Thailand started a mass transit system known as the BTS (Bangkok (Mass) Transit System Skytrain) in 1999, or 21 years ago. And began to operate subway or MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) services 5 years later. But did you know that the world's first mass rapid transit system really Then it happened more than 157 years ago!

Modern mass rapid transit system Also known as Rapid Transit or Mass Rapid Transit, it has different names: Heavy Rail, Metro, Subway, Tube, Underground, U-Bahn, Monorail, but all refer to a highly efficient mass rapid transit system. Travels fast Can support many users. Which runs on a specific path, whether it is on the ground (Elevated Rail) or underground where other vehicles Cannot be used together Which normally serve big cities with more prosperous and crowded (Urban Area)

The world's first Rapid Transit
 

The world's first modern mass rapid transit system was born in 1863 in London, England. It is a subway system, a circular train in central London, completed in 1884. Subsequently expanded to the northwest, west and southwest. Which was completed in 1904. It is now part of the London Underground system. It's called the London Underground, or popularly known as the Tube in 1893.

Britain's only sky train takes place in Liverpool. It's called Liverpool Overhead Railway. It is the world's fourth rapid transit system and the world's first sky train. But the development of mass rapid transit trains to be more efficient took place in 1897. When American inventor Frank J. Sprague succeeded in developing a Multiple-unit train control (MUTC) system that allows all motors to be controlled at a single point. It is now part of the Chicago 'L' Metro in Chicago, USA.

Mass Rapid Transit Systems in Europe
 

Hungary opens first subway line in Europe (Excluding England) in Budapest in 1896, the 3.7-kilometer-long M1 is now part of the Budapest Metro.

France   The first Paris Metro line opened in 1900.

Germany  The German U-Bahn opened in 1902, with most of the routes being overland. And opened a second line, the Hamburg U-Bahn in 1904.

Greece converted the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway from a steam to electric railway in 1904, part of the present Athens Metro.

Scotland had 10.4 kilometers of the Glasgow Subway in 1935.

Austria The Vienna Metropolitan Railway converted a steam train to a subway line in 1978.

Mass rapid transit systems in North America

The U.S.A

New York built the first electric train system in 1868, named the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway. Later in 1904, the first part of the New York City Subway was opened, starting at 14.5 kilometers. It became one of the largest electric train systems in the world. In 1908 a tunnel was built to connect Manhattan and New Jersey.   

Chicago had the first light rail system, the Chicago L, an overground train that opened in 1892 and in the capital city of Washington, D.C., it opened in 1976.

Cross to the west side San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) subway system opened in 1972.

Canada

Toronto opened its subway service in 1954. It was the first aluminum train. Which makes it lightweight It later opened a second line in Montreal in 1966.
 

Mass Rapid Transit Systems in South America
 

The oldest metro in South America is the Southern Hemisphere in Buenos Aires. Argentina. It opened in 1913 as a subway train. It was in operation for 100 years, with new trains being replaced in 2013.

Brazil The first subway line occurred in 1974 in São Paulo. Which serves more than 4 million people in a week. Besides that, Chile and Colombia have rail systems as well.
 

Mass rapid transit systems in Africa
 

Cairo, Egypt, was the first in Africa to have a mass rapid transit system. It opened in 1987. Mainly by improving from the traditional train system at present, the renovation is not complete. Africa's second line is in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. Which opened in 2011

Mass rapid transit systems in Asia

Japan Tokyo was the first city in Asia to have a subway system. It opened for service in 1927. This was followed by Osaka in 1933, after which it began to operate in major cities such as Yokohama, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Nagoya, etc.

China began to develop the subway system in Beijing in1969 and continued experimenting until 1981. After that, the big cities Gradually, there were subway systems such as Tianjin (1984), Shanghai (1993), Guangzhou (1997), Wuhan (2004). In the 21st century, China has become the country with the largest mass rapid transit system in the world. Including in terms of technology that is more advanced than other countries.

India India's oldest metro system is in Kolkata. Construction started in 1984. Later it was an elevated rapid transit system in many cities such as Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai.

Hong Kong's Hong Kong subway line, or MTR, opened in 1979. There were initially 10 lines, including one that ran under Victoria Harbor. In 1982, another train, The British Section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, opened in 2007. The two lines were successfully integrated into one system.

South Korea began developing the subway system in 1974. The first line was made by developing a traditional train system. The largest line is in Seoul, spanning 314 kilometers, covering 12 lines. After that, other big cities Gradually, there are subway systems such as Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Deon, and Gwangju.

Taiwan opened the subway system in 1996 in Taipei and opened a second line in Kaohsiung in 2008.

Philippines, the oldest electric train system in Southeast Asia. In Manila Opened in 1984 as a light system. Later developed as a Medium capacity system

Singapore opened its service to the subway in 1987 and was the world's first heavy rail system. The first place with a glass door separating the platform area. There are five lines in the system, with three more planned to be completed in 2030.

Malaysia the train system in Kuala Lumpur is light. Opened in 1996 with two lines. After that, in 1998, one more line was added, and more lines were being launched since 2016, 2017. Two more lines are under construction and are expected to be completed in 2021 and 2022, with a subway system with shutters on the platform as well.

Indonesia subway system in Jakarta It opens in 2019 and the second phase will be completed in 2024.

The story above is only part of the evolution of the use of mass rapid transit systems with Europe and America as pioneers. The mass transit system by electric train makes traveling for people more convenient and faster and contributes to reducing air pollution. It is fortunate that Thailand has an efficient mass transit system. As well as continuously expanding the route. Which makes the quality of life of urban people much better It is an option to avoid the heavy traffic congestion in Bangkok. Hope that when the various extensions and the electric train network that accesses all areas will make more and more people turn to service Instead of driving a car, which can greatly help both traffic problems and road pollution.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rapid_transit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_transit