Rail transport in Thailand

History

SRT was founded as the Royal State Railways of Siam (RSR) in 1890. Construction of the Bangkok-Ayutthaya railway (71 km), the first part of the Northern Line, was started in 1891 and completed on May 23, 1892. The Thonburi-Phetchaburi line (150 km), later the Southern Line, was opened on June 19, 1903.

The Northern Line was originally built as standard gauge, but in September 1919 it was decided to standardize on meter gauge and the Northern Line was regauged during the next ten years. On July 1, 1951, RSR changed its name to the present State Railway of Thailand.

In 2005 SRT had 4,070 km of track, all of it meter gauge. Nearly all is single-track, although some important sections around Bangkok are double or triple-tracked and there are plans to extend this.

Main Stations

Northern Line

• Bangsue Junction - The largest freight yard in Thailand and hence the main freight terminal. It is also a locomotive depot.
• Ayutthaya Station - Northern Bangkok Suburb station - with very high passenger revenue, seconded only Bangkok station.
• Ban Phachi Junction - A major junction, where the Northern and Northeastern lines separate.
• Lop Buri Station - the end of Northern BKK Suburb line at Military town.
• Nakhon Sawan Station - formerly called as Nong Pling station until 1956.
• Phitsanulok Station - provincial station
• Ban Dara Junction - Junction to Sawankhaloke line
• Sila At Station - Depot on the Northern Line. Refueling station and up trains will be cut at this station
• Denchai Station - the dropping point for Phrae with a proposal for a junction for Denchai - Chiang Rai route
• Nakhon Lampang Station - Depot on the Northern Line. Train will be cut further if going North to Chiang Mai.
• Chiang Mai Station - Terminus.

Northeastern Line

• Saraburi Station - Provincial station, former name is Pak priaw station until 1934.
• Kaeng Khoi Junction - The Bua Yai Line and Khlong Sip Kao line diverge from the mainline here. Main Depot with refueling facility. The point for cutting cargo trains into into 2 trains to pass difficult section of Dong Phraya Yen (Kaeng Khoi - Pak Chong) or combining the separated cargo trains back to the single train
• Pak Chong Station - The gateway to Nakhon Ratchasima and the point for cutting cargo trains into 2 trains to pass difficult section of Dong Phraya Yen (Kaeng Khoi - Pak Chong) or combining the separated cargo trains back to the single train
• Nakhon Ratchasima Station - Main depot of the Northeastern Line with refueling facility and a branch line to 2nd Army Support Command.
• Thanon Chira Junction - Junction for Nong Khai Route that closed to Fort Suranaree (2nd Army Region HQ)
• Buri Ram Station - provincial station with a branch line for Quarry at Khao Kradong
• Surin Station - provincial station
• Si Sa Ket Station - provincial station
• Ubon Ratchathani Station - Terminus of South Isaan Line (AKA Ubon Line) with Depot and refueling facility. Formerly called as "Varindr station" until 1942-1943.
• Bua Yai Junction - junction with refueling facility
• Khon Kaen Station - provincial station
• Udon Thani Station - provincial station with refueling facility.
• Nong Khai Station - Terminus of North Isaan Line (AKA Nong Khai Line), provides a connection to Laos

Eastern Line

On local trains, several cars may be reserved for schoolchildren transportation, much like a school bus elsewhere. Here, children boarding a Pattaya-Bangkok train at an improvised between-stations stop

• Makkasan Station - the main depot of SRT (Makkasan Works) and future City Air Terminal Station for Suvarnabhumi Airport Express Train even though the New Makkasan Station is closer to Asok Halt than Makkasan station
• Huamak Station - Bangkok Suburb station
• Hua Ta Khe Station - Junction to ICD.
• Chachoeng Sao Junction - Junction to Laem Chabang and Aranyapradesh Line.
• Aranyapradesh Station - Terminus of North Eastern Line.
• Si Racha Junction - Junction for Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port.
• Mab Taphud Station - Terminus of East Coast Line - only for cargo trains.

Western Line

• Thon Buri Station - Terminus of Western Line
• Taling Chan Station - Junction of Bangsue - Taling Chan link (AKA Rama 6 Line), the connection between south and north SRT systems opened with the building of the only rail bridge across the Chao Phraya River in 1925.
• Salaya Station - Bangkok Suburb station closed to Mahidol University (Salaya Campus)
• Nakhon Pathom Station - Provincial station
• Nong Pla Duk Junction - Junction for Suphanburi and Kanchanaburi.
• Suphanburi Station - A 2 car DMU operates to Bangkok in the early morning and from Bangkok in the evening.
• Kanchanaburi Station - Provincial station
• Namtok Station - Terminus of Western Line.

Southern Line

• Bang Sue Junction - Main junction and Cargo terminal with main Diesel Locomotive Depot and Refueling facility
• Thon Buri Station - Former terminus of Southern Line.
• Nakhon Pathom Station - main Southern suburb station
• Hua Hin Station - station with Beautiful Architecture, changing crew station
• Chumphon Station - Provincial station, Locomotive Depot with refueling facility
• Ban Thung Pho Junction - Southern Container Yard and Khiri Ratthanikhom Branch.
• Surat Thani Station - changing crew station and provincial station
• Thung Song Junction - Locomotive Depot, refueling facility and junction for Kantang Branch.
• Trang Station - Provincial Station
• Kantang Station - Terminus of Kantang Branch.
• Khao Chumthong Junction - Junction for Nakhon Si Thammarat Branch.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat Station - Terminus of Nakhon Si Thammarat Branch.
• Patthalung Station - Provincial station, changing crew station
• Hat Yai Junction - Main junction in Southern Line, Locomotive Depot and refueling facility
• Padang Besar Station - International station for connections to Malaysia. KTMB is the caretaker for this station since it is in Malaysia.
• Pattani Station - former Khok Pho station - the dropping point for Pattani
• Yala Station - Provincial station changing crew station
• Tanyong Mas station - dropping point for Ra Nga district and Narathiwat
• Sungai Kolok Station - Terminus of Southern Line. Used to be another International station until the termination of cross border services.

Road transport in Thailand

Highway Sign

Motorway 9 Toll Section

• Total: 64,600 km
  • Paved: 62,985 km
  • Unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)

Thai highway network

The Thai highway network links every part of Thailand. The four lane highways often have overhead concrete pedestrian crossings interspersed about every 250 meters in populated areas. There are no on and off ramps, highways are separated by median with breakage for U-turns, except in Bangkok where ramp style U-turns predominate.

A number of undivided two lane highways have been converted meh to divided 4 lane highway, greatly enhancing safety and speed. A Bangkok - Chon Buri motorway (Route 7) now links to the new airport and Eastern Seaboard.

Thai motorway network

The Thai motorway network is small. Coupled with Bangkok is extensive expressway network, the motorways provide a relief from regular traffic in Bangkok. The Thai Government is planning infrastructure investment in various "megaprojects", including motorway expansion to approximately 4,500 kilometers.

Thai expressway network

Thailand use expressway term for the toll road or highway network. Most of expressway are elevated which some section on the ground. Current expressway network covers major parts of Bangkok and suburb area. Expressway often use to avoid heavy traffic jams in Bangkok and reduce traffic time, but sometimes congested in rush hour.

Bus service

Buses are a major method of transportation for people and packages, and the most popular means of long distance travel. Tour and VIP class long distance buses tend to be luxurious and tall, while city and other class buses are often very colorful with paint schemes and advertising, and tend to be about the same size as a North American school bus. Bangkok city buses come in various sizes, types, and prices, from half size, full size, double length, open window, fan, and air conditioned.

Alternative transport

Includes tuk-tuk, taxi, van (minibus), motorcycle taxi, songthaew, boats (in canals and rivers).

Air transport

Suvarnabhumi Airport (IATA: BKK, ICAO: VTBS), also known as (New) Bangkok International Airport, is the international airport serving Southeast Asia, and Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September.^[3]

The airport is currently the main hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai Airlines, PBair and Thai AirAsia.

The airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 25 km east of downtown Bangkok. The name Suvarnabhumi was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and refers to the golden kingdom hypothesised to have been located somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn Architects, this airport has the world is tallest control tower (132.2 m), and the world is third largest single-building airport terminal (563,000 m²). Suvarnabhumi is one of the busiest airports in Asia and is also a major air cargo hub. The airport inherited the airport code BKK from Don Mueang after the older airport ceased international flights. A modern motorway connects the airport, Bangkok, and the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard of Thailand, where most of the manufacturing for export takes place.

Don Mueang International Airport (IATA: DMK, ICAO: VTBD) (or also (Old) Bangkok International Airport) (Thai: ท่าอากาศยานดอนเมือง, formerly spelled Don Muang) is an airport in Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened as a Royal Thai Air Force base on March 27, 1914, although it had been in use earlier. Commercial flights started in 1924. Don Mueang Airport closed in 2006 following the opening of Bangkok is new Suvarnabhumi Airport, before opening again after the big renovation on March 24, 2007.

Don Mueang was an important hub of Asia and the hub of Thai Airways International prior to its closure. At its peak, it served most air traffic in the whole continent, with 80 airlines operating 160,000 flights and handling over 38,000,000 passengers and 700,000 tons of cargo in 2005. It was then the 18th busiest airport in the world and 2nd in Asia by passenger volume.

On September 28, 2006 the airport was replaced by Suvarnabhumi Airport. Don Mueang became a facility for charter flights, military aircraft and civil aviation. The airport was reopened for non-connecting domestic commercial flights on March 24, 2007. Two airlines are now using the airport: Nok Air and One-Two-GO Airlines. All Thai Airways domestic flights were transferred to Suvarnabhumi airport on March 28, 2009. (Bangkok Post, 20 june 2006: "All flights must use new airport from Sept 28").

Don Mueang is a joint-use facility with the Royal Thai Air Force is Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, and is the home of the RTAF 1st Air Division, which consists primarily of non-combat aircraft. Vibhavadi Rangsit Road is the main route linking the airport with downtown Bangkok. The Uttaraphimuk Elevated Tollway, running above Vibhavadi Rangsit, offers a more rapid option for getting into the city and connects to Bangkok is inner city expressway network. There is also rail service connecting with Hua Lamphong station in the center of Bangkok. The train station is across the highway and is linked with the airport by a walkway bridge. An RTAF golf course is located between the two runways. The course has no separation from the runway, and golfers are held back by a red light whenever planes land.

Chiang Mai International Airport (IATA: CNX, ICAO: VTCC) is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Chiang Mai International Airport is the major gateway to the north of Thailand. As of 2005, 10 airlines operate services and more than 2,000,000 passengers, 15,000 flights and 16,000 metric tons of cargo are handled.

As a result of the temporary closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport in 2008 due to the protests, Chiang Mai became the alternative stop-over for China Airlines Taipei-Europe flights and for Swiss International Airlines Singapore-Zurich flights in the interim.

Hat Yai International Airport (IATA: HDY, ICAO: VTSS) is the major southern hub airport in Hat Yai, Thailand. It is under management of Airports of Thailand, PCL. It is also an important gateway for Muslims on their annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Nowadays, more than 800,000 passengers, 9,500 flights and 12,000 tons of cargo are handled at this airport.The airport is 9 km from downtown Hat Yai, Highway No. 4135 (Sanambin Panij road) links to the airport. Service time of airport: 06.00 a.m. to 24.00 p.m.

During the 2005 Songkhla bombings, a bomb planted at the departure lounge by Pattani separatists exploded on April 3, 2005, killing one passenger and injuring 10.

The runway can handle 30 flights per hour and its durability is rated at PCN 60/F/C/X/T.

There are 7 taxiways, and an apron area of 56,461 m².

Phuket International Airport (IATA: HKT, ICAO: VTSP) is an airport serving the Phuket Province of Thailand. It is located in the north of Phuket Island, 32 kilometres from the centre of Phuket City. The airport plays a major role in Thailand is tourism industry, as Phuket Island is a popular resort destination. It is the second busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passengers (but not cargo), after Suvarnabhumi Airport in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 is used for international flights and Terminal 2 for domestic flights. The airport has several shops, a duty-free shop and restaurants.