Phase 2 & 3 sections, 25 stations are proposed. (Note: The Bangkok BRT would be replaced along this section) .

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

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{{Bangkok Rapid Transit stations

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{{Public transport in Bangkok}}

{{Urban Rail Transit in ASEAN}}

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Grey Line

Category:Proposed public transport in Thailand

Category:Monorails in Thailand

Category:Monorail lines