| The relatively recent addition of the
Mass Rapid Transit network (MRT) has made
traveling around Bangkok much easier and
dramatically decreased the amount of traffic
on the roads. |
| |
| The MRT (also known as the Bangkok Subway
or Bangkok Metro) is known as Rot FAI Die
Din in Thai; 'car with fire under ground'.
It was opened by HM King Bhumibol and Queen
Sirikit at 19:19 on July 3rd, 2004. |
| |
| The MRT is particularly useful for people
traveling to/from Hualomphong Station as
it runs from there round in a horseshoe
shape to Bang Sue, which is also located
next to a railway station. |
| |
| The MRT comprises 18 stations and intersects
with the BTS at three points: Chatuchak
Park, Silom and Sukhumvit. It is impossible
to get lost on the underground as there
is only one line. Some of the most frequently
visited stops include Kamphaeng Phet, Chatuchak
Park, Silom, Asok (Sukhumvit) and Lumpini. |
| |
| Single journeys are quite cheap, costing
15 baht for one station, whilst a ticket
from one end of the line to the other costs
39 baht and takes about 25 minutes. You
can also buy san unlimited one day pass
for 120 baht, a three day pass for 230 baht
and a thirty day pass for 800 baht. It is
a good idea to carry a supply of 5 and 10
baht coins for the automatic ticket machines.
You will be issued with a plastic disk,
which you lightly press against the barrier
to gain admittance. |
| |
| The trains can carry 40,000 passengers
an hour in each direction and arrive every
five minutes during peak times - 07:00-09:00,
16:00-19:00 - and every seven minutes at
non-peak times. There are also TV screens
and soft music to entertain you while you
wait. |
| |
| Although traveling on the MRT is quite
simple, you may want to bear the following
tips in mind: |
| |
| The MRT is air conditioned throughout,
and sometimes gets so cold that it feels
as though it were designed by polar bears!
Take a sweater if traveling more than a
couple of stops. |
| |
| If you are visiting Lumpini Park, do not
get of at Lumpini Station but exit at Phaholyothin
Station instead. Lumpini Station is close
to Lumpini Stadium and the Suan Lum Night
Bazaar. Phaholyothin Station, rather than
Lad Phrao Station, is also the closest station
to Central Lad Phrao. |
| |
| Although Chatuchak Park Station is the
closest station to Chatuchak Park, Kamphaeng
Phet Station is the most convenient station
for Chatuchak Weekend Market (J.J Market). |
