This is the second busiest mass transport boat service in Bangkok with around 90000 people a day using it. The boats operate from 5.30am to 8.30pm. The boat frequency is around every 3 to 6 minutes all day long. There are 30 stops along the route and the end-to-end time is around 30 minutes.
After 8.30pm and though the night there are on demand night boat services that ply the same route with small numbers of people per boat. These night boats are very dangerous as they race at breakneck speeds though the unlit klong that makes seeing structures in the water more difficult. This is the only klong in Bangkok to offer a 24-hour service.
The time savings by using this klong boat service are huge. For example if you travel from Bang Kapi to Petchaburi road near Pratunam by bus at peak times it will take you over 2 hours and at least 1 hour off peak. By the klong boat its only 25 minutes. Night boats do it in around 15 minutes. This klong offers the fastest and only traffic free way from Bang Kapi to the inner city.
1. This is an image of a typical boat pier on Klong Saen Saep. Taken at Saphan Hua Chang (Near Ratchathewi BTS station). Note the simple signage on the pier.
2. This is an image of a typical klong boat approaching Saphan Hua Chang pier.
3. This is an image of 2 klong boats passing near Saphan Hua Chang. Note the ticket collectors standing on the sides of the boat. The helmets are to protect them from overhead structures such as bridges.
4. This was the boat that I took to Pratunam and onwards to Bang Kapi. Taken as it approached the pier. Note how much the water is churned up by the boats.
5. This is a short movie showing what it is like to ride on the Klong Saen Saep Boat service. Note the curtains on the side this keeps the water splash to a minium as you can see from the film it gets quite a lot of water spray from the rather high speeds the boats travel at.
6. This is an image of a klong boat heading towards Bang Kapi. Taken from Pratunam pier.
7. This a shot of the timetable information at Pratunam pier. The information relates to 1st and last boats from different locations depending on the day of the week. This timetable may not be correct.
8. This is an image showing the Pier at Pratunam. This pier is the busiest pier on this klong boat service.
9. This is a short movie showing how short a boat stop is and how people enter and leave the boats at a stop.
10. This is a movie of passing the flood control gates at Klong tan just before the junction of Klong Saen Saep and Klong Tan. Also shown is another short stop at one of the major stops of the boat service.
11. This is an image of some typical klong boats stored in the boat holding area at Wat Sriboonreung the end of the line in Bang Kapi.
12. This is a shot of the captain’s seat on a typical klong boat. The hydraulic ram next to the captain’s seat is used to lower the roof of the whole boat so the boat can pass under the bridges during high water periods. This occurs during the rainy season.
13. This is a side on shot of a klong boat turning around at Wat Sriboonreung pier.
14. This is a shot of a klong boat departing the pier at Wat Sriboonreung. Note how tight the turning area is for the boats.
15. This is an image of the above klong boat powering up after it departed Wat Sriboonreung pier. There are normally 2 ticket collectors per boat one on each side.
16. This is a general view of Wat Sriboonreung pier facing towards the west. Note how small the pier is.
17. This is the sign on the pier at Wat Sriboonreung.
18. This is a general view of the area around the boat holding area at Wat Sriboonreung. The large buildings are the NIDA (National Institute of Development Administration) complex.
19. This is a shot of the boat refuelling station at Wat Sriboonreung. The person is a staff member who records the amount of fuel given to each boat.
20. This is a shot of the seating area inside a typical Klong Saen Saep boat. Unlike on the Chao Phraya River it is not possible to walk though the inside of the boats. You have to walk along the outside of the boat.
21. This is a close up shot of a helmet used to protect the ticket staff from head injury from hitting the overhead bridges.
22. This is an image of a cross klong cable ferry. The small platform is pulled across the klong on an overhead cable. There are 3 of these cross klong ferries on Klong Saen Saep.
23. This is a shot showing how well used these klong boats are used. This was taken around lunchtime.
24. This is a picture of a klong boat waiting to depart from Wat Sriboonreung pier.
25. This is a movie showing the boat traffic at Wat Sriboonreung pier and the tight turning area. The boats get very close to each other when turning around.
26. This is an image of the tickets used on the Klong Saen Saep boat service. The large purple tickets are the Klong Saen Saep boat tickets and the yellow tickets are the Chao Phraya express boat tickets.
I hope you find the pictures and vehicles shown to be of interest if you view this please post some comments and feelings about the pictures.
6 comments:
I use these boats a lot. A main reason that I find staying on Soi Kasem San1 near Jim Thompson's House so convenient. Plus both skytrain lines close, not just one.
do you know if it's possible to go to Jim Thompson House by klong taxi?
Yes! There is a stop quite close to the Jim Thompson House. I don't remember the name of the stop but going west I think it's just after the ferry passes under Phaya Thai Road.
is it obvious where to buy tickets? I want to get from Pratunam to banglamphu.
Found this very helpful. Was trying to find a quick way to Ramkhamhaeng University from Wireless Road and it looks like this is the best way to get there. Very useful seeing how to get on and off the boat, I just hope I don't fall in!
I travelled this river from Ramkhamhaeng to Patunam(near the heart of the city). I understand that this is an interchange to other stop. However, I cannot find out the map of all stations. Can someone help me?
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