The Thaiger
Bangkok’s Orange Line reaches milestone as first train heads to Thailand in November
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Bangkok’s long-delayed MRT Orange Line has reached a key milestone, with the first train set to arrive in Thailand at the end of November, as operator Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) reported its highest quarterly profit in a decade.
Key facts
- BEM managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana announced the progress alongside the company’s second-quarter results for 2026
- Construction is also progressing on the western section, from Bang Khun Non to the Thailand Cultural Centre, which has reached around 37% completion.
- Bangkok’s long-delayed MRT Orange Line has reached a key milestone, with the first train set to arrive in Thailand at the end of November, as operator Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) reported its highest quarterly profit in a decade.
- The eastern section of the line, running from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Yaek Rom Klao, is due to begin trial operations late in 2027, ahead of a full opening in early 2028.
- That figure is projected to rise to around 300,000 a day once the entire route is fully open in 2030.
Summary
BEM managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana announced the progress alongside the company’s second-quarter results for 2026. The company posted a net profit of 1,012 million baht for the quarter, up 19 million baht on the same period last year. It was BEM’s highest second-quarter net profit in 10 years, on total service revenue of 3,982 million baht.
The Orange Line trains, 32 three-car sets built by Siemens, are being manufactured at a factory in Turkey. The first train has completed production and testing in Turkey and is being sent to Germany for trial runs, to confirm its quality and safety before shipping to Thailand later. The second train is currently being tested in Turkey and will be the first to reach Thailand, arriving at the end of November.