writeshack

you got it right there Zorro

3 systems or not, I'll be glad to see it up and running. Taking a taxi from the airport not only costs more, but can take a while if there's traffic. And it'll undercut the whole fixed fee requests. Now they'll have to come in closer to 200 - 300 baht to be competitive, which is the meter rate.

hmm...i live on 71 and a taxi from Swampy including tolls is usually around 230 Baht and takes 30 mins if you know the short cut to Ram Intra.

when this opens will I take a bus to the train terminal at Swampy, line up to get a ticket then wait 15 mins for it to leave, take another 15 mins into town, unload my bags to a taxi + 10 mins and the ride +xxx mins? to save 40-50 baht? no chance.

Swampy. luv it.

You will probably need a TT-10 clearance from your outgoing employer. Ask them. Also, if you go to the one-stop visa centre on Phahon Yothin go very very early. You can get queue tickets long before it opens and many people do.

I drove from Buri Ram to Bangkok via the hill road on Sunday. Route 304 from Pak Chong Chai to the top of the hill is wide and good. There's still roadwork in progress going through the hills, with traffic sometimes diverted to the newly built two lanes which form the north-bound route while a section of the old highway is being rebuilt. Even if you get stuck behind a 10-wheeler there are places you can see well enough to pass, just watch out for the impatient idiots. Once you hit Prachin Buri there is still a stretch of several kilometres of downhill corrugated road, one lane each way. The trucks are very slow here, up and down. So again, watch out for the impatient idiots in their cars. But it doesn't last forever. Apart from that it's a good road.

I have noticed some welcome changes in the Bangkok Post website of late. It's brighter during the day with more 'breaking news', both local and global and updates in major stories. Maybe they're testing the waters and looking for some response on what we want. If we all post some comments here on what we'd like from the website then hopefully someone there will notice. It is a Thai-owned newspaper though, with the focus on Thai events, and we shouldn't expect in-depth comment on world issues. At least the website is free to look at. But if no one buys the paper, I doubt there will be a website.

This entire thread is based on a ludicrous report: that Thai and 'international police' could be sent to arrest Thaksin in Hong Kong. Nonsense. They have no authority to arrest anyone in China.

Excellent news, as trying to book it through on-line agents they charge you a fortune for what is a very cheap ticket.

I usually use the trains to travel home when I arrive or leave Thailand.

No problem it being in Thai as I, and many others, can just get their wives/GF's to book it.

John.....

Okay, for anyone who hasn't bothered to look yet, or can't read it.

You must sign up for membership (make up a login and password). That's in English.

You must give your sex, name, passport number, residential address, date of birth and, ultimately, your credit card number.

At the moment you can book for only one or two people max, up to 60 days in advance, in theory, and a minimum three days. You can print the ticket at home.

Although it gives options for all services it seems to be available only for sleepers at the moment. Maybe that's not the case it you actually join up. I refuse to make all that information public just to buy a train ticket.

I have a 2007 Ford 3.0L, 4 door, 4X4 wildtrack. Bought it in BR. Runs well, drives well, feels good, strong body, use B5, never a problem. Economy's not bad on long trips. Biodiesel gives less mileage, and there is a drop in power, not much, but 'highpower' or its equivalent is also more expensive.

A good vehicle. I like it.