webfact Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Bangkok to Pattaya tourist promotion train hailed as success - but where are the foreign tourists? Picture: Pattaya News State Railway and Pattaya authorities were hailing the inaugural weekend special train to the resort as a massive boon for tourism. But conspicuous by their absence were any pictures of foreign tourists. On hand to meet the air-conditioned "Sprinter" that had left Bangkok at 6.45am was local authority spokesman Pinit Maneerat and his entourage of tourism officials. The hullabaloo welcoming party even included a singer. On the train was the deputy chief of the State Railways Thanongsak Pongprasert. There were lots of Thais on the packed train. But when you might have expected this to be a great photo opportunity to publish pictures of smiling western tourists there appeared to be none. The service will run every Saturday and Sunday for about six months. Pinit said it was a boon for tourism and explained that tickets could be used for discounts at tourist attractions in places like Pattaya and Sri Racha. Pattaya News reported that the three carriage train with 64 seats per carriage was fully booked until near the end of March. Thaivisa would be delighted to hear from any foreign tourists who might have been on the train. Source: Pattaya News -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-03-19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Domestic Thai Tourists ?the foreigners probably have no idea the service even exists. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyNets Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 (edited) They probably didn't think that an air conditioned train was that revolutionary. Edited March 19, 2018 by SkyNets 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lamkyong Posted March 19, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2018 am i surprised at the lack of tourists?? NO what with the latest/ongoing reports of poor conditions of filth on beaches/muggings/theft/traffic accidents/general ripoffs etc etc it is no wonder that any sensible quality tourists would see this as a useful /convenient mode of transport to what seems to be a hell hole well yes we all know what Pattaya is really good for but i dont think this needs a dedicated train service 1 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simoh1490 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Lamkyong said: am i surprised at the lack of tourists?? NO what with the latest/ongoing reports of poor conditions of filth on beaches/muggings/theft/traffic accidents/general ripoffs etc etc it is no wonder that any sensible quality tourists would see this as a useful /convenient mode of transport to what seems to be a hell hole well yes we all know what Pattaya is really good for but i dont think this needs a dedicated train service Er, it's low season, duh! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamkyong Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 (edited) 13 minutes ago, simoh1490 said: Er, it's low season, duh! i suggest you forward your comments to the TV department that posted the original comment as for your theory to the lack of tourists no matter what the season my post/stands Edited March 19, 2018 by Lamkyong 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSixpack Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 27 minutes ago, Lamkyong said: am i surprised at the lack of tourists?? NO what with the latest/ongoing reports of poor conditions of filth on beaches/muggings/theft/traffic accidents/general ripoffs etc etc it is no wonder that any sensible quality tourists would see this as a useful /convenient mode of transport to what seems to be a hell hole well yes we all know what Pattaya is really good for but i dont think this needs a dedicated train service Here's the cheese, man: Anything new to add? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ezflip Posted March 19, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2018 45 minutes ago, webfact said: that had left Bangkok at 6.45am Maybe this is why no foreign tourist took the train... Why would a tourist wake up at 5:30-6:00am for a train when they are on vacation? Offer the same deal for a 11:00am schedule and they might be tempted. 12 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovelomsak Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 I thought of using it till I read where it only does it on saturday and sunday. plus I had no option when to use it. Goes once a day returns once a day. If they want tourists to use it run it all week and at 2 or three different times a day. The fact it runs on weekends makes it best for domestic trips .Thai's can now go down for the day or weekend. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadGeordie Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 1 hour ago, webfact said: Pattaya News reported that the three carriage train with 64 seats per carriage was fully booked until near the end of March. There are 2 Saturdays and 1 Sunday till the end of March. So that is 3 trains down and 3 trains up. 3 carriages x 64 passengers x 6 journies. Pffft. Looks like the SRT Billions of Baht overspend has been resolved. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bkk6060 Posted March 19, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2018 31 minutes ago, Lamkyong said: am i surprised at the lack of tourists?? NO what with the latest/ongoing reports of poor conditions of filth on beaches/muggings/theft/traffic accidents/general ripoffs etc etc it is no wonder that any sensible quality tourists would see this as a useful /convenient mode of transport to what seems to be a hell hole well yes we all know what Pattaya is really good for but i dont think this needs a dedicated train service It is due to lack of putting out the information and has nothing to do with your hate filled post. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamkyong Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 1 minute ago, bkk6060 said: It is due to lack of putting out the information and has nothing to do with your hate filled post. hate filled post. ??please dont get over dramatic about it you make it sound like none of the mentioned doesn't happen on a daily basis 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsiaCheese Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 6:45 a.m. - yes, perfect time to start a trip from BKK. And whereas in lots of countries I can think of, the train station is conveniently central, you get dumped a long way out, at Siam Country Club Rd., and are then at the mercy of baht taxi "friendlies". The same goes for the trains subsequent stops "in Pattaya". Okay, I get it: public transport was never an issue in Pattaya, and building a central train station today would be pretty much impossible. But hey, nice try to utilize the freight train to Cambodia tracks for a PR stunt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essox essox Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 how can IT BE A SUCCESS when the whole idea of this service was to provide transport for TOURISTS ....NOT THAIS !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 There's plenty of Thai Tourists that descend from BKK every weekend...clogging up the roadsThe train should run every couple of hours say from 6am -7pm each way every day...then it would start to be a viable alternative to mini bus or bringing their cars. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essox essox Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 1 minute ago, johng said: There's plenty of Thai Tourists that descend from BKK every weekend...clogging up the roads The train should run every couple of hours say from 6am -7pm each way every day...then it would start to be a viable alternative to mini bus or bringing their cars. what about all the buses that arrive at bus station every 30 mins to one hour daily??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Yes what about them ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champers Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 1 hour ago, ezflip said: Maybe this is why no foreign tourist took the train... Why would a tourist wake up at 5:30-6:00am for a train when they are on vacation? Offer the same deal for a 11:00am schedule and they might be tempted. Spot on; I'm just getting in at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex8912 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 1 hour ago, ezflip said: Maybe this is why no foreign tourist took the train... Why would a tourist wake up at 5:30-6:00am for a train when they are on vacation? Offer the same deal for a 11:00am schedule and they might be tempted. And then when you get to your hotel you can check in right away! With the current train you would have to sleep in the lobby several hours. Very stupid time table imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uffe123 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 If they would upgrade the cattle cars, people might just take the train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anon789561 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 i think it's fairly obvious that it's aimed predominantly at thai weekend tourists and day trippers and not foreigners 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrik Andersen Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 3 hours ago, webfact said: Pattaya News reported that the three carriage train with 64 seats per carriage was fully booked until near the end of March. Meaby that's why no tourists Thai people can book in advance same with long distance busses tourists can't wake up Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 3 hours ago, ezflip said: Maybe this is why no foreign tourist took the train... Why would a tourist wake up at 5:30-6:00am for a train when they are on vacation? Offer the same deal for a 11:00am schedule and they might be tempted. And if they did, would their girl for the night accept a discount ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 4 hours ago, johng said: Domestic Thai Tourists ? the foreigners probably have no idea the service even exists. Thais who file income tax returns can write off the entire trip including hotel (up to Bt15,000?). Foreigners obviously don't get a tax break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamyai3 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 4 hours ago, ezflip said: Maybe this is why no foreign tourist took the train... Why would a tourist wake up at 5:30-6:00am for a train when they are on vacation? Offer the same deal for a 11:00am schedule and they might be tempted. I for one won't be hurtling down to Hualamphong at that time of day, hoping to get a seat on the Sphincter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natway09 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 If SRT had any brains there would have been 2 trains a day 20 years ago with feeder mini buses available at least at the Pattaya end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkok Barry Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 4 hours ago, alex8912 said: And then when you get to your hotel you can check in right away! With the current train you would have to sleep in the lobby several hours. Very stupid time table imo. That means thinking ahead, which isn't something the Thais do. But it does underline that this service is clearly aimed at Thai tourists, of which there are many, and it would not seem strange to them to get up before dawn for a jaunt to the seaside. They'll nap on the train and probably when they arrive too, and then get the train back the same day. us. No hotel involved. Meanwhile, instead of taking the one train a day that dumps you in no-mans land, foreigners will continue to take the far more frequent and very convenient bus. And this. They are claiming that the train is already booked up for the rest of this month. Do you think it might then have occurred to them that that might mean they need to run more than one train a day? Nah. That's joined up thinking, also something the Thais don't do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryasimight Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 5 hours ago, essox essox said: how can IT BE A SUCCESS when the whole idea of this service was to provide transport for TOURISTS ....NOT THAIS !! The Thais were tourists. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overherebc Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 5 hours ago, johng said: There's plenty of Thai Tourists that descend from BKK every weekend...clogging up the roads The train should run every couple of hours say from 6am -7pm each way every day...then it would start to be a viable alternative to mini bus or bringing their cars. Lose face by travelling in the company of people who don't own a car and leave your car at home where no-one can see it ???? Especially if your car has a red plate.!!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balo Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Ehhhh, maybe they should inform foreigners first that this new line exist ? I have not seen it mentioned in any English news , including BKK Post. Now that I know about it , I wonder if I could take this train from Pattaya one way ? Instead of the bus . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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