Shipping a bike from Lampang to Surat

[jamhar]

Wanted to bring my click with me. yes i could have sold it and bought one in surat but whats the fun it that? 555 There is a lot of confusion out there, both in TV and in RL. This is what i found

1) Post Office. 3200baht shipping, 220 packing, 7 days for shipping, need greenbook and passport for pickup.

2) Nimseesing. 3200bahd shipping, 500 packing, 4 days for shipping. they implied to your shipping address. Did not specify needing passport or greenbook for delivery, but i assume so.

3) Green Bus - (the only direct bus from Lampang to Surat) They assured me they could do it. Website states 10baht/kilo making the shipping about 1020baht. Catch - you have to ship it from the bus originating point. Meaning I would first have to ride my bike to CM to ship. Second catch - looking at the cargo hold, it does not look like it will fit upright, on its wheels. I just see a clusterf*ck of a situation when i show up with the bike.

4) Train - 814baht for the bike, and 724baht for me in a second class sleeper to bkk. Repeat for bkk to surat. SOLD. They asked for my passport and greenbook as documentation.

#1 is the least risk method i thought initially. But i wanted to travel with my bike so i opted for option 4. I must say this was one of the best road trips EVER!

On traveling day,

a)I went to the train station at noon, bought my sleeper ticket. (When buying the ticket, make sure they understand that you will want to transport your motorbike on the same train. They will then tell you which trains are available. I get the feeling not all trains can accommodate Motorbikes.)

then went to the shipping office and arranged for space to be available for my bike. I showed them my sleeper ticket and that i wanted to ship my bike on the same train. She had received a call from the ticket agent and was warned. She asked for my greenbook, which i brought with me. She then said that she would call CM and make sure there is space for my bike on that train. I was to arrive 1 hr early.

c) Arrived one hr early, she took the info, filled out a shipping form, charged me 814baht and took the bike. Done.

d) Arrived in bkk, took the bike from the unloader. was told to take it to near Track 10 to a "scales" booth for shipping arrangements to Surat. (it was easy to find)

e) At the booth, the guy told me to get a ticket to Surat, then come back for the shipping arrangements. PS, There were MULTIPLE bikes near the booth staged to be shipped in the the same manor to different destinations.

f) Got my ticket, Told the agent that i was taking my motorbike with me (same situation as in Lampang), She the told me the list of trains I could take. Chose the one that arrived at 8AM, (another sleeper).

g) Got to Lampang Easy Peasy! ONE of the BEST ROAD TRIPs EVER!

i'm only describing the transporting of the bike. It took 4 days of multiple trips from Lampang to CM and asking everyone in both cities how to transport my bike. Of course, if i spoke Thai, this would probably been MUCH EASIER! but wheres the fun in that? 55555

Last note, the train took about 15 hrs longer than a direct route by bus, but the Sleeper Train is SO much more comfortable! They even has an outlet to charge your mobile or plug in your laptop. (PS take a 2 prong power strip with you on the train. those outlets are pretty popular!)

The train is highly recommended, if you can absorb the travel time, and its limited destination options.

Just an FYI and have fun on your travels in Thailand!

Edited October 19, 2014 by jamhar

[Seligne2]

Excellent info!

[daveAustin]

Well done. Personally, unless I had a ton of stuff, I would have ridden the thing down. But have used the postal method many times up and down the country. Very reliable and easy. But then you have to wait for it of course and not as much fun as training it and riding the bike away the other end.