Bangkok Transportation

Transportation Within The City

A network of elevated tollways have been built in and around Bangkok and these have helped ease the traffic congestion in the city. These tollways are well planned and well maintained.

Taxis

Bangkok has airconditioned taxis aplenty. These are either blue and red or yellow and green in colour. It is easy to flag down taxis in most part of the city. The starting charge is 35 baht for the first 2 KM with increments of 5 baht per KM. The waiting charge is 1.25baht per minute, which also applies when the traffic is moving at under 6 KM per hour.

BTS Skytrain

The elevated train service, the BTS Skytrain, commissioned in 1999 has changed the face of transportation in Bangkok. Consisting of three wide-bodied airconditioned cars, each train can carry over 1,000 passengers. The skytrains have given the residents and visitors a very comfortable alternative for travel within the central Bangkok area, smoothly zipping over congested roads.

Modern, well maintained and very clean, the BTS Skytrains have a virtual 100% record in punctuality. Starting at 6.00am, the skytrains run till midnight with the frequency of service increasing during rush hours. It runs on two routes currently, the Sukhumvit Line an the Silom Line. The fares are based on distance and several types of pases are available to suit different needs.

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MRT Subway

In July 2004, a new MRT subway system was launched connecting the northern train station of Bang Sue to the Hua Lamphong railway station near the city center, while also going through the eastern part of the city. It connects to the BTS system at BTS Stations Mo Chit, Asok, and Sala Daeng.

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Boats

An elaborate network of canals (khlong) gave the city the nickname "Venice of the East" at a time when transportation was done by boats were the preferred mode of transport. Today almost all of them in the city have been filled in and converted into traffic-filled streets. However boats aer still used extensively on the Chao Phraya river and the several canals that branch out from it.

River express boats and canal boats ply on regular routes at unbeleivable cheap fares. Topping the list of bargains is the one and a qarter hour boat ride from the pier near the Oriental Hotel that takes you all the way to Bangkok's Nonthaburi suburb for just 10 bahts.

The river boats ply along the Chao Phraya river, and there are around 20 main stops. The boats are normally white in color with a red stripe and are long and move at a good speed. Fares are between 5B and 10B. Boats sply at about 20 minute interval and operate from 5.30am to 6.00pm.

There are also frequent cross river ferries at each pier that cost 1 to 2 baht. They wait only a few secomds and one should be quick in jumping on when one arives.

Buses

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority operates the buses in the city. There are several types of buses with different fare structures. The buses provide an inexpensive mode of transport, starting as low as 2.5 baht for the non-airconditioned buses and going up to 20 baht for the airconditioned ones.

Since most buses have destinations written in Thai, it is imperative that you know the bus number and the bus type. Remember that different types of buses with the same number do not necessarily operate on the same route.

Buses do not stop at all stops but have to be waved down to get on. There is a red button near the door that you press to inform the driver that he should stop at the next stop. If you do not know the roads, it is a good idea to tell the conductor (there is always one on each bus to collect the fare) to let you know when the bus comes to your stop.

The different types of buses are the orange buses (10 baht to 20 baht), the blue buses (8 baht to 20 baht), the non air conditioned white buses and red buses (3.5 to 5 baht). Then there are the avoidable small green buses (2.5 baht) and the privatrely operated purple micro buses (25 baht).

Motor Cycles

Bangkok offers a unique transport alternative in the form of its motorcycle taxis. Motorcycle taxis are regulated by the authorities and are very popular with the local population in the metros and in the smaller towns and villages.

In Bangkok, one can see motorcycles parked at strategic street corners and BTS stations with their riders wearing the uniform orange colored jacket with their number printed on it. Most drivers carry a spare helmet for the passanger.

If you are not used to this form of transportation, the first few times can be a a little scary, but, during heavy traffic hours, you will find this to be the quickest way to get from point A to point B. Specially considering the fact that, when necessary, they will ride on pavements, into narrow sois and even go on a one way street in the wrong direction.