Travel through Bangkok

[factseeker]

HI,

I usually fly into BKK and then catch the overnight sleeper up to Chiang Mai from Hua Lamphong station.

Has anyone information on the location of problems in Bangkok - will I be able to get from the Airport to Station without 'running the gauntlet' and into trouble??

Hope to hear.

Best Rgds.

[Ajaan]

Airport Link to Makkasan, MRT from Pechburi to Hualamphong. Very simple.

[craigt3365]

What day are you doing this? A few days ago several reports were out of trains full of protesters and long lines to get into the stations.

[bkkjames]

What day are you doing this? A few days ago several reports were out of trains full of protesters and long lines to get into the stations.

I think he means running the gauntlet of the protest sites.

The BTS is packed everyday during rush hour anyway. Long lines are the norm.

[Ricardo]

There were temporary station-closures, on the line North out of Hualampong yesterday, but the OP doesn't say when they're travelling ?

Might be wiser to get a flight direct Swampy-CNX, if its today or in the next couple-of-days ?

[asanee]

YESterday there were clashes and shooting at the Laksi khet-which sits right beside the tracks near laksi-and thus all trains north were cancelled untill cleared.

Also: only attempt this when you have a def. booking-it seems ticket scalping is now very alive for northern trains.

MRT has strict luggage checks.

[SantiSuk]

Get a taxi and go by 'highway'. I had no problem getting around Bangkok by (overhead) highway and (overhead) BTS last week even though we went over the top of two different marches by Suthep and his protest group to rally sites in Asoke on Thursday and Lad Phrao on Friday.

The present format is reasonably non-threatening. Walked out of my condo in On Nut on Thursday morning and there was Suthep and thousands of yellow shirts in the road outside. Bit of a scrum to get to the BTS station through the onlookers and TV crews, but everyone was in good spirits and nobody showed any interest in a falang in business kit (well smart casual!) trying to go about his normal business.

All bets are off if and when either the military or the judiciary stage a coup on behalf of the elite and the Red shirts come to town. Could civil war stage 1.

[factseeker]

There were temporary station-closures, on the line North out of Hualampong yesterday, but the OP doesn't say when they're travelling ?

Might be wiser to get a flight direct Swampy-CNX, if its today or in the next couple-of-days ?

Ok got the picture.

I'll fly direct to CNX - better that way especially as I will have my hands full of luggage and no one to 'ride shotgun'. ;o))

Seriously though - thnxs and looking forward to getting back.

Best Rgds.

FS.