Sky Train Question.

[IanForbes]

I haven't been in Bangkok recently, other than just passing through from the airport. And, despite coming to Thailand for 15 years I've yet to ride the sky train. Can anyone tell me if the sky train comes close to Suvarnabuhm airport? And, does it reach the new (2 year old) south west bus terminal? I know it used to reach the OLD south west terminal within the city, but not the newer one on the way to Kanchanaburi.

Thank you for any reasonable replies.

[whybother]

Check the multitude of threads on the NEW Airport Link. It's not the BTS, but a connection from the airport to Makkasan (Asoke) via the Express, or Phaya Thai BTS station via the City Line slow train.

I'm not sure what you mean by the "new" South West Bus terminal (because I rarely use the buses). But the BTS never went to the "old" south west terminal (actually the "Southern Bus Terminal") in Taling Chan across the river. I didn't even realise it was "old". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok#Bus_service Someone else will have to help you with that.

[Nisa]

There is not a line that goes to that go to the southern bus station. However you can take a bus directly from the airport to the southern terminal. According to the internet it is bus # 556. I think the cost is 35 baht. http://www.bangkokai...ine.com/node/56

Where are you heading from the Southern Terminal? Just asking because there are other bus stations in BKK that are near the subway and sky train that you might be able to use. There are also buses you can catch directly at the airport that go to a number of places. http://www.1stopbang...tting_here/bus/

As far as I understand it the rail link to the airport is not even connected the subway or sky train. You need to get off then do a little walking to get on either and the rail link from the airport runs 100 to 150 baht for the express service.

A taxi from the airport to the bus terminal will probably run 400 to 500 baht.

Also don't forget all the commuter train lines run from 6 AM to Midnight and if you are coming in late this would not even be an option.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Nisa

[whybother]

There is a line that goes to that go to the southern bus station.

Which line?

Where is the "new" southern bus station?

Edited January 19, 2011 by whybother

[random]

The southern bus terminal is well out of the city and there is no rail line that links it or goes anywhere near it (considering it is over the river). You need to get a taxi to this bus terminal.

[Nisa]

There is a line that goes to that go to the southern bus station.

Which line?

Where is the "new" southern bus station?

Sorry a typo. I just corrected saying there is "NO" line going there. The new terminal is not far from the old terminal.

[Nisa]

I'm a little under the weather this morning and missed you did give your destination as Kanchanaburi.

They actually have a bus going there from the Northern Terminal (Mor Chit). The bus takes 4-hours as opposed to the 2 to 3 hours from the Southern Terminal but you can get there via the Sky Train (or subway at Chatuchak exit) if your goal is simply to try out the sky train. I am guessing through you would save considerably time going to the Mor Chit bus terminal from the airport than going to the Southern Terminal

BUT keep in mind the train lines are a bit of a distance from the Mor Chit bus terminal so you would likely want to take a motorcycle taxi (30-baht) or real taxi (45 baht) once you got off the train.

[ignis]

Never used but there is a Bus from Victory Monument BTS Sky Train to the South Terminal.

Some of the buses start in Bangkok at there office, worth checking, next stop is The South Bus Terminal.

As for 'The new terminal is not far from the old terminal' if you walked it would take about 2 hours.

Edited January 19, 2011 by ignis

[Nisa]

As for 'The new terminal is not far from the old terminal' if you walked it would take about 2 hours.

They are about 5 Kilometers away from each other or about 5 minutes difference if going there by bus as opposed to the old terminal.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Nisa

[DP25]

As far as I understand it the rail link to the airport is not even connected the subway or sky train. You need to get off then do a little walking to get on either and the rail link from the airport runs 100 to 150 baht for the express service.

No, it connects directly to Phaya Thai BTS station. It's only the connection to the MRT isn't finished. He can take the airport link to Phaya Thai (non express train) then switch to the BTS and take that to Mo Chit, then go to Mo Chit bus station and get a bus to Kanchanaburi.

It would probably be quicker though to take the airport link to Phaya Thai, then get a taxi the rest of the way to southern terminal and take that bus. The bus from the southern terminal is faster and leaves more often.

Edited January 19, 2011 by DP25

[powderpuff]

My wife always goes to Victory Monument & gets a mini bus to where she is going.

Especially Kanchanaburi

Edited January 19, 2011 by powderpuff

[Nisa]

As far as I understand it the rail link to the airport is not even connected the subway or sky train. You need to get off then do a little walking to get on either and the rail link from the airport runs 100 to 150 baht for the express service.

No, it connects directly to Phaya Thai BTS station. It's only the connection to the MRT isn't finished. He can take the airport link to Phaya Thai (non express train) then switch to the BTS and take that to Mo Chit, then go to Mo Chit bus station and get a bus to Kanchanaburi.

It would probably be quicker though to take the airport link to Phaya Thai, then get a taxi the rest of the way to southern terminal and take that bus. The bus from the southern terminal is faster and leaves more often.

So to be clear .. The Express Airport Train doesn't directly connect to the other lines but the Non-Express does? Also, do you know the time differences? I think I remember the Express being 15-minutes while the other was like 35-minutes. I was considering using the link once and it just seemed too involved especially trying to do it all by the train (MRT / BTS) lines with a suitcase and just figured if I am going to have to get in a taxi to do this then I might as well take the taxi all the way to the airport. I really didn't look too much at the non-express because it really didn't seem like it was going to save all that much (if any) time given everything involved with getting there.

[Nisa]

My wife always goes to Victory Monument & gets a mini bus to where she is going.

Especially Kanchanaburi

I think the OP may simply wants to try the Sky Train and if that is the case maybe he should just go there (Victory Monument) from the Airport then play on the Sky Train and come back to Victory Monument to catch a bus to the Souther Bus Station. He could even buy a 1-stop token for the Sky Train and take it as far as he wants as long as he doesn't leave the Sky Train Terminal before jumping back on the opposite way to return to Victory Monument. I just don't see trying to use the sky train as being helpful given his destinations.

But also important to keep in mind that so many international flights arrive late in the evening and the Sky Train may not even be open. Not sure if it is factual but I remember reading some kind of editorial about the Airport Link and it saying the vast majority of International flights arrive between midnight and 3:00 AM and relating that to the fact the trains don't run past midnight.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Nisa

[Lakegeneve]

As far as I understand it the rail link to the airport is not even connected the subway or sky train. You need to get off then do a little walking to get on either and the rail link from the airport runs 100 to 150 baht for the express service.

No, it connects directly to Phaya Thai BTS station. It's only the connection to the MRT isn't finished. He can take the airport link to Phaya Thai (non express train) then switch to the BTS and take that to Mo Chit, then go to Mo Chit bus station and get a bus to Kanchanaburi.

It would probably be quicker though to take the airport link to Phaya Thai, then get a taxi the rest of the way to southern terminal and take that bus. The bus from the southern terminal is faster and leaves more often.

So to be clear .. The Express Airport Train doesn't directly connect to the other lines but the Non-Express does? Also, do you know the time differences? I think I remember the Express being 15-minutes while the other was like 35-minutes. I was considering using the link once and it just seemed too involved especially trying to do it all by the train (MRT / BTS) lines with a suitcase and just figured if I am going to have to get in a taxi to do this then I might as well take the taxi all the way to the airport. I really didn't look too much at the non-express because it really didn't seem like it was going to save all that much (if any) time given everything involved with getting there.

If you have a trolley suitcase it is very easy to transfer from the BTS Phayathai station (once you descend the stairs) to the ARL Phayathai station. From the MRT Phetchaburi to ARL Makkasan (CAT) it is not so easy but it is also not that difficult if you just have the one case on wheels. More than one suitcase would be a hassle as the pedestrian link between both stations will not be built until the end of the year (if we are lucky).

Both the Express and CityLine run every 15 mins. Timetables and all the info you need can be found on this thread; http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/369458-airport-rail-link-again-sorry/page__pid__4150563__st__125#entry4150563

[Lakegeneve]

My wife always goes to Victory Monument & gets a mini bus to where she is going.

Especially Kanchanaburi

This is the best option. Travelling to the new Southern Bus Terminal located near the Western Outer Ring rd can take a very long time - usually over an hour from central BKK during non-peak. There are regular new mini-vans which run from adjacent to the BTS Victory Monument station - every 30 mins for around 130 baht. They are more comfortable and quicker than the buses and you can be at Nakhon Pathom in the same time it would take you to get to the Southern Bus Terminal. If it is not the late afternoon the vans are normally not full and plenty of space for luggage. I think last van departs around 9pm but it may be 8pm.

One company departs from Century Plaza and the other is just on the north side of the 7/11 with english signs - exit the SE exit of the BTS station down to Phayathai road and a 1 min walk.

I would suggest the taking the CityLine airport train (45 baht) to the end of the line at Phayathai - transfer to the BTS station and go one stop to Victory Monument (15 baht) then exit down to Phayathai road near Century Plaza.

[IanForbes]

Thanks for all the replies. You answered my question. It seems the overhead passenger rail does NOT service the airport or the Southern bus terminal. That is all I really needed to know. I prefer to stay out of the heart of the city where possible. I've come in from Chiang Mai many times using both air terminals...Don Muang and Suvarnabuhm. Don Muang is closer to the southern bus terminal. I usually just hire a taxi to circle around the city on expressways. When I go from the Southern Terminal to Suvarnabuhm airport I take a taxi that bipasses the city on the expressway. Length of time depends on the traffic and time of day. Even though it's farther out of the city, it takes less time to get to Suvarnabuhm from the new Southern bus terminal than the old one that is within the city. Traffic is NEVER good in Bangkok.

There is never any problem getting to or from Kanchanaburi by bus. It always takes 2 to 3 hours depending on the number of stops and the traffic.

I guess I'll just put on hold any attempts to learn the sky train. I'm not really a big city lover and Bangkok is FAR too big for this cowboy. I've done all the touristy things I ever want to do there.

[Lakegeneve]

Thanks for all the replies. You answered my question. It seems the overhead passenger rail does NOT service the airport or the Southern bus terminal. That is all I really needed to know.

IF, I am either misunderstanding your reply or you seem to have missed the fact that BKK airport (not DMK airport) does now have a rail link operated by the SRT (not BTS), it is called the ARL (Airport Rail Link) and has two types of trains; Express (Red) to Makkasan Terminal (CAT - City Air Terminal) or CityLine (Blue) all stations to Phayathai.

See here http://airportrailli...h/en/index.html or read the thread http://www.thaivisa....25#entry4150563

But yes to not serving the airport AND the Southern Bus Terminal.

However, based on what you wrote you seem to prefer flying to DMK so that makes sense for your journey to the Southern Bus terminal and Kan. (I personally would still take a mini-van form Victory but I udnerstand if you wish to avoid the centre of BKK).

Have a good journey.

PS. This is probably the clearest map of the current mass transit network (BTS, MRT, ARL & BRT); http://www.bts.co.th/en/map.asp

Edited January 19, 2011 by Lakegeneve

[IanForbes]

Thanks again, Lakegeneve. I have a pretty good sense of direction, but Bangkok is huge with expressways going in all directions. And, because the city is usually hazy, it is hard to understand which way the light is coming from to get a sense of direction. As it stands now I'm coming to Bangkok via Suvarnabuhm and taking the bus from there to visit golfing buddies in Pattaya. I'll stay a few days and then head for Kanchanaburi. We'll take the bus that circles below the city center and ends up at the southern bus terminal. We kind of changed our plans mid-stream and are not going to Kan first.

As I said, one of these days I'll just come down and take all the railways and sky trains everywhere.