| Bangkok tramway system | |
| Native Name: | รถรางกรุงเทพ |
| Locale: | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Open: | 22 September 1888 |
| Close: | 11 October 1968 |
| Status: | Closed |
| Lines: | 11 |
| Gauge: | 1,000mm metre gauge (electric system), unknown (horse system) |
| El: | 600 V DC overhead line |
| Route Length: | 53.5 km |
| Map State: | collapsed |
| Era1 Name: | Horse tram |
| Era1 Start Year: | 1888 |
| Era1 End Year: | 1892 |
| Era1 Status: | Closed |
| Era1 Lines: | 1 |
| Era1 Operator: | John Lofton (1888-1889) Bangkok Tramways Co. Ltd. (1889-1892) |
| Era1 Route Length: | 9.2 km |
| Era2 Name: | Electric tram |
| Era2 Start Year: | 1892 |
| Era2 End Year: | 1968 |
| Era2 Status: | Closed |
| Era2 Lines: | 11 |
| Era2 Route Length: | 53.5 km |
| Era2 Operator: | Unspecified Danish Company (1892-1894) Electricity Co. Ltd. (1900-1908) Thai Tram Co. Ltd. (1905-1908) Siam Electricity Co. Ltd. (1908-1927) Thai Electricity Corporation (1927-1950) Bangkok Electrical Co. Ltd. (1950-1968) |
The Bangkok tram system (รถรางกรุงเทพ) was a transport system in Bangkok, Thailand. Its first-generation tram network first operated as a horse tram system, and was eventually converted to electric trams in the late nineteenth century.
The first tram line in Bangkok was built on Charoen Krung Road (New Road as it was then known), Thailand's first road to be built by Western techniques.[1] John Lofton, a British naval officer working with the Royal Thai Navy along with a Danish colleague, saw a profitable tram service on the line, considering travel times were significant in getting from one end of the road to another. They surveyed the area for three days before requesting to operate a tram service under a government concession.[2] They received a fifty-year allowance to operate trams on seven routes in 1887 and thus opened the first horse-driven tram line, the Bang Kho Laem Line on Charoen Krung Road on 22 September 1888. It did not gain popularity due to high fares and high sympathy for the horses used. Four horses were used to haul one carriage on the line. Due to significant losses, Lofton sold the business to the Bangkok Tramways Co.Ltd. in 1889. Bangkok Tramways continued to operate at significant losses.
On 23 May 1892, a Danish company took over and electrified the line., with electricity provided by the Electricity Co. Ltd. Eventually, the company was merged into the Siam Electricity Company and thus it became the operator of the line. In 1901, a new tram line - the Samsen Line opened, taking trams to the north of Bangkok. In 1905, a competing company was given rights to operate trams in Bangkok, namely the Thai Tram Co. Ltd. (Rot Rang Thai Co. Ltd.). Thai Tram opened a line, the Dusit Line; a circular loop line surrounding Rattanakosin Island. It was opened on 1 October 1905 in the presence of King Chulalongkorn. Thai Tram's cars were painted red, while Electricity's cars were painted yellow, and thus locally the lines in which they operated were called by their colours, respective to their owners. In 1908, the operations of both companies were merged into the Siam Electricity Co. Ltd. and all trams painted into the same mix of yellow and red. In the 1920s, more lines gradually came into operation around Bangkok. In 1927, operations were transferred again to the Thai Electricity Corporation.
On January 1, 1950, the concession on tram operation ceased and operations were transferred to the government. In 1968, tram services were suspended following discussion that it took up road space, coupled with the significant increase in road traffic, as well as cheaper bus operation on the same line. Tram fares ranged from 10 to 50 satang (100 satang = 1 baht), depending on class.[3]
There were 11 tram lines operating on the Bangkok tramway network and are as follows:[4] [5]
There were two main types of tram, an open-plan wooden tram with cloth curtains and a closed-plan metal tram. All tram cars were separated into first class and second class. Some disused rolling stock were used on the Lopburi tramway system.
Tram stop signs were indicated by a red metal triangle with a white star. A green metal triangle with a white star indicated a passing loop stop. The last tram stop sign to be removed from Bangkok streets was on 4 March 2019 on Yaowarat Road in Woeng Nakhon Khasem area by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority due to local engineering work.[7] [8] thumb|The last tram tracks in beside Bangkok City Pillar Shrine
At present, the only tracks in Bangkok remaining are of the Bang Kho Laem Line on Lak Mueang Road between Bangkok City Pillar Shrine and Ministry of Defense. Before this, there were more track remains on Charoen Krung Road in front of the Vietnamese temple Wat U Phai Rat Bamrung in Talat Noi quarter. It has been covered with asphalt since 2015.[9] [10]