Bangkok’s MRT metro system suspended services on Sunday after a fire broke out on an elevated section of the railway, forcing passengers to evacuate as sparks fell onto the road below.
A fire broke out on the overhead electric railway tracks on the Blue Line near Tao Poon station in Bangkok's Bang Sue district at 12.20pm local time on Sunday.
Firefighters arrived on scene minutes later as flames and smoke rose in the air. Crews deployed a large ventilation fan to clear the smoke from the station building and track area.
Video showed a huge wall of fire on the train tracks with a massive pillar of smoke rising into the sky. Passersby under the bridge watched as the fire raged and firefighters worked.
The blaze was brought under control, and no one was injured in the incident.
However, sparks from the fire fell from the bridge, causing minor damage to a motorcycle parked beneath the railway line, police said.
Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM), which operates the MRT Blue Line, announced a temporary suspension of MRT services at “all stations”.
Passengers were evacuated from the station building during the incident.
A preliminary investigation found that an electrical control cabinet had overheated, causing a short circuit that sparked the fire, said Pol Lt Col Kittiphan Thaentangcharoenchai, deputy investigation chief at Tao Poon.
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
Electricity to the track was cut off, causing delays of approximately 60 minutes at some Blue Line stations and affecting services towards Tha Phra, before services were suspended.
BEM said disruption had affected services between Tao Poon and Bang O stations.
Police, BEM officials and firefighters inspected the track and power cut-off system to assess the damage and establish the exact cause of the incident.
Bangkok’s Mass Rapid Transit system is one of the Thai capital’s main urban rail networks, serving commuters across the city. The network includes the Blue Line, which runs through central Bangkok and links areas including Tao Poon and Bang Sue.
