MRT - Bangkok - Thailand

The MRT subway, Bangkok's second major mass transit system is on track for a test run on April 13, 2004, in preparation for an official opening on August 12, 2004, Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday. The subway rail system will run from the city's main railway station, Hua Lamphong, under two major thoroughfares linking the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre with several more hotels, shopping centres and business districts. Its route is 20 kilometres long with 17 stations and four interchange stations that will connect to the Skytrain. More interchange stations will come on stream after line extensions to the Skytrain are completed. The subway is one of a number of infrastructure and transportation development projects underway in Bangkok and nationwide. Others include extension of the highway network in the provinces, improved seaport facilities and construction of the New Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport). The foundation stone of the subway was laid at Hua Lamphong train station on November 19, 1996, and construction began in 1997. Private investors on a 25-year concession from the government’s Mass Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) will operate it. Safety has been a primary consideration in the construction of the subway. Many have questioned building of a subway system in a city with porous soil, wasn’t there a risk of flooding. Don’t worry, all the entrances and shafts to the subway are built above the 200-year flood level for Bangkok (1.2-1.5 meter above ground level). If the water goes over the 200 year flood level, all openings have "stop block" doors that close to seal the openings.