SRT: The Thonburi to Nakhon Pathom Commuter Line.

On Friday I took a trip on the Thonburi SRT commuter line to Nakhon Pathom. This Commuter line operates from Bangkok Noi district in Thonburi to the ancient city of Nakhon Pathom 50 km west of Bangkok.

The Thonburi line is the original terminus for the main south line until the 1920’s when the Rama 6 rail bridge was built across the Chao Phraya River. Thus creating a link between Hualamphong and the south of Thailand. This link connected up the 2 isolated halves of the SRT rail system and somewhat made Thonburi station and its 6 km long commuter line redundant.

Even though the Thonburi line is past its prime it doesn’t mean that no trains operate from there. In fact Thonburi station is quite useful for short trips on the main south line as there are 6 trains a day departing from Thonburi station and these trains make up the commuter service. If you’re heading to the Kanchanaburi area using Thonburi station is a must as all trains to Kanchanaburi depart from Thonburi station.

The commuter service on this line is rather basic and is not heavily used. This is partly due to low frequency of services and the fact all trains are 3^rd class non aircon. One of the biggest problems for increasing the usage of the Thonburi commuter line is the lack of onward mass transport from its rather temporary looking station in Bangkok Noi district.

The Thonburi line used to be easier to use and connect with when its original 1930’s station was next to the Chao Phaya River thus allowing onward traffic free boat services to the BTS and other points on the river. Today the station is situated 800 meters further from the river to allow for an expansion of the Royal Siriraj hospital. This move has left the line unconnected to other mass transport in Bangkok. In fact Thonburi SRT station is the worst connected mass transport railway station in Thailand. The bus stops for the station are around 800 to 1000 meters walk away.

As on most other SRT commuter lines the short distance commuter service is made up of long distance trains and not dedicated commuter trains. This leads to very poor on time running on inbound trips. On the day I visited Thonburi station the 09.59 train from Nakhon Pathom was 100 minutes late.

With around 12 trains a day heading direct to Bang Sue instead of Thonburi now. The future for Thonburi station and its 6km section of track looks bleak as all resent plans for upgrades to the main south line and the Thonburi commuter service involve running direct to Bang Sue.

The timetable for the Thonburi commuter line:

From Thonburi to Nakhon Pathom:

07.25 (Lang Suan), 07.45 (Nam Tok), 13.05 (Prachup Khiri Khan) 13.55 (Nam Tok), 17.40 (Rachaburi) and 19.15 (Lang Suan).

Most of these train stop all stations to Nakhon Pathom then travel onwards. The only exception is the 19.15 Lang Suan train this is a limited stop train to between Thonburi and Nakhon Pathom.

From Nakhon Pathom to Thonburi:

04.50 (Limited stop), 06.03, 08.51, 09.59, 14.40 and 16.24

The trip takes 70 minutes to complete from Nakhon Pathom to Thonburi.

1. This is a shot of the platform at Thonburi SRT station. Note the rather temporary look of this station. All trains depart and arrive on this platform.

2. This is an image of the ticket office at Thonburi station. Note the arrival train timetable in the foreground.

3. This is a shot of the train timetable on the platform at Thonburi station. There are 6 trains a day each way.

4. This is a shot of one of these oddly placed video cameras all over the SRT system. This one on the platform at Thonburi station just looks at the platform sign.

5. This is a movie of an UP train arriving very late into the platform at Thonburi station. This is a loco hauled train using SRT loco number 4519. Note the steam whistle sound of its horn.

6. This is a movie of the 13.05 train departing Thonburi station. Filmed from the on train perspective. Note the station and rail yard on departure. Also the SRT shunter 79 can be seen moving carriages in the yard as the train passes.

7. This is a shot of Charan Sanitwong Station. Taken from the rear of the train. This station is an easier place to board Thonburi line trains as there are a lot of bus connections here but there is no ticket office and tickets must be purchases on board.

8. This is a short movie of crossing the steel rail bridge above the weekend Taling Chan Floating Market. If traveling from within Thonburi this train can be used to access the market.

9. This is an image of Bang Ramat station. Note the nice flowers next to the station despite the station being not much.

10. This is a shot of the highway bridges that cross the Thonburi commuter line. Taken near Bang Ramat station. This section of track also has a railway village.

11. This is a picture of the complex point work just before Taling Chan station. The double track line to the left heads to Bang Sue and the twisty single line on the right heads to Thonburi station.

12. This is a shot of the platform sign at Taling Chan station. This sign indicates the 2 lines that split here. Directly in front of the sign is a concrete sculpture of birds in a tree.

13. This is a general view of Taling Chan station. Note this station has 3 platforms and a small set of sidings. Again the platform has small trees on it.

14. This is a shot of the rail replacement workshop in the yard of Taling Chan station. Seeing this line was only upgraded in the last 10 years. It seems rather soon to replace the rails when other lines are in a much poorer condition that this one.

15. This is a shot showing down end of the Taling Chan rail yard. Note the quality of track on this line. This line is some of the smoothest track on the whole SRT rail system.

16. This is an image of Ban Chim Phli Station. This is a smaller commuter station on this line. From this station westwards most of the urban devolvement is 2 to 5 km south of the railway thus giving it a rural feel even though it’s suburban.

17. This is a picture of Phutthamonthon Sai 2 station. This is the smallest and lowest use station on the line. It is really only a peak hour stop. This station doesn’t even have a down platform but trains still stop there.

18. This is a shot of one of SRT’s fastest section of track Max speed for loco hauled trains is 90 kph and 105kph for DMUs. This section is just west of Phutthamonthon Sai 2 station and looks rather rural.

19. This is a general view of Sala Thammasop station. The main platform at this station has a nice flower garden.

20. This is a rather poor quality image of the recently introduced Route 388 Salaya to Pak Kret bus service. Bus number 388-1. This route has both aircond and non aircon buses on it.

21. This is a shot of Salaya Station. This station is one of the few points where urban development is close to the railway. This station also serves the major medical university of Thailand (Mahidol University). This station considered the end of Bangkok’s suburban area.

22. This is an image of Wat Suwan Station. Note that this station they retained the old station building when upgrading the line.

23. This is a general view of Klong Mahasawat station. This is another station where the old station building was retained.

24. This is an image of the rail replacement welding workshop near Wat Ngiu Rai station. It appears lengths of rail are brought to here by train and its welded together for use later.

25. This is a shot of Wat Ngiu Rai station. This station is just before where the railway crosses the Thachin River. The bridge is the second longest on the Thonburi commuter line.

26. This is a movie of crossing the long steel rail bridge near Nakhon Chaisi station. The darker bridge is the original single track bridge from when the line opened and the new silver bridge was added when the line was upgraded to double track.

27. This is a shot of the steel rail bridge just after the train takes the curve before the station at Nakhon Chaisi.

28. This is a general view of Nakhon Chaisi station. This station appears to have once been a more major station due to its larger building that is original from the lines opening.

29. This is a shot of Tha Chalaep station. This station appears to have been completely rebuilt when the line was upgraded. This station has a nice platform garden.

30. This is a shot of Ton Samrong station. This is the 1^st commuter station for Nakhon Pathom city. This station appears to have been relocated a few hundred meters closer to Nakhon Pathom when it was upgraded.

31. This is a shot of Nakhon Pathom station’s platform sign. Taken looking back towards Thonburi. This station is the end of the commuter line. But it is a very major station for long distance trains.

32. This is a picture of the main platform at Nakhon Pathom. Note how busy it is with people waiting for inbound trains and other long distance trains to the south of Thailand.

33. This is an image of the elevated signal box in the sidings at Nakhon Pathom station. This station is the end of the double track main south line. From here onwards for the next 1100 km it’s all congested single track.

34. This is a shot of the ticket office at Nakhon Pathom station. This station doesn’t have any fixed platform timetables like most SRT stations. Note: this is the only SRT station where the staff are not very helpful and are rather rude to passengers.

35. This is a shot of the commuter train that used to travel to Nakhon Pathom on. It will continue to Prachuap Khiri Khan. Note the old GE loco SRT unit number 4034.

36. This is a movie showing the departure of the Prachuap Khiri Khan train and the general view around the station area. Towards the end of the video has got to be the strangest trains I have ever seen. It’s just a loco and a very long section of rail held up on small wheels.

37. This is a shot of the rather unusual train with its loco and long section of suspended rail. The rail is held up on sets of wheels. This is used to transport long lengths of rail around the SRT system. The railway workers sit on top of it as it travels along.

38. This is a shot of the street entrance to Nakhon Pathom station. This station I feel is one of the more ugly modern SRT station designs.

39. This is an image of the motorbike taxi stand just outside the station entrance. Passengers use them to travel short distances around the inner city of Nakhon Pathom.

40. This is a shot of the typical train tickets used on the Thonburi commuter line. The tickets are similar to most other SRT commuter lines.

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.

SRT: Thonburi Rail Yard + Thai Steam Engine Fleet.

Last Friday I visited the SRT rail yard and workshop at Thonburi on the western side of Bangkok. This rail yard is located next to Thonburi railway station on the Thonburi commuter line. This station and rail yard was the original terminus for the southern line trains in Bangkok. In the 1920’s a new rail link to Bang Sue in the inner north of Bangkok allowed direct rail access to Hualamphong station.

Thonburi rail yard is one of the more interesting places for rail fans in Bangkok. This rail yard and workshop has quite a lot of history to it. It is home to the SRT heritage steam engine fleet. The Thonburi rail yard is the only currently operating steam locomotive maintenance and repair workshop in Bangkok. A small number of diesel locomotives are maintained at the Thonburi workshop along side the steam locomotives.

Today all the rail operations to and from Thonburi station and its yard is passenger related. No cargo trains operate from Thonburi station. The yard is now a minor repair a fueling point for SRT’s diesel locomotive fleet. A few years ago the passenger platforms where relocated from a nicer historical station next to the Chao Phaya River. This was done to make way for extensions to the Royal Siriraj Hospital.

This relocation has made the Thonburi yard and its railway station less attractive to SRTs passengers as the new rather temporary looking station is not easy to get to or well connected to other areas of Bangkok or Thonburi. The yard’s long term future doesn’t look great as there are no future projects to include the Thonburi rail yard and this part of the Thonburi commuter line into Bangkok’s modern mass transport system.

If you do come to visit the rail yard at Thonburi the people are very friendly and welcoming to rail fans. But please be careful of moving trains and other equipment when in the rail yard. Also be friendly to the staff and don’t take or damage any of the equipment or metal parts or trains. The rail yard staff do speak a little English and will show you around the yard and trains if you ask them nicely.

1. This is an image of Steam loco number 953 and GE loco number 4034. Taken looking towards the workshop from the eastern rail entrance to the Thonburi rail yard. Note: Steam Loco Number 953 is still in working order and is used on tourist trains a few times a year.

2. This is an image of a similar steam loco to number 953 on a rail tour to Ayutthaya. Taken as steam loco number 824 approached Bang Sue station.

3. This is a general view of the carriage sidings next to Thonburi rail yard. Note the old cargo vans, signal control wires and the 3^rd class passenger carriages.

4. This is a general view of the Thonburi rail yard looking east taken from the western end of the yard. This section of the yard appears to deal with carriage repairs.

5. This is a view of a 3^rd class passenger carriage undergoing repair in the yard. Note all the different metal parts lying around the yard.

6. This is a shot of the spare train wheels for carriages. Like all SRT rail yards there are lot of theses wheels laying about the place with lots of unidentified metal parts and scrap.

7. This is a shot of the rail yard's security guard. They don’t make any hassles to visitors. This guard could understand a little English and was quite helpful.

8. This is a picture of a locomotive engine cover. They are lifted off with a small crane and placed on trolleys and stored outside in the yard. In the background is an old GE loco. SRT loco number 4025.

9. This is a shot of the diesel locomotive repair section of the workshop. They had 2 locos in for repair. This workshop section is the only one with a large under train inspection pit. Which is always very oily and dirty.

10. This is another angle of the loco engine cover and SRT loco 4025. Note the crane for removing the covers in the foreground. Taken from inside the workshop looking out.

11. This is a shot of a loco undergoing some very major repairs to its engine. It doesn’t look like it will be going anywhere soon for a long time.

12. This is an image of steam engine 713/C 5615. This part of the workshop houses the steam engines. This steam engine is not in working order.

13. This is another angle on steam engine 713/C 5615. For some unknown reason they store the steam engines with the boiler hatch open.

14. This is a front on shot of steam engine 715. This is a similar type to 713/C 5615. Unfortunately this steam engine is not in working condition either.

15. This is a shot of steam engine 850. It is not known if it was in working condition.

16. This is a shot of an older GE loco undergoing repairs in the workshop. SRT unit number 4011.

17. This is a picture of GE loco number 4034 waiting outside the workshop.

18. This is an image of a display of the tools used to repair the locomotives. It seems a rather odd thing to have inside the rail yard. In front of it are new brake blocks and fire extinguishers.

19. This is an image of steam loco number 824. This is the same steam engine seen on a tourist train early in the post. This steam loco is in full working order.

20. This is a tender first shot of steam loco number 953. These steam locos are powered by some kind of bunker oil. All the steam locos had a lot of general yard items stored near them making clear shots very hard.

21. This is an inside shot of the driver and fireman’s cab of steam loco 824. Note the gauges and levers.

22. This is a shot of the fireman’s seat and the firebox of steam loco 824. This must be very hot when it’s operating. Remembering that it’s about 37C outside at the time the picture was taken. It must be like a sauna when the steam engine is fired up.

23. This is a shot of the drivers seat on steam loco 824. Visibility for the driver is rather limited on these steam locos when compared to the diesel locos.

24. This is a shot of steam loco number 950. This steam loco appears to no longer be in working order. It is of the same style as 824 and 953.

25. This is an image of the eastern end of the Thonburi rail yard. All locos must shunt and reverse here to access the yard or platforms at Thonburi station.

26. This is a shot of the signal box in the rail yard at Thonburi. This signal box is controlled by using mechanical levers and not by small electric motors on the points as is the case on the main system.

27. This is a shot showing steam loco 824 and GE loco 4034. This is one of these great steam and diesel images.

28. This is an inside image of the drivers cab on an older style GE loco. It is rather simple and hot inside the cab.

29. This is an inside shot of one of loco number 4204. There is a lot more space in this cab for the driver. The small wheel looks rather unusual. I suspect it has something to do with the brakes.

30. This is a shot of loco number 4204 undergoing repairs to its engine this locos engine seems to be in better condition as most of it is still in place.

31. This is a close up shot of GE loco number 4025. This loco is stored in its own covered section of the yard behind the main workshop.

32. This is a shot of a rail crane used that used to be used for track work and other heavy lifting. It would have been attached to a works trains and taken to the work site by rail.

33. This is a shot of the Thonburi yard shunter. Taken from the carriage yard next to the platform roads. SRT unit number 79. Every rail yard in Thailand seems to have at least one shunter.

34. This is another angle on shunter number 79. This shunter is waiting to move the passenger carriages to the platform road for the next train.

35. This is a shot of loco number 4120 running light engine to the workshop at Thonburi. Taken as it ran though the platform road at Thonburi station.

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.

The Buses of Nakhon Pathom and Bus Route 402.

After taking the Thonburi commuter train to Nakhon Pathom. I took note of the various mass transport on offer in Nakhon Pathom city. Before I returned home via Mahachai city on Bus Route 402.

A little Background on the city of Nakhon Pathom.

Nakhon Pathom city was founded over 1400 years ago making it the oldest continuously inhabited urban city in Thailand. Despite the cities great age almost nothing remains today of its past infrastructure and architecture. The only remaining 1400 year building in Nakhon Pathom is the 127 meter tall Phra Pathom Chedi. This ancient temple building is the world’s largest Buddhist monument and Nakhon Pathom’s tallest building.

This temple is the oldest temple in Thailand and some people say its history goes back as long as 2300 years ago when a small Buddhist village formed on the current site of Nakhon Pathom city. This temple is one of the most important Thai Buddhist temples and is awarded the highest temple rank.

The name Nakhon Pathom means first city. Today Nakhon Pathom is a shadow of its former self. Its now just a medium sized regional city with a population of around 70000 people. Its current purpose is a trading and transport centre for outer Bangkok and the rural areas to the west of the city. The city is also a major stop on the main south railway line and is the start of the commuter line to Bangkok.

Today Nakhon Pathom’s Mass transport system consists of a number orange interurban buses and small buses and trucks to provide town and commuter bus services. A number of these bus services operate as commuter services in Nakhon Pathom and extend into outer Bangkok, Thonburi or Mahachai city. A lot of the people living in Nakhon Pathom commute by bus to areas outside the city to work.

1. This is an image of the 1400 year old Phra Pathom Chedi temple in the city centre of Nakhon Pathom. It is the cities most famous place and its tallest building.

2. This is a shot of a Route 8138: Nakhon Pathom – Om Yai Bus. Bus unit number 8138 – 4. This bus is an older Hino bus that was re bodied with a metro bus style body. Taken in the Nakhon Pathom city bus terminal.

3. This is another angle on Bus number 8138 – 4 just as it is departing to start a trip on route 8138. Taken in the Nakhon Pathom Bus terminal.

4. This is an image of a Route 997: (Bangkok) Pink Lao to Nakhon Pathom intercity bus just as it picks up its last passenger as it’s departing the Nakhon Pathom Bus terminal. Bus number 1^st class 997-29. Bus type unknown.

5. This is another angle on bus number 1^st class 997-29. Taken as it drives off from Nakhon Pathom bus terminal with its doors still open. Even though this is a 1^st class intercity bus it still gets 20 to 30 people standing.

6. This is another picture of a route 997 bus waiting at the bus terminal to start the next trip. Bus number 1^st class 997-28. This is a merc intercity bus. This bus service operates every 10 mins all day. It is really a long suburban bus route and not an intercity bus route.

7. This is a shot of an intercity Route 83 bus: Nakhon Pathom – The Mall Tha Phra. Waiting to depart on the next trip. This service operates every 15 mins all day. Bus number 2^nd class 83 – 25. This is a merc intercity bus.

8. This is a shot of a Route 6147: Nakhon Pathom – Thammasala Mini Bus. Seen waiting at Nakhon Pathom bus terminal. Bus number 6147 – 2. Bus type unknown but is very similar to that of the old green mini buses in Bangkok.

9. This is a shot of a Route 478: Nakhon Pathom – Ban Phaew Bus. Seen at Nakhon Pathom. Bus number 478 – 5. This route appears to have both buses and older large truck – buses operating.

10. This is a picture of the truck – buses used on Route 478. This is very typical of local town and commuter bus services in central Thailand.

11. This is a shot of 2 local truck – bus services waiting to depart from Nakhon Pathom bus terminal.

12. This is an image of a Route 405: Nakhon Pathom – Ban Pong Bus. Seen as it was arriving at Nakhon Pathom Bus terminal. Bus number 405 – 14. This is an old orange country bus. Type unknown.

13. This is another angle on Bus number 405 – 14. Taken as it passes though the bus terminal. Note the white material is sticky powder left over from the Songkran Thai New Year holiday that occurred a few days earlier.

14. This is a shot of a Route 402: Nakhon Pathom – Mahachai City orange country bus. Waiting at the Route 402 stop in the Nakhon Pathom Bus terminal. Bus number 402 – 14.

This next section relates to rural/interurban bus route 402: Nakhon Pathom to Mahachai city.

Route 402 is a rural/interurban commuter bus service that links the cities of Nakhon Pathom and Mahachai. When the route started most of the route would have been on minor country roads. Today this route passes though mostly fully built up residential and heavy industrial area between the two cities on major roads.

Route 402 is around 50km long but takes 2 hours to complete due to a very slack timetable with long timing points on the route. A new timetable could reduce the running time to around 90 mins end to end. This service operates every 15 mins from 4am to 8pm 7 days a week.

15. This is a shot of the Route 402 bus that I used to get to Mahachai city. Bus number 402 – 2 is the oldest bus that they seem to use on this route. Taken at Nakhon Pathom.

16. This is an image of the awkward front doorway and massive steps that have to be climbed to get into the bus. The engine on bus 402 – 2 is at the front right next to the driver and front door.

17. This is a shot of the seating arrangement inside Bus number 402 – 2. A lot of these older orange buses use 2 + 3 seating with very little legroom. No route 402 bus has air conditioning.

18. This is an image of the buses spare wheel tied to the window frame near the back door of the bus. Note the condition of the bus. Two windows on this bus where missing and had been replaced with a wooden panel.

19. This is a shot of the bus driver’s seat on Bus 402 – 2. Take note of the condition of this bus. None of the driver dashboard dials actually work.

20. This is a shot looking towards the back of the bus. The spare wheel can be seen up the back near the door. Note the cooling fan with no protective cover just above the heads of the passengers.

21. This is a short movie taken on board a Route 402 bus. Note general condition of the bus and how the doors cannot be closed when running and the cooling fans with no screen. Also this bus route gets very busy at peak as it services a lot of heavy industrial areas.

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.

A Summary Bus Guide to Bangkok’s Mass transport bus system.

This guide is only a summary of important and useful Bangkok bus services and information. It covers the different types of buses and how to identify them and which routes are useful to know. Also covered is multi mode traffic beating options for some areas.

The different types of buses used in the Bangkok bus system and what they look like in terms of the average passenger.

This is a BMTA non air conditioned ordinary red bus. These cost 7 baht per trip regardless of distance. They come in 2 forms normal route and expressway route. The Expressway route has a yellow sign in the front window the normal ones don’t.

This is a BMTA non air conditioned white with green band ordinary bus. These cost 8 baht per trip. These buses only operate on normal routes in the Thonburi area of Bangkok.

This is a BMTA ordinary blue with green band air conditioned bus. These use a distance based fare that ranges from 11baht to 19 baht a trip. You need to tell the ticket lady where you want to get off. These come in 2 types normal and expressway (yellow sign).

This is a BMTA EURO 2 orange air conditioned bus. These use a distance based fare that ranges from 12 to 22 baht per trip. You need to tell the ticket lady where you want to get off. These come in 2 types normal and expressway (yellow sign).

This is a private white with yellow band non air conditioned bus. These cost 8.5baht per trip regardless of distance. There are also some expressway (yellow sign) versions of these white buses that cost 10.5baht per trip.

This is a private blue with yellow band air conditioned bus. These use a distance based fare that ranges from 12 to 24 baht per trip. These come in 2 types normal and expressway (yellow sign).

This is a private green non air conditioned mini bus. These cost 7.5 baht per trip regardless of distance. These only operate on normal routes. They are only recommended for short trips.

This is an expressway bus note carefully the yellow sign in the window all buses that have expressway versions of their route will display a yellow sign. A lot of expressway routes also share route number with a normal route. So you should always check for these yellow signs.

This is a bus displaying a red background sign or a white background with red text sign any bus can display these signs. The red signs indicate the bus will terminate before the end of the route. They are very rarely displayed in English. If possible ask someone on the bus if it goes to your stop otherwise let that bus go and wait for another bus of the same route number. Always check for these red signs before boarding.

While the bus system of Bangkok is cheap to use it is quite slow with average peak hour trips of 30 km taking around 2 hours to complete and off peak times of between 60 and 90 minutes to most areas even with the use of BTS and MRT. If using this information to travel to and from the airports or major bus terminals please allow at least 3 hours before flight check in time for travel at peak and 2 hours off peak.

Note: Peak hour in Bangkok is 6am to 10am and 3pm to 8pm Monday to Friday. Also bus frequencies listed can often be reduced due to very heavy traffic. I.e. 2 or 3 buses come at same time.

This next section is a list of useful bus routes to different major destinations in and around Bangkok.

Southern Bus Terminal:

The following are different bus services from Southern Bus Terminal to different major tourist areas of Bangkok.

If heading to Khao Sarn rd, Petchaburi rd, Central World or Sukhumvit rd. Take Route 511 (24 hour normal route) Every 5 mins.

If heading to Sanam Luang, Chinatown, Hualamphong SRT station, Rama 4 Silom, Lumpini Park or Klong Toei. Take route 507 (4.10am to 10pm Normal route) Every 10 mins.

If heading to Mochit 2 bus terminal. Take route 170 (5am to 10pm). Every 10 to 15 mins.

If heading to Victory Monument. Take route 515 (4.30am to 11pm). Every 10 to 15 mins.

If heading to closest BTS station. Take route 79 (4.30am to 11pm) to Ratchathewi BTS station Every 10 mins.

If heading to Suvarnabhumi Airport: Take route 556 (Expressway 24 hour) Every 20 to 30 mins.

If heading to Don Mueang Airport: Take Bus 515 (4.30am to 11pm) Every 10 mins to Victory Monument then take Route 538 (Expressway 4.30am to 9pm every 10 mins) or Route 29 Normal route (3.45am to 10.30pm) Every 2 to 5 mins.

Hualamphong SRT railway station:

The following are different bus services from Hualamphong SRT station to different major tourist areas of Bangkok.

If heading to MBK, Siam Sukhumvit road. Take these buses. Route 501 (24 hours) Every 15 to 20 mins. OR Route 40 (4am to 11pm) Every 10 mins. OR Route 25 (24 hours Normal route) every 10 to 15 mins. A BTS/MRT route also exists (6am to 12am).

If heading to Victory Monument. Take these buses Route 29 (3.45am to 10pm normal route) Every 2 to 5 mins. Or Route 34 (24 hour normal route) Every 15 mins. A BTS and MRT route also exists (6am to 12am).

If heading to Silom Rama 4 Rd Lumpini Klong Toei. Take Route 507 (4.10am to 10pm normal route) Every 10 mins. OR route 4 (24 hour) Every 5 mins. OR Route 109 (4am to 10pm). A MRT route also exists (6am to 12am).

If heading to Mochit 2: Take Route 49 (4.15am to 10.15pm) every 10 to 15 mins.

If heading to Chinatown: Take Route 49 (4.15am to 10.15pm) OR route 7 (24 hours every 5 mins.

If heading to Petchaburi road: Take Route 113 (24 hour) every 2 to 5 mins.

If heading to Khao San rd: Take Route 113 (24 hour every 2 to 5 mins) to Petchaburi road then take Route 511 (24 hour Normal route Every 5 mins).

If heading to Suvarnabhumi Airport: Take Route 29 (3.45am to 10pm normal route) Every 2 to 5 mins to Victory Monument then take route 551 (24 hours every 10 to 15mins) To Suvarnabhumi Airport.

If heading to Don Mueang Airport: Take Route 29 (3.45am to 10pm normal route) Every 2 to 5 mins.

Mochit 2 Bus Terminal (Northern Bus Terminal):

The following are different bus services from Mochit 2 to different major tourist areas of Bangkok.

If heading to Hualamphong SRT station: Take Route 49 (4.15am to 10.15pm) every 10 to 15 mins.

If heading to Khao San Rd: Take Route 3 (24 hours) every 10 to 15 mins.

If heading to Mochit BTS station: Take Route 145 (24 hours) every 5 to 10 mins.

If heading to Sukhumvit rd: Take Route 77 (2am to 11pm every 5 to 10 mins) to Central World then take Route 511 Normal route (24 hours every 2 to 5 mins) to Sukhumvit road. A faster option is via BTS from Mochit BTS station see above.

If heading to Rama 4 OR Silom: Take route 77 (2am to 11pm) every 5 to 10 mins OR Route 145 (24 hours) every 5 to 10 mins to Mochit BTS then BTS to Silom area.

If heading to Victory Monument: Take Route 77 (2am to 11pm) every 5 to 10 mins.

Suvarnabhumi Airport:

For details on Bus services to Suvarnabhumi Airport visit the following link:

http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/2008/04/buses-of-suvarnabhumi-airport-and.html

Don Mueang Airport:

If heading to Hualamphong station: Take Route 29 (3.45am to 10pm normal route) Every 2 to 5 mins.

If heading to Mochit 2 bus terminal: Take Route 145 (24 hour every 5 to 10 mins) to Mochit BTS station then take Route 29 (3.45am to 10pm normal route every 2 to 5 mins).

If heading to Silom/Rama 4: Take Route 538 (Expressway 4.30am to 9pm every 10 mins) to Victory Monument. Then take Route 77 (2am to 11pm every 5 to 10 mins).

If heading to Sukhumvit road: Take Route 538 (Expressway 4.30am to 9pm every 10 mins) to Victory Monument then take Route 513 (3.30am to 9pm every 15 to 20 mins) to Sukhumvit. A faster option is to take Route 29 (3.45am to 10pm normal route every 2 to 5 mins) to Mochit BTS then BTS to Sukhumvit.

If heading to Khao San road: Take Route 59 (24 hour every 10 mins).

If heading to nearest BTS station: Take Route 29 (3.45am to 10pm normal route every 2 to 5 mins) To Mochit BTS.

Wong Wien Yai SRT station:

If heading to Khao San road: Take Route 82 (24 hour) every 2 to 5 mins.

If heading to Sukhumvit road: Take Route 529 (4.30am to 10pm normal route every 10 to 15 mins). To MBK then take Route 40 (4am to 11pm) every 5 to 10 mins)

If heading to Silom: Take Route 529 (4.30am to 10pm normal route every 10 to 15 mins) to Rama 4/Hualamphong. Then take route 4 (24 hours every 5 mins).

If heading to Hualamphong SRT station: Take Route 85 (5am to 9pm every 10 mins).

If heading to MBK/Siam: Take Route 21 (4.20am to 11pm every 10 to 15 mins)

If heading to Nearest BTS station: Take Route 173 (5am to 10pm every 15 to 20 mins) to Surasak BTS station. OR walk about 300 meters and cross Latya road and take Route 149 (5am to 10pm every 10 to 15 mins) to Surasak BTS.

Intercity Bus Terminal Departure Information

Mochit 2: (Level 1)

Buses to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Mae Sot, Sukhothai, Utradit, Phrae, Phitsanulok, Tak, Nakhon Sawan, Lopburi, Ayuthaya, Ang Tong, Singburi and Aranyaprathet.

Mochit 2: (Level 3)

Buses to Saraburi, Korat, Pak thong, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Kalasin, Buriram, Surin, Si Saket, Ubon Rathchathani, Mukdahan and Loei.

Eastern Bus Terminal:

Buses to Chachonengsao, Chonburi, Pattaya, Sattahip, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.

NOTE: If coming from Suvarnabhumi Airport check for buses to these destinations at the Suvarnabhumi bus terminal before heading to Eastern Bus Terminal. It will save you over 2 hours if there is a bus from Suvarnabhumi airport.

Southern Bus Terminal:

Buses to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (Maeklong), Kanchaburi, Cha am, Hua Hin, Petchburi, Prachup Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ko Sumui, Ranong, Surat Thani, Krabi, Phangnga, Phuket, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Hat Yai, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

This section of bus service information cover commonly visited areas in the middle and outer suburban areas of Bangkok. These area are less visited by tourists but are often used by expatiates and business visitors.

All of the listed routes below are based on quickest full time bus route direct to the BTS or MRT system. Not direct bus service to and from inner Bangkok. This is due heavy traffic in most inner city areas of Bangkok using the MRT or BTS to start with helps to keep traveling times reasonable.

If your destination is along a major road quite often there will be a number routes operating along that road therefore creating an every 30 second bus service. For example if you travel from Hualamphong SRT station to MBK there are 7 bus routes operating.

Paknam/Samrong/Bangna area:

If heading to Paknam. Take the BTS to Onnut station then take Bus Routes 25,507,511,544 or 508 towards Paknam.

BITEC convention centre:

If heading to BITEC convention centre. Take the BTS to Onnut station then take Bus routes 507,511,544,2,25 or 508 towards Bangna/BITEC.

Ramkamheng University:

If heading to Ramkhamhaeng University. Take the BTS to Phra Khanong station then take Bus route 71 and 501.

Traffic free option: Take BTS to Ratchathewi station walk about 300 meters to Klong Saen Saep and take direct boat service to Ramkhamhaeng University.

Minburi:

If heading to Minburi. Take the MRT to Petchaburi station then take Bus Route 58, 60 or 113.

A faster option: Take BTS to Ratchathewi station walk about 300 meters to Klong Saen Saep and take boat service to Wat Sriboonreung then take motorbike taxi to main road then take bus routes 58,113, 514,173,519.

Bang Kapi:

If heading to Bang Kapi: Take the MRT to Petchaburi station then take Bus routes 58,60,93,99.

Traffic free option: Take MRT to Petchaburi station then exit to the south side and walk to Klong Saen Saep and take direct boat service to Bang Kapi.

Bang Khen/Kasetsart University:

If heading to Bang Khen or Ngam Wong Wan (Nonthaburi): Take BTS to Victory Monument station and then take Bus route 522 from the north west side of Victory Monument.

Rangsit:

If heading to Rangsit: Take BTS to Victory Monument station then take Bus route 538 from North eastern side of Victory Monument.

Traffic free option: Take MRT to Bang Sue station then take SRT train on the main north line towards Rangsit. Note departs from the north bang sue station. At Rangsit bus connections are a 600 metre walk from the station entrance under the highway bridge.

Rama 2:

If heading to Rama 2 area: Take BTS to Victory Monument station then take Bus Route 140 expressway OR Route 529 expressway.

Peak hour option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station then take Dao Khanong Boat service to Dao Khanong then take Bus Routes 76, 147, 169, 105, 68 to Rama 2 road. Note: the boat only operates to Bangkok in morning and outbound in evening.

Mahachai City:

If heading to Mahachai city: Take BTS to Victory Monument station then take Bus route 140 to Central Rama 2 then take aircond route 68 to Mahachai city.

Mostly rail option: Take BTS to Surasak station then take Bus route 173 to Wong Wain Yai SRT station then take SRT train to Mahachai station.

Peak hour option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station then take Dao Khanong Boat service to Dao Khanong then take Bus Route aircon 68 to Mahachai city. Note: the boat only operates to Bangkok in morning and outbound in evening.

Bang Khae:

If heading to Bang Khae: Take BTS to Victory Monument station then take Bus route 509 from south west side of Victory monument.

Peak hour option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station the take Phet Kasem 20 Klong Boat service to end of the line then take bus route 171,509,7,80,84,547,157. Note: the boat only operates to Bangkok in morning and outbound in evening.

Dao Khanong:

If heading to Dao Khanong. Take BTS to Surasak Station then cross the side road near the station and take Bus route 76.

Peak hour option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station then take Dao Khanong Boat service to Dao Khanong. Note: the boat only operates to Bangkok in morning and outbound in evening.

Srinagarinda Road/Seacon shopping centre:

If heading to Srinagarinda road or Seacon: Take BTS to Phra Khanong Station then take Bus 133.

Low traffic option: Take BTS to Phra Khanong station then take Bus route 511,2,25,508 one stop to Talat Phra Khanong then walk about 300 meters to Klong Phra Khanong then take Boat service to Srinagarinda road then take bus route 145 to Seacon. This is really only worth doing at peak hour due to amount of transfers.

Nonthaburi Town:

If heading to Nonthaburi town. Take MRT to Bang Sue station then take Bus routes 97 OR 65 to Nonthaburi. Note check route direction at Bang Sue as both directions depart from same stop!

Traffic free option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station then take Chao Phraya Express Boat to Nonthaburi Peir N30.

Pak Kret/Ko kret:

If heading to Pak Kret or Ko Kret: Take BTS to Victory Monument then take Bus Route 166 from north west side of Victory Monument.

Traffic free option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station then take Chao Phraya Express Boat to Pak Kret Peir. Note: This boat only operates to Bangkok in morning and outbound in evening.

Taling Chan Floating Market:

If heading to Taling Chan Floating market: Take BTS to Ratchathewi then take Bus route 79 from inbound side to Tailing Chan Floating Market.

Puttha Monthon:

If heading to Puttha Monthon Sai 4. Take BTS to Victory Monument station then take Bus route 539 from south west side of Victory Monument.

Sanam Luang and Khao San Road:

If heading to Sanam Luang or Khao San Road area. Take BTS to Victory Monument then take Route 59. OR take BTS Siam station then take Bus route 79 to Sanam Luang departs from paragon side.

Phrapradaeng:

If heading to Phrapradaeng. Take BTS to Victory Monument then take Bus route 140 Expressway OR Bus route 529 Expressway to Kilometer 9 then take Bus route 82.

Peak hour option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station then take Dao Khanong Boat service to Dao Khanong. Then take Bus route 82. Note: the boat only operates to Bangkok in morning and outbound in evening.

Phra Samut Chedi (Access point to roadless Phra Samut Chedi Lower):

If heading to Phra Samut Chedi. Take BTS to Victory Monument then take Bus route 140 Expressway OR Bus route 529 Expressway to Kilometer 9 then take Bus route 20.

Peak hour option: Take BTS to Saphan Taksin station then take Dao Khanong Boat service to Dao Khanong. Then take bus route 20. Note: the boat only operates to Bangkok in morning and outbound in evening.

IMPACT Arena/Mueang Tong Thani:

If heading to IMPACT Arena or Mueang Tong Thani: Take BTS to Victory Monument then take Bus Route 166 from north west side of Victory Monument.

Chaeng Watthana Road:

If heading to Chaeng Watthana road. Take BTS to Victory Monument then take Bus Route 166 from north west side of Victory Monument to 1^st bus stop after leaving expressway then cross the road and take Bus routes 150 or 356 or 52 eastwards along Chaeng Watthana road.

Rail option: Take MRT to Bang sue station then take SRT from bang sue north station to Lak Si station. Then walk westward about 400 meters along Chaeng Watthana road and take Bus routes 150, 356 or 52 from there. Note: SRTs main north line frequency is quite low outside of peak times so check timetable beforehand.

Din Daeng/Labour Ministry:

If heading to Din Daeng. Take BTS to Victory Monument then take Bus route 12 from north eastern side of victory monument.

Thai Immigration Office (Sathorn):

If you’re heading on that hideous trip to extend you visa at Immigration. Then take MRT to Klong Toei station and then take Bus route 22 to the door of immigration.

Sathorn Road:

If heading to Sathorn area. Take MRT to Lumpini station then take Bus routes 62 or 17.

Lat Phrao Road:

If heading to Lat Phrao road. Take MRT to Lat Phrao station then take Bus routes 8, 145, 44, 96, 122, 502, 545, 27 or 92.

Bang Bua Thong and Bang Yai Night Market:

If heading to Bang Bua Thong or Bang Yai Night Market. Take BTS to Victory Monument station then take Bus route 515 from south west side of victory monument and then get off at southern bus terminal and take Bus route 516 from the stop at the front of the Bus terminal.

OR

Take BTS to Mochit station. Then take Bus routes 77 or 145 to Mochit 2 and take Bus route 134 to Bang Bua Thong.

Ram Inthra Road:

If heading to Ram Inthra road. Take MRT to Phahon Yothin station then take Bus route 26 towards Ram Inthra road.

Peak hour option: Take BTS to Victory Monument station then take Bus route 26 Expressway from north west side of victory monument. This peak hour option only covers Ram Inthra road from Soi 34 to Minburi town.

Thonburi SRT Railway Station:

If heading to Thonburi SRT railway station. Take BTS to Surasak station then take Bus route 149 or 177 to Phran Nok rd then take Motobike taxi (10 baht) to Thonburi station.

If coming to Thonburi SRT station from Khao San road. Take Bus route 157 to Phran Nok rd then take Motobike taxi (10 baht) to Thonburi station.

If coming to Thonburi SRT station from Hualamphong SRT Station. Take Bus route 40 (departs Rama 4 road) to Phran Nok rd then take Motobike taxi (10 baht) to Thonburi station.

Eastern Bus Terminal (Buses for Pattaya, Chonburi, Rayong):

If heading to Eastern Bus terminal. Take BTS to Ekkamai Station and walk about 100 meters to the bus terminal.

If coming to Eastern Bus terminal from Khao San road. Take Bus route 511 (normal) or Bus route 2 (Normal).

If coming to Eastern Bus terminal from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Take Bus route 552 directly to eastern bus terminal. For a faster trip take Bus route 552 to Onnut BTS station then take BTS to Ekkamai station.

While this bus guide covers most areas of Bangkok it is not complete. If your are going to be in Bangkok for a long time or will be using the bus system a lot then I recommend purchasing the following map and bus guide.

“Bus Routes & Map 5^th edition by Bangkok Guide”. This is available for 50 baht in Thai, English, Japanese and Chinese from Asia Books, B2S and SE-ED bookshops in most major shopping centres in Bangkok.

I hope this bus route and destination guide for Bangkok’s mass transport bus system is helpful for you if you have any questions or need help on how to get to somewhere not listed in this guide Please leave a comment for me or post a comment on my forum section. Please visit: http://thaimelbournetransport.myfastforum.org/Need_help_with_bangkok_s_bus_and_transport_system_ask_here__about58.html

SRT: Prachuap Khiri Khan railway station and night shots.

While visiting the city of Prachuap Khiri Khan I went down to the main railway station in the city. This topic is a little different to others in that it has both day and night railway and station pictures.

Prachuap Khiri Khan railway station is a major SRT station on the main south line that links Bangkok with the south of Thailand. This station is 6 to 7 hours train ride south of Bangkok. Prachuap Khiri Khan station marks the start of southern Thailand. Prachuap Khiri Khan station also has a small railway yard and a 1000 metre crossing loop.

The main south line is the only railway that links the north and south of Thailand together. This line is mostly single track and is very congested as it is a major passenger and cargo line. The main south line is part of the South East Asian cargo land bridge service that links the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea. Due to the main south line being mostly single track massive crossing loop delays can occur at any point on the line. Passenger trains heading to Bangkok can be upto 2 hours late.

There are trains operating throughout the day. But the most activity occurs in the evening and early morning at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. Also not all main south line passenger trains stop at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. If you want to use a train from this station please try to book at least a week before you travel as demand outstrips supply on this route and trains are often booked up days in advance and a 3^rd class standing commuter ticket will be the only thing available on the day.

The trains that operate from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Bangkok are:

00.04, 00.41, 01.34, 02.49, 04.17, 15.04, 22.30 and 23.27

The best trains to take are: 00.04 sleeper train, 00.41 sprinter DMU seats only, 04.17 sleeper train and the 15.04 sprinter DMU seats only. All these trains have air conditioned carriages and are express.

The trains that operate from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Thonburi are:

00.22, 05.00 and 09.46 these trains are non aircon only and arrive in Thonburi near Bangkok.

The trains that operate from Prachuap Khiri Khan to the south of Thailand are:

00.25 Lang Suan, 01.02 Nakhon Sri Thammarat, 03.32 Yala, 12.09 Surat Thani, 13.32 Lang Suan, 18.26 Sungai Kolok, 20.28 Sungai Kolok, 21.38 Yala, 22.57 Nakhon Sri Thammarat and 23.29 Kantang.

1. This is an image of Prachuap Khiri Khan Station taken from the street. It is of a similar style to that of Hua Hin station.

2. This is a shot of the open air waiting area and ticketing hall at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. Note the new LCD TV in the background.

3. This is an image of the platform timetable at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. The reflective cover made it hard to get a clear shot of it.

4. This is another shot of the waiting room looking back to the street. People often rest inside the station during the day as it’s out of the hot sun.

5. This is a shot of the signal control board at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. This is a much older system than what is used on the main north line in Rangsit.

6. This is a close up image of the signal control board inside the signal box. The two yellow lights indicate the track is occupied. The book is a working timetable for the main south line including cargo trains.

7. This is an outside shot of the signal room at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. They don’t have much of a garden at this station.

8. This is a shot of the platform looking south. Note the nice platform gardens at Prachuap Khiri Khan it makes up for the lack of a signal box garden. The bell is used to signal the train is ready to leave.

9. This is a shot of the signals at the southern end of Prachuap Khiri Khan station. The signals are always set to red when there is no train present.

10. This is a shot of a track work train stored in the sidings at Prachuap Khiri Khan Loop. Every thing the track workers need is on that train including their sleeping quarters and meal areas.

11. This is a close up shot of the track work machines used by SRT rail on the main south line. Taken at Prachuap Khiri Khan Loop. They are made by Plasser and are imported from Europe.

12. This is a picture of the office carriage of the track work train. The carriage is called “Chumphon mechanized track maintenance section office”. Note the small garden on the carriage step.

13. This is a general over view shot of Prachuap Khiri Khan station and loop. Note the nice platform garden.

14. This is an image of the new video cameras at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. Like on the main system these have only been installed in the last 6 months and appear not to be monitored from the station but at a central location.

15. This is a shot of the communications equipment inside the signal box at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. Note the age of the phones it even has a small handle to wind on it.

16. This is a picture of the advanced ticket booking office inside the station building.

17. This is a shot of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Platform signs and garden looking north.

This next section of pictures from Prachuap Khiri Khan railway station is quite different as they where taken around 11.30pm at night. This is my 1^st time to take nighttime railway and mass transport pictures. Like all pictures on my website these are not taken using an expensive and bulky SLR camera but a basic point and shot digital camera.

18. This is a night shot of Prachuap Khiri Khan station looking north. Like most SRT stations they are quite dark at night. SRT does not light up the entire track and platforms with floodlights like in Australia. The train on the left is the all stations Thonburi train. It will leave at 05.00am.

19. This is a night image of Prachuap Khiri Khan station looking south. The southern end is much darker than the middle of the station. The red signals really stand out at night.

20. This is a night shot of the platform at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. Notice how only the platform is brightly lit. Even though it’s nearly midnight the station did not feel unsafe even though not a lot of people were around.

21. This is a shot of the Prachuap Khiri Khan signal box taken at night. Taken from within the sidings area.

22. This is a shot of SRT loco number 4514 taken at night just after it stopped at the station looking northward.

23. This is another night angle on SRT loco number 4514. Taken from the end of main platform at Prachuap Khiri Khan station.

24. This is the same train taken just 5 seconds after the image above. At 1^st it looks similar but look closely at the drivers cab. A ghostly figure can be seen standing in the cab. Not sure what created this image.

25. This is a rather difficult night shot of the loco on the stabled Thonburi train. A person with a torch provided extra light. SRT loco number 3121. This is an older style SRT loco.

26. This is another angle on loco 3121 taken from a seat on the platform. The bright white object above the train is a single fluro tube that provides light in the yard.

27. This is a movie of a night train approaching Prachuap Khiri Khan station. This film was taken from the rather dark southern end of the station looking south. The train is a sleeper train heading to Bangkok.

28. This is a movie of 2 trains passing at night in the station loop at Prachuap Khiri Khan station. Filmed looking north from the southern end of the station. Background light is rather limited at SRT stations.

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.

The Mass Transport of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Between the 5^th of April 2008 and the 8^th of April 2008 I visited the city of Prachuap Khiri Khan. This city is about 5 hours intercity bus ride from the southern bus terminal on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. Prachuap Khiri Khan is famous for its nice beaches and top quality seafood and fishing industry.

The city itself is the gateway to the south of Thailand. It is located on a very narrow strip of land that in some places is only 12 kilometers wide. This small strip of land is what joins the south of Thailand with the north of Thailand. Prachuap Khiri Khan is much quieter and is a lot less touristy than the nearby places of Hua Hin and Cha-am. As a result it is cheaper to visit and a nicer place to relax in than most other Thai beach resorts.

Prachuap Khiri Khan is a rather small city with only about 15000 residents. Most residents are involved in one of 3 main industries. These industries are fishing, tourism and the Thai air force. Due to the small size of Prachuap Khiri Khan there is no metro or bus system. However it does not mean that it has no mass transport.

The mass transport of Prachuap Khiri Khan consists of small motorbike sidecars called “Saaleng” and the intercity buses that link it to other towns and cities both north and south of the city. Also Prachuap Khiri Khan is a major stop on the SRT main south line. I will post a topic about the railways later.

1. This is a very nice and relaxing beach at Ao Manao. This beach is a 30 baht “Saaleng” ride from the centre of Prachuap Khiri khan it is located inside the Air Force base.

2. This is an image of a typical “Saaleng” taken outside of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Post office. These “Saaleng” are made up of a motorbike and a sidecar with a cover over both. The “Saaleng” can hold upto 5 people not including the driver.

3. This is a shot of a “Saaleng” in its wet weather mode with all the sides covered. In the city area the “Saaleng” cost 20 baht per trip per person. They operate in a similar way to taxis in that they run an on demand mass transport service. The prices are fixed per trip and they offer a door-to-door service.

4. This is a close up shot of a typical “Saaleng” taken at Prachuap Khiri Khan SRT station. They don’t operate on any fixed routes and can be hailed at any location.

5. This is an image of a “Saaleng” being used to carry cargo instead of passengers.

6. This is another close up shot of a “Saaleng” this time with the driver sitting on it. The seat on this one was not very comfortable due to the sharp metal bits that stick into you.

7. This is a short movie of a ride on a Prachuap Khiri Khan “Saaleng” service. Filmed while on the way to the second class intercity bus terminal in the city centre of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

8. This is a picture of a more modern “Saaleng” waiting for passengers in front of a shop. The blue seat on the side can hold 3 people.

9. This is a shot of a second class intercity bus. This bus operates on Route 979 “limited express” Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan. Bus number 2^nd class 979-18. Taken at the second class bus terminal in the centre of Prachuap Khiri Khan city.

10. This is an image of another second class intercity bus taken at the second class bus terminal. Bus number 67- 2. This bus is numbered using the old intercity route numbering system. This bus is an old Hino intercity bus.

11. This is a shot of a first class intercity bus loading passengers at the 1^st class bus terminal in the centre of Prachuap Khiri Khan city. This is an O303 merc. Bus Number 1^st class 979-16. This bus operates the same route 979 as the second class bus but with fewer stops.

12. This is an image of the 1^st class bus ticket counter for route 979 at Prachuap Khiri Khan. The counter is just a hole in the wall shop front that makes up the bus terminal. 1^st class route 979 runs every 1 hour from 6am to 6pm and again 12.30am, 1am and 1.30am. The 1^st class buses cost 232 baht per trip to Bangkok.

13. This is a picture of a more modern 1^st class intercity bus taken just after it arrived at Prachuap Khiri Khan. This is a merc semi double deck intercity bus. Bus number 1^st class 979- 18. The main difference between 1^st and 2^nd class is the addition of a toilet and more legroom.

14. This is a shot of an intercity bus that crashed on a back road near Prachuap Khiri Khan. This bus appears to have crashed while it was on a tour as the route it normally operates on is a long way from the city of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

15. This is another angle on the crashed intercity bus. This bus appears to have been there for some time. What happened to it is unknown as the accident occurred a long time ago.

16. This is a shot of a route 979 second class intercity bus at the Prachuap Khiri Khan highway bus terminal. Bus number 2^nd class 979-17. This bus is heading to Bangkok.

17. This is an image of a route 990 1^st class intercity bus at the Bangkok bound stop at the Prachuap Khiri khan highway bus terminal. Route 990 operates from Chumphon to Bangkok “limited stop”. Bus number 1^st class 990-21.

18. This is a picture of the bus ticket counter at the highway bus terminal. The counter is shared by a number of different intercity bus routes each with different ticketing staff members.

19. This is a shot of the bus controller’s desk inside the waiting/ticketing area of the Prachuap Khiri Khan highway bus terminal.

20. This is an image of a route 979 second class bus heading to Prachuap Khiri Khan city centre. Bus number 2^nd class 979-12. Taken just after it departed the highway bus terminal.

21. This is a shot of the typical intercity bus tickets used on buses around the Prachuap Khiri Khan area. There are 2 parts one for you and one for the driver to keep.

22. This is a picture of a Nakhon Chai Air company intercity VIP bus. This bus appeared to be part of a private charter group of 10 buses. This bus has only 32 seats and is very comfortable inside. Nakhon Chai Air is the best intercity bus company in Thailand. Bus number 20-7. Taken at the Bangkok bound stop at Prachuap Khiri Khan.

23. This is a shot of another Nakhon Chai Air company intercity VIP bus. This is their super VIP bus with only 18 seats. This is the best intercity bus in Thailand. Bus number unknown. Nakhon Chai Air does not operate to the south of Thailand.

24. This is a shot of a 1^st class intercity bus operating on Route 64 Bangkok to Ranong. This is a Hino 1^st class intercity bus. Taken at the highway bus terminal. Bus number 64 – 14.

25. This is an image of the crappy bus timetable inside the waiting area of the Prachuap Khiri Khan highway bus terminal. These intercity buses are often very late due to heavy traffic on the highway. This road is the only road that links the northern and southern parts of Thailand.

26. This is a shot of a route 993 1^st class inter city bus. Taken at the highway bus terminal at Prachuap Khiri Khan. Route 993 operates as a limited stop service from Bangkok to Surat Thani. Bus number 1^st class 993 – 13. Heading towards Surat Thani another 5 hours south of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

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.

SRT: The Eastern Line and the construction of the Airport Rail Link.

Also Last weekend I took a trip on SRT’s Eastern Commuter line. This line is also known as the Chachoengsao Commuter line. The Train I took was the 15.25 Kabin Buri Stopping all stations. I rode it as far as Hua Takhe Station. The reason for getting off at Hua Takhe is that is considered close to the eastern edge of Bangkok’s suburbs. But there is lots of development beyond now with the new airport close to Hua Takhe. The 15.25 train was hideously late at around 40 minutes due to crossing loop delays and overcrowding when it arrived at Hua Takhe!

The Eastern Commuter line is a line that is at 100% capacity right now and is expected to carry many times more passengers than there is space on the trains. The line starts at Yommaraj Junction and runs to Chachoengsao about 60km east of Bangkok. From Yommaraj this line runs as 2 separate single lines that then join at the junction for the Klong Toei port line (Night freight only). Then the line is single track for 100 meters until it enters Makkasan station and loop. After Makkasan the line is single track until the double line starts at Hua Mak station. Between Makkasan there is only one short loop near Klong Tan station. After Hua Mak station its high standard Double track to Chachoengsao.

The result of this layout is that the eastern line suffers from massive delays and capacity problems that are only made worse by the construction of the elevated airport rail link. There are only 16 trains a day inbound and 14 trains a day outbound. Trains are built up to the maximum of the loop lengths for the loco hauled trains. Most trains on this line are full to the point of people hanging out the doors or just can't get on.

The possible passenger catchment for the eastern line is around 3 million people but the trains will never come close to fully servicing this demand. The majority of these people cram on to the thousands of BMTA buses servicing the areas along the line including the new airport. If you don’t take the train there is no other traffic free way into inner Bangkok so its better to try and cram on to one of the dangerously overcrowded trains of the eastern line. If you want to get to the city in under 1 hour. Rather than 2 to 3 hours by slow bus.

However it’s not all bad news for the eastern line. When the airport rail link opens next year it will allow a metro class service for half of the line. Greatly reducing the congestion. Also with the opening of the airport line extra trains from Hua Mak to Chachoengsao can operate, as they don’t need to run though the single line as passengers can transfer to the new line there.

1. This is a movie showing a trip from Yommaraj Junction to Uropong Station. Note the busy level crossings and the very densely built up railway village that the train passes right though. Some of these homes have satellite TV.

2. This is an image of Uropong Station the 1^st station on the eastern line. The curved platform on the right is used by 1 train a day that starts at Rangsit. But that curve is also used by a large amount of slow cargo trains from the east and from Klong Toei port.

3. This is a picture of Phayathai Station. This station an interchange station with the BTS system. It is in a very poor condition due to airport rail link works and lack of maintenance. The broken concrete platform is where you wait for eastern line trains.

4. This is a short movie of passing under the construction works for the new airport rail line. Note the construction works and the state of the existing eastern rail line. Filmed between Phayathai and Rachaprarop Stations.

5. This is a picture of the track condition between Phayathai and Rachaprarop Stations. Note how close the railway village homes are to the track. The concrete walkway is inside the trains loading gauge as can be seen from the line of dirt down the middle of the walkway.

6. This is a picture of the inner city Rachaprarop Station. This is the closest station to Pratunam the shopping district of Bangkok. It’s in the worst condition of all stations on the eastern line. Note the small concrete area is where you wait and to access it you must walk along the track.

7. This is a shot of the Rachaprarop level crossing and above the track is the construction of the new Rachaprarop station on the Airport Line. This level crossing just has a small roll way metal barrier to protect it. Despite it being on a very busy wide main road.

8. This is a shot of where the Klong Toei port line branches off the eastern line. Also this where the eastern lines 2 separate single lines rejoin and enter a short single line section just before Makkasan station. The Klong Toei Port line is only used at night by cargo trains due to passing through the most congested part of Bangkok.

9. This is a shot of the bridge beam lifter that is used to build the Airport rail links elevated guide way. Taken near Makkasan Station.

10. This is an image of the UP end of the loop at Makkasan Station. The single line section from Klong Toei port junction to Makkasan loop is only about 100 meters long. The Bridge over the railway is the expressway and to the right is the under construction airport line.

11. This is an image of a rather late up eastern line commuter train heading to Hualamphong in the loop at Makkasan station. This train was quite full with some people standing on the steps.

12. This is movie showing the crossing of two full commuter trains at Makkasan station and loop. Note how people run for the train and the area around the station. Also if you look carefully some old trains can be seen beyond the airport lines columns.

13. This is a shot of Makkasan station and the crossing loop. This station is one of the larger stations on the eastern line and is a major stop of railway workers at the Makkasan yard.

14. This is an image showing how crowded the eastern line trains get. Also the carriage layout makes it hard to move into the train. The next station the train filled up even more.

15. This is an image of airport rail line elevated guide way bridge segments ready for installing. They are very similar to the ones used on the BTS extensions.

16. This is a shot of the new approach tracks for the Airport line’s new Makkasan station. Note the eastern line is single track here and runs very close to the construction work. Temp track speed is 30 kph.

17. This is a shot of all the construction work for the City air terminal also known as new Makkasan station. This station will allow you to check in your bags for your flight here and then you can take the train to the airport. Due to the building of this there is no room left to double track the old eastern line in this section.

18. This is a shot of the very crammed in Asoke interchange station. This is a very busy stop as it’s a transfer point for the MRT subway whose entrance is just across the road to the left of the picture.

19. This is an image of what appears to be a passing loop for express trains for the airport rail line taken on the single line between Asoke and Klong Tan Loop.

20. This is a shot of the carefully balanced massive steel beam just above the railway tracks. The crane on the left is helping to hold it up. It is part of the same passing loop construction.

21. This is a shot of Klong Tan Loop just before Klong Tan station. This loop is the only place to pass another train between Makkasan and Hua Mak. This loop is unusual in that it’s not apart of the station.

22. This is a picture of Klong Tan station. Note the signal system on the eastern line is a token based system rather than CTC as on the main north line.

23. This is a shot looking back towards Klong Tan station where the line makes a slight curve to the north east. Note the 20kph speed limit here.

24. This is a shot of the new train workshop and yard for SRTs electric trains for the Airport rail link. Note that the trains will use overhead power instead of 3^rd rail, as is the current practice on the BTS and MRT lines.

25. This is an image of the concrete rail bridge over the choppy waters of Klong Saen Saep. This bridge looks like it was meant to be double track but they cheated and built it as a single line bridge.

26. This is a shot of peak hour only station at Sukhumvit 71 in the background is the new station to replace the old Sukhumvit 71 eastern line station.

27. This image shows how tight the route gets for the airport line and eastern lines the buildings on the right and left are the Nasa Vagas Complex. It is a hotel and serviced apartments. This is another section that will make double tracking the eastern line very difficult.

28. This is an image of a fully completed section of airport line with the overhead wires installed. Taken between Sukhumvit 71 and Hua Mak Stations.

29. This is an image of the points at the UP end of Hua Mak station this is where the double track line starts. Also the line is CTC signalled from here onwards.

30. This is a shot of Hua Mak station. This is one of the busiest stations on the eastern line and was recently rebuilt due to the airport line works. Thus it is the most modern currently operating SRT station in Thailand.

31. This is a shot of the new airport line Hua Mak station on the DOWN side of the existing station. Note this station appears to have a passing track for express trains.

32. This is a shot of Ban Thap Chang Station. This station along with most others was rebuilt when the line was double tracked.

33. This is a picture of the station building at Ban Thap Chang Station. The portable building on the platform is due to the old ones being in the way of the airport line.

34. This is a shot of the new Ban Thap Chang Station for the airport line. This particular station is in a low density area between 2 higher density areas.

35. This is an image of Soi Wat Lan Boon Station this is a low use Peak hour only station. It has some of the best platforms for a peak hour only station.

36. This is an image of the old single track eastern line and the rather strange elevated track next to it now broken though every so often. Also it was built very cheaply it appears to just be rails bolted to 2 concrete beams with some mortar like substance to fill the gap to space the rails correctly. This appears to have been some kind of failed upgrade of the old line.

37. This is a shot of Lat Krabrang Station. This station is unusual in that the ticket office is above the platforms and also the new airport line station is built right next to it allowing very easy transfers to the eastern line.

38. This is a shot of where the new airport line turns south to head to its last station at Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced SUE WAN NA POOM). Note the old single line next to the nice new double track lines.

39. This is a picture of where the railway lines for the Inland port branch off from the eastern line. There are about 50 cargo trains a day operating to the inland port.

40. This is a shot of Pra Chom Klao Station. This is where you get off for KMITL (King Mongkut Institute of Technology Lat Krabrang) On university days this station gets quite busy. Note the passing airplane in the background haze.

41. This is a shot of the station facilities at Pra Chom Klao Station. This station has no ticket office and is a full time station.

42. This is an image of the next station sign at Hua Takhe Station. This station is where you can take a 40 to 50 baht taxi trip to Suvarnabhumi Airport. This is not recommended if meeting a plane, as the trains can be very late. Direct buses from inner Bangkok are a better way to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

43. This is an image of the overcrowded train I just got off as it leaves Hua Takhe station. This train is one of the few that continues beyond Chachoengsao. Note this station has been recently upgraded when the line was double tracked about 8 years ago.

44. This is the railway yard at Hua Takhe station. Sometimes cargo trains can be seen here waiting to enter the Lat Krabrang Inland Port.

47. This is a shot of the small garden in front of the Hua Takhe Ticket office and Signal box. This one is not as nice as Rangsit station’s garden.

48. This is a shot of the train ticket used on the eastern commuter line. Its only 7 baht for a non aircond 3^rd class to Hua Takhe station. A trip of about 1 hour or 35 km.

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.

SRT: The Main System (Hualamphong Station and rail yard).

Last weekend I took a trip into the inner city to photograph some of the trains and infrastructure at Hualamphong station in Bangkok. This station is the largest SRT station in all of Thailand. It is the starting point for most commuter trains and long distance trains run by SRT. On an average weekday 130 trains a day arrive and depart from Hualamphong station.

The station was built in a very European styling that can be seen from the huge arched roof over most of the station. The station and the main north line to Ayutthaya opened in 1910 by King Chulalongkorn (Rama 5). When the station was built the local area was considered the outer suburbs of Bangkok. Today things are very different its now very much in the congested inner city of Bangkok.

Hualamphong station is considered a full terminus that means there are no tracks running south of the station. Therefore all trains head northward to leave the station even if the eventual destination is in the south or east. Recently there are plans for a new underground line to head south west and link up with an upgraded Mahachai line in Thonburi. The new line is part of the red line commuter project. Further upgrades and extensions to the lines beyond Mahachai will allow new main south line to be created. Thus shortening the traveling time for travelers to the south by around 2 hours.

Hualamphong also is connected to the MRT subway line that allows a traffic free route into the inner city areas of Bangkok. However this is only a recent change between 1958 and 2004 there was no rail connection at Hualamphong station. Before 1958 there was an electrified train service along Rama 4 road to Paknam at the mouth of the Chao Praya River. Today there is no rail link to Paknam and bus traveling times are around 3 hours a peak.

Hualamphong station is home to a very large passenger carriage yard and workshop that is located directly north of the platform roads. The workshop is to the north west of the station behind platform 12. The workshop is housed in a rather old concrete building with a loco and DMU siding in front of it.

1. This is a shot of the European styled station building. Taken from Rama 4 road.

2. This is an image of the MRT entrance to SRT’s Hualamphong station. The MRT entrance was styled to match that of Hualamphong station.

3. This is a shot of the waiting room at ticketing hall inside the station. Taken looking towards the ticket office. Note the blue signs in the middle of the station are for the passing of the Thai kings sister.

4. This is a close up image of the ticket counters at Humlamphong. The painting above the middle of the ticket counters is of King Rama 5.

5. This is a picture of the waiting room facing back towards the Rama 4 road entrance. Unlike most of SRTs trains and stations this part of Hualamphong is air conditioned.

6. This is a shot of the main platforms just after you pass though from the ticket office. There are 12 platforms at Hualamphong and all are very long.

7. This is shot of the haze that often hangs over the platform roads at Hualamphong due to locos, powered carriages and DMUs left running inside the covered area.

8. This is a shot looking back towards the cool ticketing hall taken from platform 5.

9. This is a shot of the SRT commuter train counters at Hualamphong.

10. This is another close up image of the ticket counters during super-peak periods the lines for tickets can end up outside in the street. Also during super peak periods there are never enough tickets for all that want to travel due to very high demand.

11. This is a picture of the special train notice board just inside the entrance to the platforms at Hualamphong. The hand written signs are for Songkaran (Thai new year) extra trains for the north and northeast lines. This period is the largest single super peak period for intercity travel in Thailand. It’s not uncommon to have to stand for 12 hours in sardine can like conditions.

Now for some pictures of the actual trains at Hualamphong. Please excuse me about not having the technical details on the locos and DMUs shown in the following pictures.

12. This is a shot of a series 1 sprinter air-conditioned DMU. Waiting to depart on a 10.50am intercity special express service to Sawan Khalok. Note cleaning staff are giving it the once over just before departing. SRT DMU unit number 2509. Also note on the lower right corner of the DMU is a rather crappy repair job mostly likely as a result of hitting something.

13. This is an inside shot of an air conditioned 1^st class sleeper car commonly used on very long distance trains to the Deep South, Chang Mai and Issan (North East). These are the best carriages that SRT have.

14. The seat inside the 1^st class sleeper cars fold down to form a comfortable bed and above it another bed folds down to allow a second person to sleep in the same cabin.

15. Each 2-berth 1^st class cabin comes with a washbasin and mirror. Above the mirror is a box fan and on the roof is the control for the aircond temp .The toilets are shared and are located at the end of the 1^st class carriage.

16. This is a shot of the 2^nd class aircond sleeper car. Note unlike 1^st class there are no cabins. On each side of the carriage are 2 bunks with privacy curtains for night time. Its shown in day layout.

17. This is a picture of a mixed class wooden bodied carriage. The blue seats are 2^nd class non aircond. The wooden seats behind are 3^rd class non aircond. These are used on long distance rapid and some express trains.

18. This is an image of a 2^nd class non aircond sleeper car the layout is similar to that of a 2^nd class aircond sleeper car. These are not recommended for long travel as its very hard to sleep due to the noise of the train.

19. This is a shot of a typical wooden bodied non aircond 3^rd class commuter carriage. These are often used of shorter commuter trains but can appear on long distance trains at times.

20. This is a shot of a typical steel bodied non aircond 3^rd class intercity carriage. These are used on most long distance trains often on trips lasting 15 to 20 hours. Sometimes these carriages end up on commuter trains.

21. This is an inside shot of an imported Japanese 3^rd class commuter carriage. These trains used to be air conditioned but it failed long ago so they are now un air conditioned. These trains are odd in that windows can be both opened from the top and from the bottom.

22. This is an outside shot of the 3^rd class imported Japanese carriage. Note the different window style.

23. This is an image of a very old General Electric Locomotive. This loco is stabled at the northern end of the Hualamphong rail yard. These locos are used on everything from cargo to passenger trains. SRT Loco number 4045.

24. This is a shot of a more modern General Electric locomotive stabled in one of the platform roads at Hualamphong. SRT Loco Number 4539.

25. This is a shot of one of two very old SRT yard shunters going about its work at the very northern extreme of the Hualamphong yard. Unit number unknown. Taken from rear of a passing train.

26. This is a general view of the Hualamphong yard looking back towards the platforms. Taken from rear of a passing train.

27. This is a side on shot of a newer General Electric Locomotive stabled in the enclosed part of Hualamphong station. SRT Loco Number 4529.

28. This is another angle on SRT Loco 4529. Taken as it sits in Platform 3 at Hualamphong station.

29. This is an image of one of many train cleaning crews going about their work on a newly arrived passenger train. There are no automatic train washes in Thailand. All cleaning is down by hand as shown in this image.

30. This is a shot of a loco running down a platform road to couple up to a commuter train. Make unknown but is older than the newer GE Locos. SRT Loco number 4147.

31. This is an image of one of a number of locations where carriage side destination signs are kept. Every single carriage has a sign on each side.

32. This is a close up of the carriage side destination signs. Note they are bi lingual a lot of tourists use the SRT trains to see the country areas of Thailand.

33. This is a general view of the Hualamphong rail yard taken from the end of the platform the gray concrete building on the left is the workshop. The main system uses a simple system of traffic light style LED railway signals.

34. This is an image of a Japanese DMU commuter train arriving at Hualamphong. These DMUs are of the same type as on the Mahachai line. But they can be used on long distance trains as well as commuter.

35. This is a shot of platform 10 at hualamphong station. Note how long the platforms are and that the roof covers 90 to 95% of the platform.

36. This is a picture of the small garden next to the workshops and loco yard. Note the non-operational steam train on display. This garden appears to be a shrine and is closed off by a low fence and hedge.

37. This is shot of a series 1 sprinter DMU stabled in the DMU/Loco yard in front of the workshop. SRT DMU unit number 2510.

38. This is an image of a very old non aircond 3^rd class Japanese DMU normally used on rural commuter trains. It might be at hualamphong for repairs. Unit number unknown.

39. This is a shot of Loco 4206 just about to leave the workshop. The guy in the black shirt appears to be directing the driver where to go via the radio. Loco make Unknown.

40. This is a picture of SRT Loco 4415 taken from within the loco yard. Loco make Unknown. The sprinter DMU to the left appears to no longer be in working order as it is full of engine parts.

41. This is a shot of SRT Loco 4147 entering the loco sidings. Inside this yard there is a refueling point for the locos and DMUs.

42. This is another angle on SRT Loco 4415 taken looking towards the workshop. As with all SRT railway yards the tracks are black from all the oil and fuel that leaks out of the locos and DMUs.

43. This is another shot of a SRT yard shunter going about its work in the Hualamphong rail yard. Type Unknown.

44. This is an image of some series one sprinter DMUs and old cargo vans stored at the back of the Loco/DMU yard. Note the huge pile of used brake blocks.

45. This is a shot of the refueling point at the back of the Loco/DMU yard at Hualamphong. The Fuel is provided via the blue PTT pumps. Also shown is SRT loco 4121.

46. This is a shot of SRT loco 4151 just after it arrived with a commuter train from Rangsit. Taken from the end of platform 2 at Hualamphong station.

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.

SRT: A trip on the Ayutthaya Commuter Line (Main North line).

Last weekend after visiting Hualamphong station I took a trip to Rangsit on the main North line or Ayutthaya Commuter line. Rangsit is a new outer suburb of Bangkok controlled by the city of Pathum Thani. It is a medium to high density suburb and is home to a number of major universities and industrial areas. The reason for going only as far as Rangsit is that its considered the last commuter station in Bangkok.

The Ayutthaya line forms the backbone of the entire SRT main commuter system. There are 31 outbound trains a day from Hualamphong and Ayutthaya operating from 04.20am to 11.40pm. Also there are 30 inbound trains a day from Ayutthaya to Hualamphong operating from 01.14am to 07.14pm. This line was the 1^st line that SRT built back in 1910. It is about 80 kilometers long and takes between 80 mins to 120 mins depending on the train.

Although the line runs to Ayutthaya the densely built up suburbs of Bangkok end a few kilometers north of Rangsit station. There is only 1 train a day that starts at Rangsit and this is a though route to Hua Takhe in the east of Bangkok. The main reason for why most trains run from Ayutthaya is that a large number of trains on this line are formed from long distance trains rather than a separate fleet of DMUs for commuter. Only during peak hour are there trains that operate as commuter only.

However by using long distance trains to form the commuter service do creates a few problems. Such as inbound trains often running very late some times by over 2 hours! Also this though route creates very extreme overcrowding on long distance trains.

In the future this line will be upgraded as part of the red line commuter project that runs from Mahachai to Rangsit via Hualamphong. This will allow a better commuter service and faster traveling times for both commuter and long distance passengers.

The train I took was the 11.40am Surin train this is an ordinary 3^rd class all stations train. From Hualamphong to Rangsit it is a limited stop commuter train. I.e. skips the peak hour only stations.

1. This is a short movie of the departure of the 11.40am train to Rangsit. The train departed Hualamphong from platform 8. Note the length of the platform and the train guard. Also shown is the large rail yard north of Hualamphong station.

2. This is an image of the 3 track main line just north of the Hualamphong rail yard. Note how close the buildings are to the tracks and the size of the buildings thus making further increases in tracks very difficult.

3. This is a shot of the 3 track rail bridge over Klong Saen Saep. From this point is where the point work starts for Yommaraj junction for the eastern line. This area suffers from long delays.

4. This is a shot from the rear of the train showing the approach to Yommaraj junction. The diverge is in the middle of the busy 6 way road junction. Traffic jams often delay trains here as the level crossing is jammed solid. Also along the track is a railway village. These railway villages are built around the railway tracks and are very dense.

5. This is an image showing the inside of the Rangsit commuter train. This train is not very busy but it will get busier later as it continues on to Surin in the north east well beyond commuter distance.

6. This is a picture of a typical set of points on the main north line. Taken from the rear of the Rangsit train.

7. This is a movie of the Rangsit train passing though Yommaraj junction and Yommaraj station on the main north line. Note the railway village and the busy level crossing.

8. This is a shot of a typical 4 boom manual level crossing on the Rangsit line. Also shown is the northern side of the Chitralada triangle/junction. This line only has 1 passenger train a day using it. But a lot of cargo trains to the north.

9. This is shot of the disused Chitralada station. This rather nice platform is no longer used for passenger trains but was built for the Thai king to use the train. Opposite this nice platform is a small concrete platform with no shelter that is used by 1 train a day. SRT still maintains the station for the king.

10. This is a picture of the point work at the down end of Chitralada station. These points allow trains access to the eastern line without having to shunt at Hualamphong.

11. This is a shot of the double track steel rail bridge just south of Samsen station. The main north line is double track until Rangsit. There is a small rise in the line to allow extra clearance for the klong it crosses.

12. This is an image of an up train waiting to depart Samsen station. Road traffic often delays trains by blocking the level crossing.

13. This is an image of Samsen station. This is one of the most suburban looking stations in Bangkok in that it’s mostly residential around the station.

14. This is a shot showing typical track quality on the main north line. Also another inbound train passed the Rangsit train. Taken north of Samsen station.

15. This is a picture of Pradipat station and level crossing. Only 1 train a day stops here at the small concrete platform on the up side of the level crossing.

16. This is a shot of the up end of Bang Sue station. Note the nice gardens at this station.

17. This is a short movie showing the final approach to Bang Sue Junction. Note the rail bridge and station. This is the largest and busiest rail junction in Thailand.

18. This is a shot of the platform sign at the up end of Bang Sue station.

19. This is an image of the new and rather oddly placed video cameras all over the Main North line. They only have appeared in the last 6 months and the reason for installing them is unknown, as they don’t always seem to cover the entrances and exits to the station.

20. This is a shot looking towards the southern line Bang Sue station. The very old wooden carriage on the left is a small public library.

21. This is a general view of the Northern Bang Sue station. Note the shop on the platform don’t use it as they rip you off by charging double for food and drinks that are of lower quality.

22. This is a view of Southern Bang Sue station it is located on the north side of the Northern Bang Sue station and is used for trains heading to the south via the Nakhon Pathom line. Annoyingly at Bang Sue they make you buy tickets for the southern line the south station. Even though the computers are linked.

23. This is a view of the platform sign at Southern Bang Sue. This split was done as a way of increasing capacity of Bang Sue Junction.

24. This is a shot of the Bang Sue Diesel Locomotive workshops. This is where major repairs are undertaken on Locos and also is another location for refueling.

25. This is a shot of the diamond crossing just north of where southern line splits off from the main north. The single line that crosses the Main North line is well used by cargo trains heading for the Bang Sue freight yard.

26. This is a shot of the main north lines access to the Bang Sue freight yard. Also shown are the columns of the Bangkok Stonehenge. These columns are made of concrete and are the remains of a nationalized railway and expressway project.

27. This is an image of the platform at Nikhom Rotfai Khomo Sip-et Station. This rather rundown station services the huge railway workers village a few hundred meters to the left of the picture. Also Mochit 2 Bus terminal is accessible by bus from here routes 49 and 170.

28. This is a short movie showing the departure form Nikhom Rotfai Khomo Sip-et Station. Note the columns of Bangkok’s Stonehenge. Also note the railway village on the right. This is not the railway workers village.

29. This is a shot showing more of Bangkok’s Stonehenge. The columns where built by a company called Hopewell from Hong Kong in the mid 1990’s who failed to complete the project due to money problems. The Thai government nationalized the project and kicked them out of Thailand and to this day the columns are all that remain of the metro project.

30. This is a short movie showing what its like to pass under the Hopewell columns just north of Nikhom Rotfai Khomo Sip-et Station. Note the tunnel effect of the columns. These columns have been like this for over 10 years and are likely to fall down rather than be removed.

31. This is another shot of the Hopewell columns taken from the down end of Bang Khen station.

32. This is an image of Bang Khen Station. The station is built around the Hopewell columns. This is one of the busier commuter stations on the Main North line.

33. This is an image of Lak Si station. Like Bang Khen station before it this station is built around the columns. This is the station you get off at for Chaeng Watthana road. Cross the smaller road to the left of the station and Walk about 300 meters to take buses 150, 52 and 356 on Chaeng Watthana road.

34. This is a shot of the level crossing at the down end of Lak Si station. Like most urban Thai level crossings it has 4 barriers and is manually closed.

35. This is a shot of the peak hour only Khan Keha Khomo Sip-Kao Station north of Lak Si. This is very common style of peak hour only stations in Bangkok.

36. This is a shot of more Hopewell Columns just Up of Don Muang Station. These are of a different style and are off to the side rather than over the railway line.

37. This is a shot of Don Muang Station. This station was once much nicer but since the airport moved in 2005 a lot of the shops have been abandoned.

38. This is a shot of a typical next station sign on the outbound platform at Don Muang Station.

39. This is a general View of Don Muang Station. This station is unusual in that it has ramps to cross the track rather than a footbridge or level crossing. It was designed this way to allow easy access to the platform for passengers with large bags. The structure on the left is the Don Muang elevated toll way.

40. This is a short movie showing the end of the Hopewell columns and where the track curves away from the highway. Also shown is the railway signal system used on the main system.

41. This is a shot showing the up end of Rangsit station. Under the road bridge is the Bus stop for Rangsit station.

42. This is an image of the train guard flagging off the train at Rangsit station Taken from Platform 3. Note how narrow Platform 3 is.

43. This is a shot showing the general view at Rangsit station. Taken from Platform 2 looking north.

44. This is a picture of a sign on platform 2 showing the direction of travel for the line. Some of the signs at Rangsit station have lights inside them.

45. This is a shot of the market and station carpark just outside Rangsit station. It’s a 500 meter walk to the bus stop under the bridge.

46. This is a shot of the inbound train timetable at Rangsit station. Inbound is to Bangkok.

47. This is a shot of the outbound train timetable at Rangsit station. Outbound is away from Bangkok.

48. This is a shot of the signal box at Rangsit station. Note the nice garden outside it.

49. This is an image of the train controller’s computer for controlling the points and signals at Rangsit station. It runs on windows XP pro. I wonder how often it crashes?

50. This is an image of the radio and other equipment inside the signal box at Rangsit.

51. This is as shot of the 01.03pm Hualamphong Train approaching Rangsit station. SRT Loco Number 4151. This train was very full and also 25 minutes late!

52. This is a shot of the commuter train tickets used on the Ayutthaya Commuter line. Note they sold me a 1.15pm ticket for the return but that train was also hopelessly late too. There are point-to-point distance based 3rd class only monthlies available for daily commuters.

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.

The Buses of Suvarnabhumi Airport and Suvarnabhumi Bus Terminal.

While on the way back from Hua Takhe Station I stopped by the Bus terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced SUE WAN NA POOM). It was quite late in the day so the light was not the best for taking pictures.

The Public transport terminal (Bus terminal) at Suvarnabhumi Airport was created as a way of allowing direct bus service to the new airport without having the chaos out the front has happened at the old airport. As a result it is located a few kilometers away from the actual airport terminal building. However there is a 24 hour express bus service linking the Airport terminal with the Bus terminal. The trip only takes about 10 minutes. The express buses run every few minutes.

The Bus terminal its self has clean toilets a few banks and a few Thai food outlets and a large 7 eleven store. There are also staffed bus ticket counters for both the intercity and metro buses that operate from the Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus Terminal. Taxis are also available here if needed.

The Bus terminal offers intercity services to Nong Khai, Rayong, Pattaya, Bang Saen Beach, Rong Kluea Market, Chonburi, Chanthaburi, Trat and Mochit 2. However these buses are not frequent some only runs every 2 to 3 hours others every 20 to 30 minutes. Tickets for these buses are purchases from the intercity bus counter and onboard for the Mochit 2 bus.

The Metro Buses that run from Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus terminal are as follows:

Route 549: Minburi to Suvarnabhumi Airport (24 hour service) every 10 minutes.

Route 550: Happy Land to Suvarnabhumi Airport (24 hour service) every 10 minutes.

Route 551: Victory Monument to Suvarnabhumi Airport (24 hour service) every 10 to 15 minutes.

Route 552: Klong Toei to Suvarnabhumi Airport via Sukhumvit rd and Onnut BTS (4.30am to 9.30pm) every 15 minutes.

Route 552A: Paknam to Suvarnabhumi Airport (24 hour service) every 15 minutes.

Route 553: Paknam to Suvarnabhumi Airport via King Kaew and Srinagarindra Rds (4.00am to 10.00pm) every 20 minutes.

Route 554: Rangsit to Suvarnabhumi Airport (Expressway) via Ram Intra Rd (24 hour service) every 10 minutes.

Route 555: Rangsit to Suvarnabhumi Airport (Expressway) via Din Daeng and Viphawadi Rangsit rd. (24 hour service) every 15 minutes.

Route 556: Southern Bus Terminal to Suvarnabhumi Airport (Expressway) via Sanam Luang and Pink Lao (24 hour service) every 20 to 30 minutes.

Route 558: Samae Dam (Rama 2) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (Expressway) (4.30am to 9.30pm) every 20 to 30 minutes.

Route 559: Rangsit to Suvarnabhumi Airport (Expressway) via Kanchana Phisiek rd (4.00am to 9.30pm) every 20 to 30 minutes.

All of these buses are operated by BMTA and will take luggage on board. The best routes for heading into inner Bangkok are Routes 551 and 552. If heading to Don Muang Airport the best route is Route 555. Please allow at least 90 minutes for travel and up to 2 hours at peak times. The BMTA buses cost 34 baht per person per trip.

Additional private airport express buses operate from Level 1 in the airport terminal building and charge 150 baht per person. They operate 4 different routes that are as follows:

A1: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Silom (Covers: Siam, Soi Langsuan and Silom areas).

A2: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Banglamphu (Covers: Khao Sarn Road area).

A3: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Nana (Covers: Sukhumvit Road –Bang Na to Nana).

A4: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hualamphong (Covers: Phaya Thai and Hualamphong Station areas).

All services operate from 5am to midnight 7 days a week. Frequency varies due to traffic. Note: Route A1 to A4 DO NOT operate from the BUS terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

1. This is an image of a route A1 private Airport Express bus taken as it passes the Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus terminal. Bus unit number AE – 626. Make Unknown Mercedes.

2. This is a shot showing the general waiting area at Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus terminal. Taken looking towards the Bus ticket counters. Note: the 3 orange signs are for intercity buses and Mochit 2 buses.

3. This is a picture of a route 554 bus just as it arrived at Suvarnabhumi. This is a Euro 2 Hino bus. BMTA unit number 1-45001.

4. This is a shot of a route 551 bus waiting to depart from Suvarnabhumi. This is a Euro 2 Hino bus. BMTA unit number 4-44187.

5. This is a shot of a route 555 bus waiting to depart from Suvarnabhumi. This is a Euro 2 Hino Bus. BMTA unit number unknown. Note that the destination sign is incorrect and the supplementary board is correct.

6. This is a front on shot of a route 554 bus waiting to depart from Suvarnabhumi. This is another Euro 2 Hino Bus. BMTA unit number 1-44126.

7. This is a shot of the Golden Dragon shuttle bus to the main terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This is bus unit number 05. Operating an express shuttle.

8. This is a shot of another Golden Dragon shuttle bus. Bus unit number 07 This one is waiting to operate an express shuttle despite the side desto stating Ordinary route.

9. This is another angle on Golden Dragon Bus number 07. This time waiting to depart for the main terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Until the yellow buses appeared in Bangkok these airport shuttle buses where the newest buses in Bangkok.

10. This is an inside shot of Golden Dragon bus number 07. This bus is a fully low floor bus. This style of bus is very uncommon in Thailand. The seating style and internal design is similar to that of the midi floor yellow golden dragon buses.

11. This is a shot of the front doorway showing how low the floor is on this bus. No step needed to enter the bus. This is the only place in Thailand that these low floor buses operate. Note this bus is branded as Shen Long inside but Golden Dragon on the outside.

12. This is another shot showing the layout of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus terminal. Taken facing towards the intercity bus stands. This bus terminal has the best waiting area seats in Thailand.

13. This is a picture of the BMTA buses waiting to depart on their next trips. Taken from the middle of the roadway it gives a different angle on the buses. Note the Roof of the bus terminal extends out over the buses.

14. This is a side on image of a route 552A taken from the roadway. BMTA unit number 3-45053. This is a Euro 2 Hino RU1J Bus.

15. This is an image of the Express Van services area at the southern end of the Suvarnabhumi Airport bus terminal. On a number of bus routes additional Vans operate. This is there passenger loading area. The counter in the background is where you buy your ticket for them. The staff of the vans don’t speak much English.

16. This is a shot of an express van about to be loaded. The Vans hold 15 passengers and can be faster than the bus as they skip stops when full.

17. This is another angle on a Route 551 bus waiting to depart from Suvarnabhumi. This is a Euro 2 hino RU1J bus. BMTA unit number 4-44188.

18. This is the BMTA bus information and control office in the middle of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus terminal. Passenger can ask for information here and the ticketing staff and drivers file their paper work here at the end of each round trip.

19. This is a shot of an original Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus route map from when the bus terminal opened. There are now 11 routes to the airport instead of the 6 shown. This information is still valid for the 6 routes it shows.

20. This is a shot of the table where the BMTA bus ticket coupons are sold. They work by offering a 10% discount of the normal fare. The coupons come in books of 25 tickets. Each coupon is valid for a single trip for the same coupon amount as the cash ticket. E.g. If the ticket is 20 baht you can use a 20 baht coupon to pay the ticket lady. Also a combination of coupons and cash is allowed.

21. This is a shot of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus tickets that I used to go home to Thonburi via bus route 558. The total price is 34 baht one ticket of 15 baht and one ticket of 21 baht. Yes this doesn’t add up but I think the ticket price will increase sometime this year and BMTA has started to sell the new tickets at the old price.

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.