Tunnel Charges

[onemorechang]

Been reported that the new Tunnel on Sukhumvet

will be a Toll Tunnel, minimum charge of 20 baht, for a one way journey, 15 baht for Thais and commercial traffic, a discount season type ticket will be available at BTS stations at a flat rate for all or bought online. (no dual pricing) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How nice. I assume motorbikes are free, but who knows with this type of nonsense .

This is not a step in the right direction, look at all the congestion this tunnel has caused drivers so far, now we are going to have to pay for the privilege of sitting in a traffic jam for 3 years !!!!!!! what !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also charges will be leveed until the tunnel is paid for. How long will that be !!!!!!!

Can you imagine the amount of traffic that will be trying to get down the two roads

Parallel to the Sukhumvet by the train tracks, trying to avoid the charges of the tunnel !!!!!

This will just be hell on earth , for people living on the dark side trying to get into town all day long.

Amazing Pattaya

[Crossy]

I don't have any direct involvement with this project, but the BTS connection suggests that it will be operated by KT who operate the Bangkok BRT and parts of the BTS.

If this is true then revenue collection will be by BSS meaning your Rabbit card should be usable

Of course Rabbit has no outlets outside BKK, at least yet.

[BigBadGeordie]

I feel that this charging system is justified to recover the investment costs. Give the fact that I can buy an annual ticket on line at reduced cost, seems fair to me.

Just one question (I don't think this has been fully thought thru), is the ticket for the vehicle or the driver? Will I need 2 annual passes, at different rates, 1 for when I drive and one for when my Thai wife drives?

I am also pleased to see that they have not followed the 10x dual pricing model, a 5 Baht surcharge for farangs appears reasonable to me.

[bgrassboy]

Sounds like a good plan, especially since we luxury tourists like to show off our wealth by always paying more than the poor Thai people. Good way to check on the visas of those tourists to see if they are on overstay too.

[overherebc]

Sounds like a good plan, especially since we luxury tourists like to show off our wealth by always paying more than the poor Thai people. Good way to check on the visas of those tourists to see if they are on overstay too.

What about those of us who don't want to pay that much or really can't afford it. Is there a way to drive to get around the tunnel somehow ?

[Pattaya28]

Flat rate no dual pricing. 20 Baht flat rate Thais 15 Baht

Having to pay a toll would slow traffic, not speed it up.

[brewsterbudgen]

How else should it be paid for? Tolls are fair as only those using it have to pay.

[steve187]

If the vehicle is pushed or pulled through the barrier it is free, slows things up, but cuts down on polution and noise

[NanLaew]

Sounds like a good plan, especially since we luxury tourists like to show off our wealth by always paying more than the poor Thai people. Good way to check on the visas of those tourists to see if they are on overstay too.

What about those of us who don't want to pay that much or really can't afford it. Is there a way to drive to get around the tunnel somehow ?

They have though about this and there will be separate 'walking/pushing' lanes for those unable or unwilling to pay. Note that this is totally different from the 'walk/push' option at the toll gate ONLY (see steve187's earlier post). The above mentioned lane is solely for 100% end-to-end, walk/push drivers.

The downside for this flexibility is the additional lanes required will require additional tunneling which will add about 12 months per-lane to the construction time with a commensurate increase in the toll fees.

[CGW]

Given that there are still two more tunnels to build it will be about ten years before using the tunnel will actually speed up your journey along Sukhumvit?

[KittenKong]

Anyone who wants the cheap annual ticket option better get a move on.

I got mine at City Hall an hour ago and the queue was pretty long.

[KhunBENQ]

Also starting today: fee for entering Soi 6, 100 Baht.

Gates will be erected at 2nd road and beach road.

[KhunBENQ]

Anyone who wants the cheap annual ticket option better get a move on.

I got mine at City Hall an hour ago and the queue was pretty long.

An important hint!

Hurry up, it's limited sale at special price.

[BigBadGeordie]

Also starting today: fee for entering Soi 6, 100 Baht.

Gates will be erected at 2nd road and beach road.

I understand there are a lot of erections in Soi 6 most days.

So I have been told.

[BigBadGeordie]

Sounds like a good plan, especially since we luxury tourists like to show off our wealth by always paying more than the poor Thai people. Good way to check on the visas of those tourists to see if they are on overstay too.

If they are going to check visas, it would also make sense to be able to do a 90 day report at the toll booth as well. Would save standing in the que at the 7-11.

[Henryford]

You couldn't make this up, the traffic will end up being even slower than before the tunnel.

[WitawatWatawit]

And for those who bypass the tunnel, you'll hit extra traffic lights set on 5 min waiting times, continuing road works reducing lanes to one for the next 20 years (or however long it takes to pay the bill for this white elephant), and lots of police checkpoints 24 hours a day - meaning, USE THE TUNNEL and make us rich, you cheapskate.

Just kidding - they wouldn't do that.

Would they?

[JSixpack]

That troll has certainly got you guys going. Well done.

[onemorechang]

It could be the shape of things to come, you never know !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WitawatWatawit]

That troll has certainly got you guys going. Well done.

It's all true. A guy told me in the bar last night.

[KhunBENQ]

That troll has certainly got you guys going. Well done.

You don't like to feed April fools jokes?

Last years "90 day report at 7/11" will hardly be beaten anytime.

Even months later you found guys that believed in this story.

[Pattaya28]

I had my post edited, or hacked.

[Pattaya28]

Flat rate no dual pricing. 20 Baht flat rate Thais 15 Baht

Having to pay a toll would slow traffic, not speed it up.

This post was edited or hacked

[Pattaya28]

Flat rate no dual pricing. 20 Baht flat rate Thais 15 Baht

Having to pay a toll would slow traffic, not speed it up.

This post was edited or hacked.

No TV rules were broken.

Therefore must be a hacker lurking.

[Oink]

I hear that they are planning to build a bridge over the tunnel so that people from East Pattaya can get in and out of town.

[Seizetheday]

That troll has certainly got you guys going. Well done.

You don't like to feed April fools jokes?

Last years "90 day report at 7/11" will hardly be beaten anytime.

Even months later you found guys that believed in this story.

I thought it was a good one, should have added a 5 Baht charge for animals as well!!

[Rimmer]

Posts spoiling the April First joke for other people have been removed or editied

[TheCruncher]

That troll has certainly got you guys going. Well done.

You don't like to feed April fools jokes?

Last years "90 day report at 7/11" will hardly be beaten anytime.

Even months later you found guys that believed in this story.

Don't be bothered by him, it are just sour grapes from someone who considers himself a forum authority.

[joepattaya1961]

And while the tunnel is flooded, the ticket-holders get a free ferry-ride?