Trains in Thailand

Trains in Thailand are the BTS Sky train, MRT and SRT. Trains in Thailand are a very cheap way to travel. You can find out more about them below.

 

BTS Skytrain

The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The system consists of twenty-three stations along two lines: the Sukhumvit line running northwards and eastwards, terminating at Mo Chit and On Nut respectively, and the Silom line which plies Silom and Sathon Roads, the Central Business District of Bangkok, terminating at the National Stadium and Wongwian Yai. The lines interchange at Siam Station and have a combined route distance of 55 km.
The system is formally known as the Elevated Train in Commemoration of HM the King's 6th Cycle Birthday.

 

Ticketing

 

For single-trip and stored-value ticket holders fares are calculated according to distance, but adult / student / tourist passes for limited / unlimited train rides are also available. Next to the magnetic fare cards, which require replacement once every two years, the Skytrain has adopted near-field contactless technology in its ticketing system, with the intent of becoming compatible with the system presently used in the MRT.

 

Prices

Single Journey trips will cost about 15 to 40 baht (depending on distance) which can be puchased at ticket machines.

 

One-Day Pass can be puchased at BTS Station ticket counters and will cost 120 baht, this can be used until midnight with unlimited stops.

 

BTS Sky Smartpass can be purchased at BTS staion ticket counters and costs 100 baht with a 30 baht issuing fee for the new card. Refill up to 100 baht to 2,000 baht

 

30 Day Adult Smartpass can be purchased at BTS station ticket counters and will cost (excluding 30 baht issing fee for new card)
20 trips 440 baht (22 baht per trip)
30 trips 600 baht (20 baht per trip)
40 trips 800 baht (20 baht per trip)

30 Day Student Smartpasscan be purchased at BTS station ticket counters and will cost (excluding 30 baht issing fee for new card)
20 trips 340 baht (17 baht per trip)
30 trips 450 baht (15baht per trip)
40 trips 600 baht (15 baht per trip)

 

Route extension

Phase I

• On Nut – Bearing (terminating at Sukhumvit 107, the border pole of BMA) – 5.2 km. Under construction, to open in 2010.

• Saphan Taksin – Wong Wian Yai (terminating at Th. Somdet Chao Phraya) – 2.2 km. Completed, opened on 15 May 2009.

• Mo Chit – Saphan Mai – 11.4 km. Planned.

 

Phase II

 

• Bearing – Samut Prakan – 10.6 km. Planned.

• Wong Wian Yai – Bang Wa (terminating at Th. Phetchakasem) – 5.25 km. Planned for early 2011

• National Stadium – Phran Nok (terminating at Th. Charan Sanit Wong) – 6.8 km. Planned.

 

BTS Contact

BTS Hotline
Ph: 0-2617 6000

BTS Tourist Information
Ph: 0-2617 7340

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MRT - Mass Rapid Transit

The Bangkok Metro, officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), is Bangkok's underground metro system. It was constructed under a concession concept. Most civil infrastructure were provided by the government sector, Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand.
The 21-kilometer, 18-station Blue line presently runs from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong via Phra Ram 9 and has a carrying capacity of 40,000 people in each direction per hour. Similar to the Skytrain, the Metro uses trains supplied by Siemens which travel up to 80 km/h. Passengers can conveniently connect to the Skytrain at Si Lom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations. The metro has a large depot in Huai Khwang district, which is located between Phra Ram 9 and Thailand Cultural Centre stations

 

Ticketing

 

The ticketing system uses RFID contactless technology with round black tokens issued for single trips and contactless stored value cards for frequent travellers. In the near future, a joint ticketing system will be set up so that passengers can use a single ticket on the Metro as well as on the Skytrain. Multi-storey park & ride facilities are provided at Lat Phrao and Thailand Cultural Centre. Motorists who park their cars at these premises will be issued with additional contactless smartcards and they need to have them electronically stamped at their destination station.

 

Prices

Adult Single Journey Token 16 to 41 baht (depending on distance) which can be puchased at ticket machines.

 

Child/Elder Single Journey 8 to 21 baht (depending on distance) which can be puchased at ticket machines.

 

Adult stored Value Card 14 to 37 baht (depending on distance) which can be puchased at ticket counter.

 

Student Stored Value Card 13 to 33 baht (depending on distance) which can be puchased at ticket counter.

 

Children/Eler Stored Value Card 8 to 21 baht (depending on distance) which can be puchased at ticket counter.

 

Expansion plans

 

Various expansion plans of the Metro have been proposed, but as of 2009, construction work has not started on any. It is planned that, eventually, the combined route distance of the Metro alone will total 91 km with 3 Metro lines covering all of the major areas of Bangkok.

MRT Conact

Ph: 0-2612 2444

 

State Railway of Thailand

The State Railway of Thailand is the state-owned rail operator of Thailand. The network sees around 50 million passengers per annum.Ticket prices vary depending on how far you are traveling, but is very cheap even if you comapre it to the BTS and MRT per distance.

There is different classes of trains from first class to economy, if you are traveling a long distance, first class is ideal as economy is pretty unconfortable, especially for 8 hours or so.

Hua Lamphong or Krungthep Station is the main terminus of all routes and start in Bangkok, Phahonyothin and ICD Ladkrabang is the main freight terminal.

Northern Line

• Bangsue Junction - The largest freight yard in Thailand and hence the main freight terminal. It is also a locomotive depot.

• Ayutthaya Station - Northern Bangkok Suburb station - with very high passenger revenue, seconded only Bangkok station.

• Ban Phachi Junction - A major junction, where the Northern and Northeastern lines separate.

• Lop Buri Station - the end of Northern BKK Suburb line at Military town.

• Nakhon Sawan Station - formerly called as Nong Pling station until 1956.

• Phitsanulok Station - provincial station

• Ban Dara Junction - Junction to Sawankhaloke line

• Sila At Station - Depot on the Northern Line. Refueling station and up trains will be cut at this station

• Denchai Station - the dropping point for Phrae with a proposal for a junction for Denchai - Chiang Rai route

• Nakhon Lampang Station - Depot on the Northern Line. Train will be cut further if going North to Chiang Mai.

• Chiang Mai Station - Terminus.

North Eastern Line

• Saraburi Station - Provincial station, former name is Pak priaw station until 1934.

• Kaeng Khoi Junction - The Bua Yai Line and Khlong Sip Kao line diverge from the mainline here. Main Depot with refueling facility. The point for cutting cargo trains into into 2 trains to pass difficult section of Dong Phraya Yen (Kaeng Khoi - Pak Chong) or combining the separated cargo trains back to the single train

• Pak Chong Station - The gateway to Nakhon Ratchasima and the point for cutting cargo trains into 2 trains to pass difficult section of Dong Phraya Yen (Kaeng Khoi - Pak Chong) or combining the separated cargo trains back to the single train

• Nakhon Ratchasima Station - Main depot of the Northeastern Line with refueling facility and a branch line to 2nd Army Support Command.

• Thanon Chira Junction - Junction for Nong Khai Route that closed to Fort Suranaree (2nd Army Region HQ)

• Buri Ram Station - provincial station with a branch line for Quarry at Khao Kradong

• Surin Station - provincial station

• Si Sa Ket Station - provincial station

• Ubon Ratchathani Station - Terminus of South Isaan Line (AKA Ubon Line) with Depot and refueling facility. Formerly called as "Varindr station" until 1942-1943.

• Bua Yai Junction - junction with refueling facility

• Khon Kaen Station - provincial station

• Udon Thani Station - provincial station with refueling facility.

• Nong Khai Station - Terminus of North Isaan Line (AKA Nong Khai Line), provides a connection to Laos

Eastern Line

• Makkasan Station - the main depot of SRT (Makkasan Works) and future City Air Terminal Station for Suvarnabhumi Airport Express Train even though the New Makkasan Station is closer to Asok Halt than Makkasan station

• Huamak Station - Bangkok Suburb station

• Hua Ta Khe Station - Junction to ICD.

• Chachoeng Sao Junction - Junction to Laem Chabang and Aranyapradesh Line.

• Aranyapradesh Station - Terminus of North Eastern Line.

• Si Racha Junction - Junction for Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port.

• Mab Taphud Station - Terminus of East Coast Line - only for cargo trains.

Western Line

• Thon Buri Station - Terminus of Western Line

• Taling Chan Station - Junction of Bangsue - Taling Chan link (AKA Rama 6 Line), the connection between south and north SRT systems opened with the building of the only rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River in 1925.

• Salaya Station - Bangkok Suburb station closed to Mahidol University (Salaya Campus)

• Nakhon Pathom Station - Provincial station

• Nong Pla Duk Junction - Junction for Suphanburi and Kanchanaburi.

• SuphanburiStation - A 2 car DMU operates to Bangkok in the early morning and from Bangkok in the evening.

• Kanchanaburi Station - Provincial station

• Namtok Station - Terminus of Western Line.

Southern Line

• Bang Sue Junction - Main junction and Cargo terminal with main Diesel Locomotive Depot and Refueling facility

• Thon Buri Station - Former terminus of Southern Line.

• Nakhon Pathom Station - main Southern suburb station

• Hua Hin Station - station with Beautiful Architecture, changing crew station

• Chumphon Station - Provincial station, Locomotive Depot with refueling facility

• Ban Thung Pho Junction - Southern Container Yard and Khiri Ratthanikhom Branch.

• Surat Thani Station - changing crew station and provincial station

• Thung Song Junction - Locomotive Depot, refueling facility and junction for Kantang Branch.

• Trang Station - Provincial Station

• Kantang Station - Terminus of Kantang Branch.

• Khao Chumthong Junction - Junction for Nakhon Si Thammarat Branch.

• Nakhon Si Thammarat Station - Terminus of Nakhon Si Thammarat Branch.

• Patthalung Station - Provincial station, changing crew station

• Hat Yai Junction - Main junction in Southern Line, Locomotive Depot and refueling facility

• Padang Besar Station - International station for connections to Malaysia. KTMB is the caretaker for this station since it is in Malaysia.

• Pattani Station - former Khok Pho station - the dropping point for Pattani

• Yala Station - Provincial station changing crew station

• Tanyong Mas station - dropping point for Ra Nga district and Narathiwat

• Sungai Kolok Station - Terminus of Southern Line. Used to be another International station until the termination of cross border services.

Contact Details

1 Rongmuang Road, Rongmuang, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330

Tel: 0-2222-0175, 0-2621-8701, 0-2220-4567.

E-mail:. info@railway.co.th.