Samma Keetsin

Independent Director, Sena Development Public Company Limited
 

Among the completed, under-construction, or planned electric train routes in the Bangkok metropolitan area, there are two lines that can be classified as Monorail or Light Rail (lighter compared to the BTS or MRT which are Heavy Rail). These are the Pink Line, which will run from the Government Center in Nonthaburi to Min Buri, and the Yellow Line, which will run from Ratchada-Ladprao to Samrong.

The Gold Line, on the other hand, consists of very small carriages and only operates between 2-3 stations, making it a temporary route until further extensions are made in the future.

Since both the Pink and Yellow Lines are Monorail or Light Rail and are operated by a subsidiary of BTS, and they are also at a similar construction progress level of over 80%, with plans to partially or fully open in the year 2022, these two lines can be seen as twins.

Moreover, they are not just ordinary twins; they are likely to change the lifestyle behaviors, especially in terms of transportation for residents in suburban areas. This is because both lines can connect with several other train lines, including the Green Line running from Samut Prakan to Kukot (BTS), the Blue Line forming a circular route (MRT), the Red Line suburban train, and the East Orange Line currently under construction, which will run from the Cultural Center to Min Buri.

The Pink Line has a total length of approximately 34.5 kilometers, consisting of 32 stations. It runs from the Government Center in Nonthaburi (which is near the Blue Line station), turns left onto Tiwanon Road, then right onto Chaeng Watthana Road, crosses the canal into the Bangkok area, connects with the Red Line suburban train at the intersection with Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, and connects with the Green Line near Wat Phra Si Mahathat. It then continues along Ram Inthra Road to the end of the line, which can connect with the Orange Line that will serve from Min Buri to the Thailand Cultural Center in about 2-3 years. Therefore, the Pink Line has significant potential for transportation as it can connect with four other mass transit lines.

The Yellow Line, on the other hand, has a total length of approximately 30.4 kilometers, which is 4 kilometers shorter than the Pink Line, and consists of 23 stations. It runs from Ratchadapisek Road near the Ladprao intersection (which is close to the Blue Line station), turns left onto Ladprao Road until reaching the Lamsali intersection, where it intersects with the Orange Line, then turns right onto Srinakarin Road, crosses Bangna-Trad Road, and turns right onto Theparak Road to reach Samrong Station, which connects with the same-named station of the Green Line in Samut Prakan, which is already in operation. Thus, the Yellow Line can connect with three mass transit lines.

The areas through which the Pink Line runs are considered the outskirts of Bangkok, mainly urban fringe and suburban areas. Although these suburban areas are already somewhat developed along Tiwanon Road, Chaeng Watthana Road, and Ram Inthra Road, the arrival of the Pink Line will enhance the potential of residential projects along the route.

The areas through which the Pink Line runs are considered the outskirts of Bangkok, mainly urban fringe and suburban areas. Although these suburban areas are already somewhat developed along Tiwanon Road, Chaeng Watthana Road, and Ram Inthra Road, the arrival of the Pink Line will enhance the potential of residential projects along the route.

As for the areas through which the Yellow Line runs, starting from Ratchadapisek Road and Ladprao Road, they are already urban fringe areas with high land prices. However, as it runs from Srinakarin Road to Theparak Road, it also enters suburban areas and will help develop these suburban areas just like the areas of the Pink Line.

In urban fringe areas where land prices have skyrocketed, most residential projects are condominium projects, while in suburban areas, developers still have options to develop both affordable condominium projects and various levels of housing projects.

Examples of residential projects by Sena Development along the Pink Line include the Niche Mono condominium project at Si Ratch Station, the Sena Park Grand housing project near Ram Inthra 83 Station and the Eastern Ring Road. For the Yellow Line, there are the Niche Ide Sukhumvit 113 condominium project near Samrong Station and the Sena Kith condominium project near Si Dan Station.