Any Direct Bus To The Northern Bus Terminal ?

[healthcaretaker]

Anyone know ?

Thank you.

[halljimbo]

From where exactly?

[elliss]

yes ,

[moe666]

I would assume from the airport since that is the forum he posted in but he is asking a lot of TV posters since most are not mind readers.

[sbk]

This guy has a pretty good blog on it

http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/2008/04/buses-of-suvarnabhumi-airport-and.html

[lomatopo]

Not sure there's a single, direct bus? I tried the BMTA site . The 517 seems to go almost all the way, Lat Krabang - Mor Chit.

There may be minivan service available, either in the airport or the bus terminal?

There is a bus from the airport to Rangsit, and most buses ex- Mor Chit stop there (there is is also a small terminal between Mor Chit and Rangsit where buses I've been on stop). So in theory you could go to Rangsit, then try to flag down your bus?

Maybe better to take a taxi, if you have a lot of bags and are time constrained. It's all tollway/highway so pretty easy and fast, most times. Maybe 300 baht all in.

[healthcaretaker]

Sorry, I missed out in my title.

Yes, I mean from Su Airport. I searched the airport transport but no mention of any bus to Morchit, although there is one for the Southern Bus terminal.

[Lakegeneve]

I don't believe that there is any direct service bus service but there may be an infrequent van service - I really don't know. I would not travel via Rangsit.

However, you could take the 551 bus or 551 van from the Transport Center to Vcitory Monument (van is much quicker - 20 mins). (The 551 bus and van terminate at the NE corner of Victory). It would be quicker to catch the airport line CityLine to Phaya Thai then transfer to the BTS to Victory, exit on the north side of the station and walk the elevated pedestrian link all the way around to the end (NW corner).

Then catch the 77 bus (orange bus) from the NW corner of Victory which terminates at Mo Chit 2 bus terminal.

One of the new Metrobus (new white buses with fixed fare) routes also runs between Victory and Mo Chit but I have no idea of the number.

[mrdome]

Another vote for the 551 *van* from the transportation center to Victory Monument (and then take bus # 77). It is very fast and only 40 baht.

[lomatopo]

I often wonder if the people who make recommendations have actually ever taken their own advice? Or do they just look at maps and tell people what they can do?

The 551 mini-van at the Transportation Center at Suvarnabhumi is indeed 40 baht. You have to wait until the van is full before it will leave, today it took 20 minutes for me. There is no room for luggage. Our driver today appeared to be a frustrated F1 driver, rivaling some back markers from yesterdays race a Spa! Rarely did we dip below 130 Kph, perhaps enabled by his expert drafting (following a vehicle by no more than 10 m).

Anyway we arrived sort of near Victory Monument (north, ~ 500 m), had to exit in the middle of a big traffic jam and make our way towards the VM circle over a typical Bangkok footpath (gutted, uneven, narrow, puddles). To get to the 77 bus you'll surmount a very high set of stairs, narrow and crowded, then back down on the other side, find the 77 bus, then wait for it to depart. It took ~ 30 minutes to get near the Northern Bus Station, and we got bumped ~ 1 km from the actual station. All in it was close to 90 minutes before I made it to the station from Suvarnabhumi. I can't imagine trying to do this with even a minimal complement of luggage (26" roll-a-board and briefcase); luckily it wasn't raining.

I took a motorcy back to Mor Chit BTS (50 baht; 5 minutes) then the BTS back home.

[Lakegeneve]

I often wonder if the people who make recommendations have actually ever taken their own advice? Or do they just look at maps and tell people what they can do? The 551 mini-van at the Transportation Center at Suvarnabhumi is indeed 40 baht. You have to wait until the van is full before it will leave, today it took 20 minutes for me. There is no room for luggage. Our driver today appeared to be a frustrated F1 driver, rivaling some back markers from yesterdays race a Spa! Rarely did we dip below 130 Kph, perhaps enabled by his expert drafting (following a vehicle by no more than 10 m).

Can't speak for others but they advice I gave is based on the experience of having taken both (at seperate times).

Yes with all vans in BKK you have to wait until they are full. However, for most that is offset by the fact it usually takes at least half the time than the same bus route and they are guaranteed a comfy seat.. There is room for small luggage if you sit in the front row, plenty of Thais do this. You have have a large bag then obviously the bus is the more spacious option. Some people pay for a 2nd seat for their large bag on the van, which is also an option.

Crazy and unsafe drivers! I have the impression that you have been in BKK long enough to know that whatever form of public or private transport you take they exist everywhere. The question for most farangs is do they break the 'cultural silence' of the Thai pax (all of whom wish the driver would slow down but don't wish to upset the driver by saying something) and ask the driver to slow down - assuoing one can speak Thai! You can always report the driver post trip to the BMTA if you have the time and want the hassle.

Anyway we arrived sort of near Victory Monument (north, ~ 500 m), had to exit in the middle of a big traffic jam and make our way towards the VM circle over a typical Bangkok footpath (gutted, uneven, narrow, puddles).

The vans take the off ramp from the expressway which exits into south bound lane of Phahonyothin on the north side of Victory (less than 100m north). Traffic is usually heavy on Phahonyothin heading south into Victory so exiting traffic from the expressway usually backs up on the ramp and has to wait a while. It would be no different if you were in a taxi. You can either wait in the van which will terminate at Victory or exit as many people do and walk for a few mins down the exit ramp then towards Victory. However, 500m would put you on the expressway proper so it seems this distance is an exaggeration?

To get to the 77 bus you'll surmount a very high set of stairs, narrow and crowded, then back down on the other side, find the 77 bus, then wait for it to depart.

If you exited on the ramp, you could have just crossed Phahonyothin road rather than take the stairs, especially without luggage, given most of the traffic is usually stopped waiting for the lights. Or from the end of the exit ramp, cut diagonally across the road to the right where there is a gated U-Turn area right (motrobikes U turn here and people cross here) under the expressway for those with luggage and a bus stop just 50 m north (for all northbound buses) which saves the hassle of 'finding your bus' at Victory.

Of course the safer option is to take the van to where it terminates on the NE side and then use the BTS pedestrian link to cross to the NE side. All are possible options but Victory Monument is always a bit chaotic being the main transport interchange in inner city BKK. Try walking the whole length of the BTS pedestrian link during peak hour!

It took ~ 30 minutes to get near the Northern Bus Station, and we got bumped ~ 1 km from the actual station. All in it was close to 90 minutes before I made it to the station from Suvarnabhumi. I can't imagine trying to do this with even a minimal complement of luggage (26" roll-a-board and briefcase); luckily it wasn't raining.

I took a motorcy back to Mor Chit BTS (50 baht; 5 minutes) then the BTS back home.

Bummer you got bumped off the bus, the vageries of buses in BKK! As with any first journey anywhere in the world - but especially in traffic gridlocked, dysfunctional BKK - lessons are learnt and easier paths are discovered for the next time.

The OP asked about direct buses from the airport to Mo Chit. Clearly a taxi all the way along the expressway is the easiest (though even with this option one can spend 20 mins goin the last km or so from the expressway exit at Kamphaeng Phet rd to the bus station if it is at one of the peak times).

It appears there are no direct buses, so the 551 (van or bus) & 77 combo are ok but the Airport Link>BTS>77 combo will be quicker and less hassle overall. You save a lot of time with the Airport LInk by not travelling to the Transport Centre at the Airport.

With luggage perhaps the easiest is just to take the Airport Link>BTS to BTS Mo Chit and then taxi (or 77) the last 1km to Mo Chit 2 (bus station).

[krading]

As mentioned earlier taxi is the way to go unless you just want to experience thai bus services for something to write about in your blog.

And while we're talking about Mor Chit, can anybody remember the escalator down to the north-east buses ever working?

My missus can't.

[lomatopo]

As mentioned earlier taxi is the way to go unless you just want to experience thai bus services for something to write about in your blog.

And while we're talking about Mor Chit, can anybody remember the escalator down to the north-east buses ever working?

My missus can't.

Can you imagine carrying bags down to street level after arriving at Mor Chit BTS station? Assuming you could even get on a crowded northbound BTS train at Phaya Thai after having arrived on the SARL City Line train. Down the first looooong set of stairs from the platform, trying to get through the ticket gate, then the down an even longer, narrower set of stairs to Pahon Yothin road, where you can brave making a running jump to get on the 77 bus, which may slow or even stop, or to get a taxi which because of the routing may take 30 minutes as you wind your way north, west and then south past the bus station and make a u-turn on Khampeng Phet back to the bus station. Wow. Amazing what people will suggest to potentially neophyte travelers. Almost as precious as suggesting someone cross Phahon Yothin Road at VM on the street level with luggage. I assume they built the stairs and overhead walkway to cut down on the pedestrian fatalities.

Actually one set of escalators are usually working: to the left: never working, to the right: almost always working but most people don't see them from the enclosed overhead walkway from the main part of the bus terminal (upper/departures and ticketing level).

All the times (~ 20) I've taken a taxi to Mor Chit, it has taken 5 minutes at most to get from the tollway exit to the station, even during the pre-Songkhran crush. And you get dropped off at the station on the upper level under a roof.

Lastly I did exaggerate the distance I walked after exiting the minivan near VM. I just measured it on my Bangkok map (PC/MapMagic) and it was 384 meters.

[Lakegeneve]

As mentioned earlier taxi is the way to go unless you just want to experience thai bus services for something to write about in your blog.

And while we're talking about Mor Chit, can anybody remember the escalator down to the north-east buses ever working?

My missus can't.

Can you imagine carrying bags down to street level after arriving at Mor Chit BTS station? Assuming you could even get on a crowded northbound BTS train at Phaya Thai after having arrived on the SARL City Line train. Down the first looooong set of stairs from the platform, trying to get through the ticket gate, then the down an even longer, narrower set of stairs to Pahon Yothin road, where you can brave making a running jump to get on the 77 bus, which may slow or even stop, or to get a taxi which because of the routing may take 30 minutes as you wind your way north, west and then south past the bus station and make a u-turn on Khampeng Phet back to the bus station. Wow. Amazing what people will suggest to potentially neophyte travelers. Almost as precious as suggesting someone cross Phahon Yothin Road at VM on the street level with luggage. I assume they built the stairs and overhead walkway to cut down on the pedestrian fatalities.

Actually one set of escalators are usually working: to the left: never working, to the right: almost always working but most people don't see them from the enclosed overhead walkway from the main part of the bus terminal (upper/departures and ticketing level).

All the times (~ 20) I've taken a taxi to Mor Chit, it has taken 5 minutes at most to get from the tollway exit to the station, even during the pre-Songkhran crush. And you get dropped off at the station on the upper level under a roof.

Lastly I did exaggerate the distance I walked after exiting the minivan near VM. I just measured it on my Bangkok map (PC/MapMagic) and it was 384 meters.

Is krading referring to the down escalators on the northside of the level 2 overpass at Mo Chit Bus Terminal which have not worked in years?

However, at the BTS Mo Chit station the NW escalators go up in the morning and down in the afternoon/evening. I can imagine taking luggage down those stairs, many people do just that carrying bags up and down those stairs given the proximity to Chatujak markets. Is there also not lifts located there (not that it is easy to access them) ? But more on the stairs issue later....

Firstly, your giving some incorrect info here which is unfortunate. Pls check before posting especially as you rightly asked about people posting information not gained by experience and direct knowledge!

The 77 bus DOES NOT pass Phaya Thai station at all and Phaya Thai station is not located on Phahon Yothin road, it is on Phaya Thai road - hence the name!

The 77bus does not travel along Phaya Thai road when heading north to Victory - it enters Victory from Ratchawithi road the truns right heading north where Phahon Yothin starts.

[Lakegeneve]

Secondly, I don't really understand your point on footpaths, stairs etc. For whatever reason the OP asked about taking a bus from the Airport to Mo Chit 2. Now, 95% of people would probably take a taxi but the OP asked Different advice and options were suggested from various posters (one suggested to travel via Rangsit!). Personally, I would not take a bus to travel the final leg to Mo Chit 2 but it is possible. You tried one option which took 90 mins (which is not too bad) and didn't like your journey, fair enough. On another day you may try another variation which is better for that journey. But you seem frustrated at factors that are beyond your control and any reasonable person needs to expect when travelling such as encountering stairs. Cross a main road in BKK, one has to climb high stairs to access the overpass!

What I don't understand is what your expecting by taking public transport? All who do usually encounter some minor problem or inconvenience, especially in BKK where there is a lack of intergration. Could you pls clarify what you expect? If you want an easy transfer to/from the Airport don't take public transport, take a taxi or limo.

Most people with luggage do not want to undertstandably endure such hassles so they take a taxi. However, even with a taxi there can be problems. Go the wrong way, be dropped off the opposite side to your intended destination and thus have to cross a road, have an accident, be ripped off etc. Who does not have a horror taxi story in BKK???? (Or take a limo taxi if you want someone to carry your bags door to door). Anyone driving this afternoon in BKK after the rains would have experienced a frustrating slow journey.

The main thing is that people have a choice of various options and routes reflective of their priortities based on cost, weather conditions, luggage, travel time, no of pax, if they are tired or not, etc, etc.

Regarding using stairs and footpaths to/from metro stations, is this not what everyone encounters all over the world if they take public transport? I don't know if you have every taken an Airport train & metro in say Paris, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Tokyo or Seoul (to name but a few) but they all will involve negotiating stairs and in some places constrained walkways for those with luggage! I have many times in all of those cities. One can be especially frustrated in London or Paris dealing with the stairs at nearly all older stations, especially when interchanging between Tube/metros lines. How much of the metro network in those listed cities are compliant with EU disability access regulations? Very little. Even in HK with the fantastic Airport Line and where interchange & connections are nearly seamless I still need to climb 3 flights of stairs stairs at my final station on the Island Line in order to exit. In fact, I cannot think of one city in the world which has a completely easy path for those with luggage if your taking a metro. And what about walking on most stone lanes/footpaths in a european city to your hotel/place or residence? Not usually easy by any means.

So why should it be any easy in BKK? The 3 metro systems (BTS, MRT & SRT ARL) are more modern and spacious in some respects but there are more difficult areas to negotiate in BKK such as at street level. You will find stairs, you will negotiate terrible footpaths (if there even is one), be blocked by stalls and vendors and have hassles connecting to another service. (As a note it is worth mentioning that the number of escalators at BTS stations when the system opened in Dec 99 was about 70% of what exists today).

We have previously agreed that the exiting options from the Airport Line stations are poor (no down escalators) but the description you gave for Phaya Thai is incorrect. There is a lift from the platform level to the concourse, exit the ticket barriers and you then walk direct at concourse level to the BTS station, take na escalator up and your on the platform (which is rarely crowded). Of course there are teething problems but really it is very easy , I don't see the problem! (At least it is in place there as I previously reminded everyone that the MRT/BTS interchanges at Suk & Silom opened 1yr & 2yrs respectively after the MRT opened).

All info in all threads is advice or suggestions. People are usually able to make their own decisions, take it or leave it. They learn from it and they can then advise others. Do you want a disclaimer like the one in LP guides? But why do you expect not to encounter stairs or footpaths or factors beyond anyones control such as suddenly terminating buses or poorly planned access routes to Mo Chit 2? Have you never had a flight delayed or cancelled? Ever transferred at LHR?

As bad as BKK is it is generally much better than say travelling in HCMC, Jakarta or Mumbai whatever one means one uses.

Travelling to Mo Chit 2 can be a pain whatever form of transport one takes but just wait until the Northern/NE Bus terminal is moved in a few years out to Vihavadi road past Don Mueang!

[Lakegeneve]

Lastly I did exaggerate the distance I walked after exiting the minivan near VM. I just measured it on my Bangkok map (PC/MapMagic) and it was 384 meters.

The main point here - as I stated in my original response - was that you CHOSE to exit the van and walk at the location you did. Whether it was a van, a taxi an airport bus or a gold coloured limo, you CHOSE to exit walk the extra distance to the bus stop. You could have waited the extra time until you were closer. Traffic was jammed which everyone experienced regardless of what type of vehicle they were travelling in.

Almost daily in BKK, I jump out of a taxi when stuck in traffic and walk the extra distance. I CHOSE that my time is more precious to me than wasting it in the back of a taxi going nowhere. What is the big deal?

That is why we need more mass transit and better transport planning in BKK.

[elliss]

outside entrance hall at the airport

the free white shuttle bus , will take you to the bus station @ swampy in 10 mins.

from here you can take a bus to mochit , 50bht .

the journey can take up to 2 hrs , depending on the traffic .

at mochit , there are many buses , going many somewhere north . :jap: