Bangkokâs MRT Blue Line was thrown into disruption on Sunday, September 20, 2026, after an electrical fire near Tao Poon sent dark smoke above the elevated railway, forced passengers to evacuate and triggered station closures and delays of around an hour.
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— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) September 20, 2026
Five MRT stations remain closed after trackside fire
— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) September 20, 2026
MRT services were initially suspended at all stations on September 20 after a fire broke out along the Blue Line tracks between Tao Poon and Bang Pho stations.
Operator Bangkok Expressway and Metro later said services had⌠pic.twitter.com/zwcnJsY7Rv
The incident developed around midday between Tao Poon and Bang Pho stations in Bangkokâs Bang Sue district. Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) initially reported an electrical-system problem before service restrictions expanded as firefighters and railway teams responded.
Electrical fire reported between Tao Poon and Bang Pho
Bangkok emergency services received a report at around 12.30pm of a fire near the MRT tracks around Tao Poon station on Pracha Rat Sai 2 Road.
Personnel from Bang Pho Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched and reportedly reached the scene at approximately 12.32pm. Initial emergency information pointed to a short circuit involving electrical cables or related equipment along the railway.
The involvement of high-voltage infrastructure required crews to proceed carefully while the electrical system was assessed and secured.
Images from the scene showed thick black smoke around the elevated railway. Available information indicates the incident involved trackside electrical infrastructure rather than a passenger train catching fire.
Passengers evacuated as delays reached about 60 minutes
BEM initially reported an electrical-system failure between Tao Poon and Bang Pho that disrupted Blue Line trains heading towards Tha Phra.
Delays accumulated to approximately 60 minutes at some stations as the emergency developed. Passengers were evacuated from the affected station area while firefighters and MRT personnel dealt with the incident.
BEM subsequently announced a wider temporary suspension of services while officials assessed the railway and worked to make the affected section safe.
Bang O to Kamphaeng Phet section affected
A later service update identified closures between Bang O and Kamphaeng Phet, covering Bang O (BL08), Bang Pho (BL09), Tao Poon (BL10), Bang Sue (BL11) and Kamphaeng Phet (BL12).
This is important for passengers because some of the earliest reports only described disruption between Bang O and Bang Sue. The operating situation changed as the emergency response progressed.
Travellers can check station and network information through the official BEM MRT website and should follow the newest service announcements before travelling.
Tao Poon disruption affects a key Bangkok interchange
Tao Poon is particularly significant because passengers can transfer there between the MRT Blue and Purple lines. Disruption at the interchange can therefore affect commuters travelling between northern Bangkok, Nonthaburi and central parts of the capital.
Passengers who normally transfer at Tao Poon may need to adjust their journeys, while buses, taxis and other transport around affected stations could experience additional demand.
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No casualties reported in initial updates
No deaths or serious passenger injuries were reported in the initial information available following the incident. The evacuation was carried out while emergency crews dealt with the electrical hazard.
The cause should still be described carefully. Emergency reporting identified a short circuit involving electrical cables, while BEM initially referred to an electrical-system failure. A final technical explanation will depend on inspection of the damaged equipment.
Smoke clearing does not mean trains can immediately restart
Even after visible flames and smoke are brought under control, engineers may need to inspect power cables, signalling equipment and other railway systems before allowing trains through the affected section.
Damaged electrical equipment must be isolated and tested before normal operations can safely resume, meaning disruption can continue after the immediate fire emergency ends.
Thailand has dealt with other major rail emergencies this year, including a construction crane collapse involving a passenger train, which also required an extensive emergency response.
Infrastructure problems can also produce disruption well beyond the original location, as seen during recent rail disruption in the Netherlands when track inspections affected services.
Passengers urged to check the newest MRT update
Passengers planning Blue Line journeys should check BEM announcements immediately before travelling, particularly if their route includes Bang O, Bang Pho, Tao Poon, Bang Sue or Kamphaeng Phet.
Station closures and service patterns may change as engineers complete inspections and restore operations. Until a detailed investigation is completed, the incident is most accurately described as an electrical fire or electrical-system incident involving railway infrastructure near Tao Poon.
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