Greater Chiang Mai has a population close to one million people, making it the second biggest urban area in Thailand after Bangkok. With a growing urban area beyond the core of Mueang Chiang Mai District, there have been numerous plans over the years to build some form of mass transit system.
What form of rail system it will be has changed over the years, with tramways, light-rail, and metro-style railways proposed. The latest plan is for three light rail lines. I’ve named this fact sheet Chiang Mai Mass Transit, so that will cover any future combination of railways.
Chiang Mai Light Rail Transit System
There are three proposed lines for Chiang Mai Light Rail Transit System.
1. Red Line (Airport – Chiang Mai University – International Convention Centre) – 15.65 km
This line starts from Chiang Mai International Airport – Chiang Mai University (Suan Dok) – Wattanothai Payap School – Chang Phueak Bus Terminal – Chiang Mai Rajabhat University – 700th Anniversary Stadium – Chiang Mai International Convention Centre – Nakornping Hospital.
2. Blue Line (Chiang Mai Zoo – Tha Phae Gate – Don Chan) 11.14 km
This line starts from Chiang Mai Zoo – Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna – Chiang Mai University – Nimmanhaemin Road – Wat Phrasingh Temple – Yupparaj Wittayalai School – Tha Phae Gate – Night Bazaar – Anusarn Market – San Pa Koi Market – Chiang Mai Railway Station – Big C Don Chan – Promenada Resort Mall.
3. Green Line (Mae Jo – Kad Luang – Airport) 13.81 km
This line starts from Chiang Mai International Airport – Far Eastern University – Nong Hoi Market – Montfort College – Regina Coeli College – Anusarn Market – Night Bazaar – Kad Luang – Prince Royal’s College – Dara Academy (Dara Witthayalai School) – McCormick Hospital – Arcade Bus Terminal – Central Festival – Mae Jo Intersection – Ruamchok Intersection.
Links and Resources
Chiang Mai Mass Transit Project (Red Line) – Information page from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand.
Chiang Mai Public Transit Master Plan – Facebook page with news in Thai. Original site at cm-pmap.com not working.
CHIANG MAI | Public Transport – skyscrapercity.com English page.
Chiang Mai Light Rail Transit (Red Line) – skyscrapercity.com.
Chiang Mai light rail transit – Wikipedia page.
Maps
Map of approximate location for Red Line.
[Map of proposed Chiang Mai Light Rail Transit System.]
[Map via chiangmaicitylife.com.]
[Map from bangkokpost.com (with Tha Phae Gate on the wrong side).]
[Map via mgronline.com.]
News Archive
2024
Train lines ‘won’t affect’ historical sites – [01/10/24]
“The plan to build an electric train route in Chiang Mai in particular, which was estimated to cost 30 billion baht, raised a lot of eyebrows, with critics fearing the construction of such a network will put some historical sites in Muang district at risk.
To address these concerns, Mr Suriya urged the MRTA to consider building a part of the line which passes the Old City area underground. The rest of the line could be built at street level, he said.”
Feasibility study of part of Chiang Mai electric rail system ordered – [30/09/24]
“Transport Ministry says more investment will be required for proposed underground tunnel in Old Town area.”
MRTA plans rail systems in 4 provinces – [23/08/24]
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) plans to develop a light rail system in Chiang Mai. The agency estimates the cost will be 30 billion baht for Chiang Mai.
Electric mass transit seen as answer to PM2.5 woes – [12/01/24]
“CHIANG MAI: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin vowed to promote electric mass transit to help solve the nagging air pollution problem in this northern province.”
Chiang Mai transport set for major upgrades – [09/01/24]
“The railway system is divided into three main lines: a 12.5-km red line (12 stations), a 10.5-km blue line (13 stations), and a 12-km green line (10 stations). Meanwhile, the feeder bus system is expected to cover 89km on seven main routes and 85km on seven additional routes. The plan also involves the construction of a light rail transit train project between Nakhon Ping Hospital and Mae Hia Saman Samakkee intersection and a high-speed train system from the province to Bangkok, with the latter being a Thai-Japanese partnership project.”
2022
Chiang Mai to have rubber-tyred tram in 2028 – [01/11/22]
“The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) revealed its plans to finish a rubber-tyred tram project in Chiang Mai by 2028. Construction is expected to start in 2025 with a budget of 9.3 billion baht.”
2020
Tussle over Chiang Mai’s tramway – [16/03/20]
“Chamber of commerce urges all three lines be built at once, but MRTA says state has other mass transit priorities too.”
Bid for light rail system in Chiang Mai expected next year – [13/02/20]
“Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is expected to call a bid for the development of the light rail system or Red Line tram (Nakornping Hospital-Mae-Hia Saman-Samakkee Intersection) in Chiang Mai next year.”
2019
Chiang Mai rallies behind light rail – [02/08/19]
First public hearing for the light rail transit’s first route – [01/08/19]
MRTA will be surveying sites soon for the construction of the light rail transit system – [09/07/19]
Chiang Mai faces another eight year wait for Light Rail network – [18/01/19]
2018
Light rail construction approved for Chiang Mai – [16/07/18]
2017
Final meeting on Chiang Mai Light Rail Transit before it is sent to MRTA for approval – [04/08/17]
Tram or light railway? Above ground or underground too? Cheap or expensive? Chiang Mai meeting tomorrow – [03/08/17]
Public transportation network alternatives A and B – [22/06/17]
Another light rail transit system proposed for Chiang Mai – [23/05/17]
2016
PMAP Chiang Mai Public Transit Master Plan 2nd public forum held – [09/09/16]
2013
The Chiang Mai Monorail? A dream come true? Looks like it. – [18/07/13]
2000’s
Proposals for a Chiang Mai mass transit go back to the early 2000’s. 2bangkok.com has archived news articles from the likes of The Bangkok Post, where the original articles have since gone offline.
Chiang Mai Mass Transit News 2004-2006
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