Modernisation of the ticketing system of Bangkok MRT's Blue Line

What was the challenge?

The Chaloem Ratchamongkhon MRT line, better known as the Blue Line, was the first of Bangkok’s underground metro lines to open in 2004. 
Designed to mitigate growing traffic congestion problems and streamline travels within the metropolitan area, the Blue Line served a daily ridership of 400,000, with numbers set to double as Section 3 transitions into full operation mode. 
The extension will see an additional 19 stations that will support increased capacity and a seamless passenger experience.

How did we respond?

Thales was already the supplier of the automatic fare collection system for the existing Blue Line, which now comprises 18 stations, with its TRANSCITY™ ticketing solution.
Thales was appointed by the Bangkok Expressway Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) and CH. Karnchang Public Company Limited (CK) in 2017 to implement the AFC system across 19 new stations on the extension. 
Within the scope of this contract, Thales is also supplying additional Gates and Token Issuing Machines (TIM) to increase the capacity of these original stations.

The Results

In 2019, Thales completes delivery of the Automatic Fare Collection system across 19 additional stations on the Bangkok MRT’s Blue Line.
The opening of the Bang Sue-Tha Phra extension, or Section 3, of Bangkok’s Chaloem Ratchamongkhon MRT line, better known as the Blue Line, marks the final delivery phase of Thales’ Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system on the line’s extension. This follows the successful installation of the ticketing system for Section 2, which was put into revenue service on 30 September 2019.
800,000 daily riderships are now expected.