Lakegeneve

This map should make it very clear https://www.livingpop.com/files/metro-map/20220129/LVP-Map2022-C-20220129-English.pdf

You had this mixed up right? Think about it,,,, The answer is yes, though you will have obviously done the trip well before now. Avoid the queues (& surcharge) at the official taxi stand at arrival level by proceeding up to the dep level and grab a taxi that has just dropped off someone. Saves the driver a very long wait (sometimes 1-2 hrs) and you a queue....

There was some bad news around a week before Xmas but I didn't feel in the mood to post it prior to the NY. The BSR announced further delays to both lines opening. This not completely unexpected as there was some indication in early Nov of this might happen with a slide until Feb or March and anyone seeing stations along the line knew there was stillmuch to be done. The BSR also blamed Covid rather than be honest about some of their obvious issues. However, the new dates are yet another significant delay; The MRT Yellow line is now slated to open in June 2023 - the full line. The MRT Pink line is stated to open in August 2023 - 1st phase. These are the 5th opening dates that the BSR has announced. The only hope is that they have learnt their lesson of over promising and undelivering by stating longer dates to allow for a buffer and that there may be some small hope that both lines could open a month or 2 earlier? We'll have to wait and see.

Construction progress as at 31 December: 1) MRT Orange Line: 98.65% 2) MRT Pink Line: 94.48% 2a) Pink Line Spur to MTT: 13.45% 3) MRT Yellow Line: 98.09% 4) MRT Purple Line (southern ext): 5.45%

The pedestrian link cost US$3m to build and opened in mid 2013,some 3 years after the ARL opened! It has been a very, long time since anyone had to cross at street level to the MRT. These links used to be an after thought,eg. BTS to MRT at Asoke opened 1 yr after and BTS to MRT at Silom 2 yrs later. Thankfully, these days they are being built when new lines are bult.

Ratchaprarop has a single bus southbound lane 24/7. However, taxis are also allowedto use it though it is no uncommon for private vehicles to sneak allow as well - they are allowed late at night. And there is no right turn, you simply exit the ARL station at the east exit which is on the east side of Ratchprarop rd and walk 30m south across the SRT eastern line and Makkasan rd. Grab a taxi there outside Verve condo or a little further along at the corner of soi 8 (one way, west) as taxis tend to exit from there. The reason why you don't want to do this at peak is that buses back up at Pratunam intersection (Petchaburi rd) along the single lane and you could literally spend 20-25 mins travelling the 1km south to Ratchaprasong intersection- the literal center of Thailand.

A couple issues depend on how you can traverse this. The most important is your fitness for carrying your 2 heavy backpacks. It is about a 300m total transfer distance between the ARL & MRT via the pedestrian link and normally easy with a trolley bag. The other main factor is the time of day when you will be travelling, ie peak hour or not? I'd avoid doing it at peak hour as the MRT is very full - if morning peak up until 9.30am then forget about it as pax are crammed and it is normal to wait 1-2 trains to board. It will be very tough with 2 large backpacks. Another option is to alight at ARL Ratchprarop station and just take a taxi straight south down Ratchaprarop rd to Lumpini/Rama4 intersection if it is a quieter time of the day. (Private vehicles are not allowed to use the soutbound bus lane but taxis usuaully can and do) Again, don't do this at peak times.

These buses will still be around for a number of years even though the BMTA is attempting to replace much of the fleet. The BMTA has asked the govt to provide funds to update the fleet for around 12 years now Including a request for 5000 new aircon and non aircon buses after the junta came to power. At any given time around 800 buses are out of action due to age & maintenence issues) All that has been funded was the 490 NGV Bestlin buses a few years ago, but there is obviously a push to electrify the fleet. As fares are charged according to the quality of the bus, the non-aircon buses are the cheapest (8 baht) for the poor, min half the fare of a new NGV Bestlin bus (15-20-25 baht). It is one of the crazy and confusing aspects of BKK buses for tourists. You can have 4 different types of buses with the same route number (BMTA non-Aircon, BMTA aircon, private operator non-aircon, private operator aircon) all with completely different fare structures.

Poor reporting by Thai PBS who normally do a good job. This is incorrect as Eastern lines services will still continue to operate from HL as will suburban services for at least the next 5 years. A few ordinary (the really slow ones) inter-city services will also continue to operate from HL too,

A couple of things. BTSC will still have the concession for the BTS lines until 2029 even if the BMA transfers ownership o f both BTS lines to the MRTA. Don't forget that much of the unpaid debt issue relates to the fact that the MRTA did both the Keha (Suk line south ext) and Khu Khot exts (Suk line north ext) and then transferred the debt to the BMA which subseqently contracted the BTSC to run the exts while also having very lengthy free fare periods for both exts. For AERA1 (Aka 3 Airport line) the CP consortium consists of BEM amongst others. I didn't think that the BTSC were involved? A common ticketing platform for the whole network remains as eleusive as the end of corruption in Thailand....The MRTA could have made it compulsory with all recent tenders (Orange, Pink & Yellow. & Purple ext to come), but did not.

BMA isn't planning to tender the line for another 2 years. However, similar to the update I did above on 10 Sept for the BMA Grey line, the BMA Gov wants the MRTA to take on this project. If they do, this will lead to more delays with the current process as the MRTA has other priorities first with the MRT Purple line ext and MRT Brown line. Most likely the Grey line would also be a priority before this line too. We'll have to wait and see if the MRTA decides to take on both projects.

No real difference to the reply that I wrote on 6 July to your previous similar query. "Thus, the Hualamphong to WWY to Mahachai section won't be done for many years. I had hoped that the full southern ext would be done by 2030, but realistically the section you are asking about probably won't be done until the mid 30s now." The next stages of the SRT Red lines exts are currently planned to be tendered in Feb 2023; 1) SRT Dark Red line north ext Rangsit to Thammasat Uni : aim to sign contract in May 2) SRT Dark red line south ext Bang Sue to Hualumphong: contract in Sept 3) SRT Light Red line west ext Taling Chan to Salaya: aim to sign contract in June 5) SRT Light Red line east ext Bang Sue to Hua Mark: contract in Sept Note: expect these dates to change. Also, note that the trench past the palace that needs to be built for (2) & (5) also has to include the ARL ext which will start work soon.

I can understand you wanting to take one of the diesel commuter services from HL to Laksi. Not that I'd do it myself for this trip. However, I think the lesson here as with most trips in BKK is to always have a Plan B. At a certain point (after15mins waiting?) I would have ditched the SRT commuter train and just used the MRT Blue Line and SRT Dark Red line to Laksi. The 40 mins that you spent waiting on the train is nearly the total trip time from HL to Laksi. Alternatively, MRT to Chatuchack station and then a bus straight north up Vihavadi-Rangsit rd would actually be quicker. Posting the network map for those who might be unsure of the SRT Dark Red line route and how to connect.

Construction progress as at 31 October: 1) MRT Orange Line: 98.31% 2) MRT Pink Line: 93.29% 2a) Pink Line Spur to MTT: 8.08% 3) MRT Yellow Line: 97.36% 4) MRT Purple Line (southern ext): 3.75% MRT Orange Line western extension tender - 13.4k, 11 stations BEM/Karnchang has won the tender for the western extension. Barring further litigation from the BTSC, the contract should be signed early next year with work starting by mid year.

Orignal partial opening date was Oct last year which became June this year and then September and now is Jan 2023. The BSR (owner & operator) has been doing some full line test runs for the MRTA Yellow line in the last 3 weeks. The headline is misleading as there are only some special ticketed runs planned for December at this stage. The actual opening for is not planned until January with a free period, probably later in the month and only from Phawana (Y2) to Samrong ie. not Latphrao station. (The previous opening plan for last year and mid this year was for the more advanced southern section of a line from Samrong to Hua Mark) For the MRTA Pink Line, it is planned to open the first section in Feb or more likely March. The 1st stage opening will run from Minburi to the Govt Complex. (except for two stations). Mid year the 2nd stage willopen from Govt complex to Tiwanon rd. The last stage to Nonthaburi Provicial office will open in around 1 year as the station site had to moved 350m east due to supposedly blocking the views of the provincial office staff. In other news the MRTA Orange line construction will be completed by the end of this year/very early 2023. Unfortunately, the MRTA stuffed up the tender to operate that line and order rolling stock - it is still not done - so you'll need to wait until June 2025 to use it!! MRTA Purple line southern ext started construction 3 months ago as is around 3.5% advanced