Brown Line (Bangkok)

The MRT Brown Line is a 22.3 km rapid transit line in Bangkok, Thailand proposed monorail mass transit line to run from Nonthaburi Civic Centre, Nonthaburi Province to Lam Sali intersection, Bang Kapi District. Between 20 and 23 stations are proposed for the line. The line has been integrated with the N2 expressway project and a feasibility study has been completed. The line will interchange with 7 other mass transit lines.

MRT Brown Line
รถไฟฟ้าโมโนเรล สายสีน้ำตาล

 13 
Overview
StatusDesign phase, planned tender in 2021
OwnerMass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand
LocaleBangkok and Nonthaburi, Thailand
TerminiNonthaburi Civic Center
Yaek Lam Sali
Stations20 (23)
Service
TypeStraddle-beam monorail
SystemMRT
Rolling stockN/A
Daily ridershipest. 70,000-80,000
History
OpenedN/A
Technical
Line length22.3 kilometers (13.9 mi) (est.)
Number of tracks2 monorail tracks
CharacterElevated
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)

The MRT Brown line investment plan was approved by the MRTA Board in June 2019 for final detailed design,[1] which is expected to be completed by December 2020. The project will still require final Cabinet approval and is planned to be tendered in the first half of 2021.

History

The line was first proposed as the Gold Line by the Pheu Thai party for the Bangkok Governors election held in March 2013. This was in response to objections by Kasetsart University and as an alternative to a long-proposed elevated Expressway extension, the N2 expressway project.[2] However, the Pheu Thai candidate did not win the election and the Gold Line proposal was dropped with the then Deputy Minister of Transport stating that land appropriation costs were too high.[3] (The Gold Line name was later used for the BMA Gold Line ).

Subsequently, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) reworked the Gold Line proposal into a new Brown Line monorail proposal following a comparable route.[4] The route was under preliminary study by OTP from June 2013, but did not progress much before the May 2014 coup and change of government.[5] Subsequently, the route was finalised by OTP and public hearing into the project were held during 2017 as the government proposed integrating the design with a new expressway. In mid 2017, the MOT announced that a final feasibility study would be completed over 14 months.

Note: This line is not to be confused with the original OTP 2004 13 km MRT Brown Line proposal from Bangkapi to Min Buri which was taken to the 2005 election. In 2009, this plan was subsequently changed and the original 13 km Brown Line was merged into an extended MRT Orange Line, which is currently under construction.

Route

The Brown Line starts at Nonthaburi Civic Centre where it interchanges with both the MRT Purple Line & MRT Pink Lines. It heads east along Ngam Wong Wan road to Khae Rai intersection and then Vihavadi-Rangsit road to interchange with the SRT Dark Red Line at Bang Khen. The Brown line continues past Kasetsart University to interchange with the BTS Sukhumvit Line at Kasetsart University on Phahon Yothin Road.

The line continues east along Prasote Manukitch Road (AKA Kaset-Nawamin Road) past Chalong Rat Expressway (interchanging with the proposed BMA Grey Line) to Nawamin Road. It then turns south along Nawamin Road over Lam Phang Phuai and past Klong Chan Stadium. The line continues southeast along Nawamin Road where it terminates at Ramkhamhaeng rd (soi 129/1), Lam Sali junction to interchange with the MRT Orange Line and MRT Yellow Line.

Progress

In August 2013, the MRTA approved the MRT Brown line in principle with a goal to complete design by 2016 with an expected 3-year construction period.[6] However, the line was delayed while a long planned expressway along much of the same route was prioritized.[7] Public hearings on the Brown line were held in 2017. The MOT announced that a 14-month feasibility study into the line would be completed by 2018.[8]

The feasibility study was initially undertaken during the same period where design for the N2 expressway (which runs along Kaset-Namawin rd) is being finalised by EGAT without catering for the MRT Brown Line. Work is expected to commence on the expressway in 2019.[9] OTP and MOT subsequently proposed an integrated design and construction of the Brown Line jointly with the N2 expressway which was approved by Cabinet. However, the Brown Line crossing of Vihavadi-Rangsit rd and the Don Muang elevated expressway may require a diversion of the Brown Line further north as there may not be enough space for the line to pass at this point depending on the final route design of the N2 expressway.[10] In February 2018, OTP confirmed that the study integrating the Brown Line with the Expressway design would be done by June 2018.[11]

By August 2018, OTP had completed the feasibility study and conducted public hearings. Although, there was much public support for building the MRT Brown line, public opposition to the N2 expressway remained high. OTP intended to submit the project for Cabinet approval by the end of October 2018.[12] In early June 2019, the MRTA Board approved the investment plan for the Brown Line and integrated design with the N2 Expressway conducted by EXAT.[13] The design process is expected to be completed by late 2020 after further discussions regarding land access around Kasetsart University were conducted between EXAT, the MRTA, the Rural Highways Department and Kasetsart University in June 2020.[14] In early November 2020, the MRTA Governor stated that the OTP had submitted the preliminary Environment (EIA) to the National Environment Board for review and that land expropriation surveys in some areas along the route were still being finalised.[15]

The project is expected to be tendered in the first half of 2021.

Stations

The 22.3 km Brown line is proposed to have between 20 and 23 stations:

Note: Station names are provisional.

Code Station Name Transfers Province
B1 Nonthaburi Civic Center  MRT   MRL  (under construction) Nonthaburi
B2 Khae Rai
B3 Khlong Yat Lao (Ngam Wong Wan 12) Bangkok
B4 Pracha Chuen intersection
B5 Chinnakhet
B6 Klong Prem (TBC)
B7 Bang Khen  SRT  Bang Khen Station (under construction)
B8 Kasetsart University (Gate 2)
B9 Bank of Agriculture  BTS  Kasetsart Uni
B10 Bang Bua
B11 Lat Pla Khao
B12 Prasoet Manu Kit 25
B13 Prasoet Manu Kit 18
B14 Sukhonthasawat
B15 Chalong Rat  MRL  Kaset Nawamin (proposed)
B16 Khlong Lamchiak
B17 Nuan Chan 11
B18 Yaek Nawamin
B19 Inthrarak
B20 Nawamin 2
B21 Nawamin Phirom
B22 Seri Thai/Khlong Chan Stadium
B23 Yaek Lam Sali  MRT  (under construction)  MRL  (under construction)

See also

References
  1. https://www.khaosod.co.th/economics/news_2589584
  2. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/335419/kasetsart-backs-light-rail-move
  3. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/349823/city-expressway-plan-redrawn-to-go-north
  4. "MRTA endorses Brown Line (Khae Rai-Lam Salee)". The Nation. 21 August 2013.
  5. Brown Line on Facebook
  6. "MRTA endorses Brown Line (Khae Rai-Lam Salee)". The Nation. Bangkok. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  7. http://www.manager.co.th/iBizChannel/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9590000088905
  8. "Govt mulls Brown Line feeder route to connect rail network". Bangkok Post. 27 July 2017.
  9. https://mgronline.com/business/detail/9600000095476
  10. "เคาะรถไฟสายสีน้ำตาล เสนอ'บิ๊กตู่'พิจารณามี.ค.นี้.... อ่านต่อได้ที่". Post Today. 24 January 2018.
  11. "Brown Line monorail, expressway take shape". Bangkok Post. 20 February 2018.
  12. "Monorail plan heads to cabinet". Bangkok Post. 24 August 2018.
  13. https://www.khaosod.co.th/economics/news_2589584
  14. "โมเดล "โดมครอบทางด่วน" ลุ้น "ม.เกษตร" เปิดทางปักตอม่อ". Prachachat.net. 23 June 2020.
  15. "รฟม.เดินหน้าออกแบบฐานรากตอม่อสายสีน้ำตาล พร้อมลุยเปิดประมูลปี 66". Matichon Online. 4 November 2020.
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