Thailand Travel Jewel
"Bangkok Skytrain"
The Bangkok Skytrain, also referred to as the BTS Skytrain (Bangkok Mass Transit System), is a welcome addition to Bangkok’s travel infrastructure and has transformed the daily travel routine for many thousands of Thai commuters. The air conditioned comfort now on offer allows you to plan your journey time instead of being at the mercy of Bangkok’s notorious traffic congestion. The Bangkok Skytrain is also widely used by tourists who, apart from avoiding the carnage of the rush hour, get to see Bangkok above street level. Travel on the Skytrain is a must for your Thailand holiday if you want to see as much of Bangkok as you can. You also get to travel with Thai people and get a feel for how Bangkok ticks. It's so easy to miss some great sights when you are stuck in the back of a Bangkok taxi. RoutesThere are two main lines currently open are the Silom and Sukhumvit lines: - The Sukhumvit line travels between ‘Mo Chit’ Station (near the main National bus terminus) and ‘On Nut’ station and is a great for connecting Sukhumvit with Siam Square, (our two favourite locations in Bangkok). The journey time can now be counted in minutes rather than hours.
- The Silom line travels between ‘National Stadium’ (a stones throw from Siam Square) to ‘Saphan Taksin’ station near the Chao Phraya River.
FaresGetting a ticket is very easy. Just select the station you want to go to on the ticket machine and pay anything from 10 to 40 baht for a ticket. There are plenty of English sign posts to help you navigate to the correct platform, and each station is announced over the Bangkok Skytrain speaker as you get there. If you don’t have any change don’t worry, there are staff on hand behind the counters who will be happy to change your bank notes. Skytrain MapThe Skytrain map at each station clearly shows the routes and indicates which fare will apply to your destination station. If you want a tourist pass there are brochures available to explain what is on offer.  Queue Here PleaseMake sure you queue politely. The Skytrain door will stop exactly where the platform indicates and people queue at these designated places; it is not the free for all that you will see in London or New York.  This is a Thailand Skytrain and that’s why we love using it. The service runs from 6am to Midnight and services are frequent, so you never seem to have excessive waiting time, or at least that has been our experience to date. Long may it continue!
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