Subway V Skytrain

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Well I've used both, and although the Subway is useful and has it's good points - the skytrain is for me, here's why...

I LIKE THE SKYTRAIN BECAUSE...

You can see where you are going.

It feels safer and less claustrophobic.

The tickets are nice.

The windows are triangular.

I like the plastic yellow seats that look like cheese because of the little freckles.

You can see through the advertising which is really clever 'cause it's full of little holes.

There are good shops at the stations that sell clothes, DVD's, green tea - one hardly needs to change trains for MBK after a browse at Chit Lom or Phrom Phong.

One of the drivers announces the upcoming stations in a really funny camp voice that isn't intentional. The funniest by far has got to be Ratchethewi, pronnounced... "Ratchathewi" but in a funny, camp way.

It looks really beautiful at sunset, especially in those few seconds where you see it shillouetted sliding into Victory Monument with a huge picture of HRH on his throne behind it - *See the short, 'Please Stand For The King' bit prior to any movie at any Major cineplex.

The concrete cradle provides shelter for traffic.

There's a station near me.

It's fast and doesn't stop in traffic for 30 minutes without shifting an inch.

I DON'T LIKE...

The ear peircing Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep as the doors close.

The fact that the trains are one third a length of the platforms and yet passengers have to stand during rush hour.

I hate running up the escalator just as one is pulling away but that's just bad timing, and I don't like the fact that the platforms aren't aircon but that's almost impossible to achieve.

I don't like waiting to get to my destination, especially if I don't have a newspaper or my personal stereo on me.

THE SUBWAY IS OKAY I SUPPOSE, BECAUSE...

It's also fast, maybe faster, I can't tell 'cause I can't see a fukcing thing.

You can use the underpass at Sukhamvit as a free way of avoiding that dangerous road crossing to get to Soi Cowboy from BTS Asok. I was actually going to the new fish & chip shop at The Ship Inn, but if I ever did fancy going to Soi Cowboy then I no longer have to play chicken with the traffic to get there.

It's currently only 10 bht.

The glass and steel outdoor openings look nice.

It reminds me of Singapore.

I've no problem with white and dark yellow on navy blue - it's a nice colour scheme, it works for me.

BUT I PREFER THE SKYTRAIN BECAUSE...

The subway's logo is <deleted>, and I mean <deleted>, it's absoloutely dire.

The blue and grey routemap inside the train is a little bland.

It's a litte claustrophobic and the Thai's agree with this.

Were there ever a terrorist attack, and let's face it, it would be a favourable target, then we'd all be arriving at Shit Creek.

The seats are a blue version of the skytrains.

The stations are announced in an irritating Thai/American accent; for example, "The next like, station is like, - Chatuckak".

I have to take the skytrain to get to the subway.

There are no self service ticket machines and sometimes you have to que to buy a ticket - well it's actually a small, black, plastic coin which is ok I suppose, I don't mind those but then again I haven't lost one.

I can't use my mobile on the subway to tell somebody that I'm on my way... They may think that I don't want to speak to them and make alternative arrangements.

The stations have little character unlike some of the stations on the London Underground.

In fact, guess what? From Bang Sue, the first eight stations are colour coded with a strip and then they run out of primary and secondary colours and just forget the idea - that tickled me that did.

For 3.5 billion bht, the subway has done virtually sod all for traffic and it needs to be at least a third of the size of the London Underground before it does.

What do you lot think?

[yingisagirl2004]

I'm the one use both service, but most i have used Skytrain every morning for go to work at Sukumvit.

I prefer Skytrain coz the station is near my house (Taksin Station).

Some day in the evening, i use Subway when am going to fitness (at Silom)...Ohh This station , Escalator very very high , long .... Have to hold the railing tight.

I think , Subway faster than Skytrain when i want to go to Silom.

It looks really beautiful at sunset, especially in those few seconds where you see it shillouetted sliding into Victory Monument with a huge picture of HRH on his throne behind it - *See the short, 'Please Stand For The King' bit prior to any movie at any Major cineplex.

Aha i agree with u ja,,, it's nice view.

I can't use my mobile on the subway to tell somebody that I'm on my way...  They may think that I don't want to speak to them and make alternative arrangements.

Hmm, don't worry when u get off u can call back and explain them na ja., hehe!

Enjoy both Skytrain and Subway na ja.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Well thanks for the reply Yingi, I had expected more but there you go.

Anyway, another thing worth mentioning is what Martin said in a post on the News Clippings forum and that is that Bangkok will never solve it's traffic problem until it does what Singapore did and marries a really good bus service, and rations car use* by having a ruthlessly high toll to pay for anyone who wants to drive a car into the capital - they did a similar thing in London.

In Singapore, if you want the status symbol of your own car or pickup, then you can danmed well well pay the full economic cost to society for having one.

It works for them... And why should we have to suffer just because loads of people want to show that they are richer than the next man/woman.

*Except taxis.

[12call]

Well thanks for the reply Yingi, I had expected more but there you go.

U always do Scamp.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Well thanks for the reply Yingi, I had expected more but there you go.

U always do Scamp.

Well I do from you mate, I usually get a smiley drinking Guinness.

[12call]

Sorry Mate,it's early.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Retracted.

[ovenman]

The fact that the trains are one third a length of the platforms and yet passengers have to stand during rush hour.

Seems like there is enough ridership on the Skytrain now that they should run four or five car trains, especially at the peak times. I wonder whether it's just a case of the BTS not having enough of the "middle" style carriages available to lengthen the individual trains. As you say, the station platforms are certainly long enough!

I've haven't had the opportunity to use the subway yet but I'll be in Bangkok next weekend and will be sure to check it out.

It's too bad that the two systems do not interconnect better. This lack of coordination is actually worse in Kuala Lumpur though, as they have four transit systems that do not interconnect: KTM Komuter, Star LRT, Putra LRT, Monorail.

[regpye]

I wish I had taken many photos of the sky-train when I was there last, I have told so many people about it, but not got any good photos.

I will take care of that next time, and get some of the subway too.

I live in an old railway town, and the people here are all keen on trains, so it makes a really interesting subject.

I have to give a speech on the 28th, gee how I wish I had some shots now.

Cheers,

Reg

[Up2U]

:Some day in the evening, i use Subway when am going to fitness (at Silom)...Ohh This station , Escalator very very high , long .... Have to hold the railing tight.

Surely you can save on the fitness centre - run up the escalator -

Better yet - run up the down-escalator

[simon43]

I like them both

I can use the new subway to go from my apartment in Silom to Fortune Town (Greg at Sunbelt), without having to drive my car (Simon43 + car + Thai police = £££££)

I can use the Skytrain to visit my new cafe in Sukhumvit without having to drive my car (Cafe opening soon!! Free work permit with every coffee...)

I like my car because .. er ... nope! Can't think of any reason

[Axel]

I can use the Skytrain to visit my new cafe in Sukhumvit without having to drive my car

Seems there are alternatives.

Somebody told me the Skytrain originally was only good for Farangs moving between Patpong and Soi Cowboy....

[yingisagirl2004]

:Some day in the evening, i use Subway when am going to fitness (at Silom)...Ohh This station , Escalator very very high , long .... Have to hold the railing tight.

Surely you can save on the fitness centre - run up the escalator -

Better yet - run up the down-escalator

aha thank you

[ASIC]

I don't like the subway... It reminds me of Singapore.

And see the prices? Horrendous!

ASIC

[Bangkok Barry]

In my so far limited view of the BKK subway, it's a mirror image of the one in Taipei, even more than Singapore.

The skytrain has needed longer trains for a while now. Sometimes I can't get a seat even at the first station (I start at On Nut). I guess it's a question of finance to buy the rolling stock. BTS is struggling to pay the construction debt, isn't it? And yet they don't want to sell to the government.

I noticed, by the way, that outside of the rush hours, some time ago they reduced the frequency of the trains. At On Nut as soon as one train left the station another arrived on the other platform, ready to turn around. Now there is often a gap of several minutes with no train in sight. Not a big deal when one can wait 10-15 minutes between trains in London, but why reduce the service when more people are using it.

And when are they going to start extending the lines??? All they do is talk, while hundreds pile off the trains at On Nut when most of them want to go further.

It will be years yet before the skytrain and subway (no, sorry, I'm a Brit, the underground) is extended far enough to the suburbs so people want to use it instead of their car.

[cobra]

Somebody told me the Skytrain originally was only good for Farangs moving between Patpong and Soi Cowboy....

( ... I knew it !! so It does go to other places !! ...)

[Kwai]

I like the subway cause it is new and different. I'm bloody sick of the skytrain. Can you dig?

[Jeff Jarvis]

The girls are prettier on the Skytrain.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

I like the subway cause it is new and different. I'm bloody sick of the skytrain. Can you dig?

How can you be sick of the Skytrain? That would be like being sick of Bangkok.

[Lioneric]

Did anybody see there is a board in the subway saying thanks to Japanese Bank for their loans and now I know why it can charge only 10Bt because of low interest rates!! Good relationship and keep borrowing.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Did anybody see there is a board in the subway saying thanks to Japanese Bank for their loans and now I know why it can charge only 10Bt because of low interest rates!! Good relationship and keep borrowing.

Yeah I saw that - Cor blimey, I thought Thailand didn't owe no money to no one!!!