Lakegeneve

This map should make it very clear https://www.livingpop.com/files/metro-map/20220129/LVP-Map2022-C-20220129-English.pdf

You had this mixed up right? Think about it,,,, The answer is yes, though you will have obviously done the trip well before now. Avoid the queues (& surcharge) at the official taxi stand at arrival level by proceeding up to the dep level and grab a taxi that has just dropped off someone. Saves the driver a very long wait (sometimes 1-2 hrs) and you a queue....

The pedestrian link cost US$3m to build and opened in mid 2013,some 3 years after the ARL opened! It has been a very, long time since anyone had to cross at street level to the MRT. These links used to be an after thought,eg. BTS to MRT at Asoke opened 1 yr after and BTS to MRT at Silom 2 yrs later. Thankfully, these days they are being built when new lines are bult.

Ratchaprarop has a single bus southbound lane 24/7. However, taxis are also allowedto use it though it is no uncommon for private vehicles to sneak allow as well - they are allowed late at night. And there is no right turn, you simply exit the ARL station at the east exit which is on the east side of Ratchprarop rd and walk 30m south across the SRT eastern line and Makkasan rd. Grab a taxi there outside Verve condo or a little further along at the corner of soi 8 (one way, west) as taxis tend to exit from there. The reason why you don't want to do this at peak is that buses back up at Pratunam intersection (Petchaburi rd) along the single lane and you could literally spend 20-25 mins travelling the 1km south to Ratchaprasong intersection- the literal center of Thailand.

A couple issues depend on how you can traverse this. The most important is your fitness for carrying your 2 heavy backpacks. It is about a 300m total transfer distance between the ARL & MRT via the pedestrian link and normally easy with a trolley bag. The other main factor is the time of day when you will be travelling, ie peak hour or not? I'd avoid doing it at peak hour as the MRT is very full - if morning peak up until 9.30am then forget about it as pax are crammed and it is normal to wait 1-2 trains to board. It will be very tough with 2 large backpacks. Another option is to alight at ARL Ratchprarop station and just take a taxi straight south down Ratchaprarop rd to Lumpini/Rama4 intersection if it is a quieter time of the day. (Private vehicles are not allowed to use the soutbound bus lane but taxis usuaully can and do) Again, don't do this at peak times.

These buses will still be around for a number of years even though the BMTA is attempting to replace much of the fleet. The BMTA has asked the govt to provide funds to update the fleet for around 12 years now Including a request for 5000 new aircon and non aircon buses after the junta came to power. At any given time around 800 buses are out of action due to age & maintenence issues) All that has been funded was the 490 NGV Bestlin buses a few years ago, but there is obviously a push to electrify the fleet. As fares are charged according to the quality of the bus, the non-aircon buses are the cheapest (8 baht) for the poor, min half the fare of a new NGV Bestlin bus (15-20-25 baht). It is one of the crazy and confusing aspects of BKK buses for tourists. You can have 4 different types of buses with the same route number (BMTA non-Aircon, BMTA aircon, private operator non-aircon, private operator aircon) all with completely different fare structures.

Poor reporting by Thai PBS who normally do a good job. This is incorrect as Eastern lines services will still continue to operate from HL as will suburban services for at least the next 5 years. A few ordinary (the really slow ones) inter-city services will also continue to operate from HL too,

I can understand you wanting to take one of the diesel commuter services from HL to Laksi. Not that I'd do it myself for this trip. However, I think the lesson here as with most trips in BKK is to always have a Plan B. At a certain point (after15mins waiting?) I would have ditched the SRT commuter train and just used the MRT Blue Line and SRT Dark Red line to Laksi. The 40 mins that you spent waiting on the train is nearly the total trip time from HL to Laksi. Alternatively, MRT to Chatuchack station and then a bus straight north up Vihavadi-Rangsit rd would actually be quicker. Posting the network map for those who might be unsure of the SRT Dark Red line route and how to connect.

Orignal partial opening date was Oct last year which became June this year and then September and now is Jan 2023. The BSR (owner & operator) has been doing some full line test runs for the MRTA Yellow line in the last 3 weeks. The headline is misleading as there are only some special ticketed runs planned for December at this stage. The actual opening for is not planned until January with a free period, probably later in the month and only from Phawana (Y2) to Samrong ie. not Latphrao station. (The previous opening plan for last year and mid this year was for the more advanced southern section of a line from Samrong to Hua Mark) For the MRTA Pink Line, it is planned to open the first section in Feb or more likely March. The 1st stage opening will run from Minburi to the Govt Complex. (except for two stations). Mid year the 2nd stage willopen from Govt complex to Tiwanon rd. The last stage to Nonthaburi Provicial office will open in around 1 year as the station site had to moved 350m east due to supposedly blocking the views of the provincial office staff. In other news the MRTA Orange line construction will be completed by the end of this year/very early 2023. Unfortunately, the MRTA stuffed up the tender to operate that line and order rolling stock - it is still not done - so you'll need to wait until June 2025 to use it!! MRTA Purple line southern ext started construction 3 months ago as is around 3.5% advanced

Network map half way down this page.....

166 departs from the NW quadrant from the east side 'platform'. It heads straight onto the expressway entrance just north of VM. The bus exits at Chaeng Wattana rd, runs west to Pak Kret, does a U-turn and then returns east along Chaneng Wattana before turning left into CW-Pak Kret soi 33 to enter into MTT. I've used it loads of times over the years to go to Koh Kret. Inbound and outbound are mostly exactly the same route. It can be confusing on CW rd if you don't read thai as both VM & MTT bound services run along here. Only the dark blue aircon buses run to MTT. Download the VIa Bus app if you haven't done so as it shows routes for every BMTA bus. I had no idea of the route to Govt Complex, but I have seen the 166 bus outside. According to the VIA Bus app it exits the expressway straight east onto CW rd and then turns into the Govt Complex rd. Obviously, just ask the conductor at VM if unsure if it is a MMT or a Govt Complex bus.

There was a small female only (driver & pax) taxi company that started about 5 years ago. However, they didn't survive Covid. Not sure if they have or will been revived? All Taxi Thai - book bby app - with the distinct yellow taxis was a safer company to use prior to Covid, but haven't seen many of their taxis around. There are a few Lady Taxi driver services on FB and the web but mainly for out of BKK trips. Can contact them to ask if you needed a regular service. You can request a "Lady" driver with Grab, https://www.grabdriverth.com/service/gc-lady

The ASC courts above Foodland in Suk soi 16 are indeed the place to play. I have a few friends that play there weekly. I've only casually played a couple of times as I play volleyball there. I would suggest getting to know the fit women who run ASC and challenging them to a game one evening, they play regularly when they are bored. Let them know you are looking to play with others & go from there, eventually you'll be invited to join others.

Sunday services were suspended many, many months ago due to Covid and a lack of demand. Increasedfuel costs in recent months didn't help. They just restarted this last Sunday 3 July; https://mgronline.com/business/detail/9650000061941 Current operational times on Sundays are as follows: South 9am to 5pm - every 30-40mins North 10.30am to 5.30pm - every 30-40mins Sat & holidays: South 7am to 5pm - every 30-40mins North 8.30am to 5.30pm - every 20-30mins

No you currently can't. Later, yes with MRT card (though this was first promised in 2012 between the MRT Blue line and ARL so don't expect it too soon) The SRT Red lines uses the same ticketing platform as the ARL does.