14th November
First Words....... These are the first words I write for my blog in 2024 and there's no great fanfare as I try to put something together and make a new start. To repeat what I achieved in 2023 is a bid ask. The point is I'm in this for the long haul. Now in late January I will be in Thailand right through Songkran and into the second half of April. There are some domestic issues which I have to complete but after lunch on the third day here I'm going to try and reconnect with Thailand's Railways. Naturally my YouTube channel relating to this has been neglected and I'm eager to kick start it particularly as there has been a new development since I Left in November.
Within days of my return to the UK, one of Thailand's monorail lines has opened after trials including one month's free service for passengers. Well, I've managed to miss that but I'm still keen to try out.
Pink Line....... The Pink Line is one of the monorail lines and runs across the northern suburbs of Bangkok. I'm going to attempt to reach the main terminal at Krung Thep Apiwat via this line and the best connection seems to be at Lak Si. Here the SRT red line runs straight into the terminal. However the connection is not as easy as I thought requiring a walk of some 10 minutes including reaching the street level which I wasn't expecting. The rate from Kor Mor 6 is 34 baht while the rate from Lak Si is just 20 baht to Krung Thep Apiwat. My observations so far are that the pink line is not a smooth a ride as I expected while the new red line is more stable and comfortable. The next thing I note is that at least from Lak Si Station to the main terminal the line consists of 4 tracks. The two outer tracks are used for commuter line trains while the central tracks are used for long distance trains which don't stop at the commuter stations.
Krung Thep Apiwat....... At Krung Thep Apiwat Station I am curious to know the layout and see that there are multiple platforms for the long distance trains while the commuter trains occupy the two outer platforms. My concern is that I may not be able to get onto the mainline platforms from the commuter ones to see more trains. Then my worst fears are realised when I learn that to reach these platforms you actually have to buy a travel ticket. It doesn't look like I'll be able to see any mainland train departures today. Well, there is something else I can try. At least the original station at Bang Sue is open. This station only serves commuter and regional trains these days and I've spent many hours here in the past. But again I draw a blank. There's nothing due at the station for a good hour and I'd prefer to get back to the residence as there is something else on the menu for today and not something you normally put on a plate.
Return via the Green Line....... From the Central Station there are other options for the return leg and I'm happy to explore another one that involves two changes of commuter train. We first head across the road to the Bang Sue MRT station and head for Chatujak. Here there is another long walk through the underpass to reach Mochit which is a station on the Sukhumvit Line also know as the Green Line. This is another line that connects to the Pink Monorail Line but two stations closer to our departure point on this line from earlier. The connecting station on this occasion is Wat Si Mahathat and the news about this connection is that it's much more convenient than at Lak Si. So, as we complete the journey, there's hardly any difference in the price or time. The main feature of the Green Line though is it's always overcrowded.
Game On....... We return to the residence after collecting some provisions and settle down to watch an event I mentioned earlier. This is a round of 16 game In the Asian Championship Between Uzbekistan and Thailand. Thailand has done well to reach this stage for only the 3rd time in their history. However the result is disappointing for the nation having lost a game 2 : 1. Well, that just needs me to summarise the day and what has been achieved.
Conclusion....... In terms of viewing some mainline trains I hope drawn a complete blank I've managed to capture some videos of the operation on the pink line and on the state railway of Thailand red line. Returning via the MRT and Green Line has provided experience of traveling on four of Thailand's commuter lines. Using the Pink Line is a new experience and regarding the red line it's only my second trip. While, of course, I'd hoped for more, this excursion was is much more about fact-finding and how best to conduct further trips on Thailand's railways. The main take from today is the confirmation of the restrictions for trainspotting there are on Thailand's long-distance network using Krung Thep Apiwat Grand and other city stations. To overcome these I would actually need to travel or locate stations outside the capital which don't have restricted access. That means somewhere like Rangsit north of Bangkok. Well, as a result of today's trip I have some planning to do regarding Thailand railway experience. Regarding other business, There are some huge tours planned as I bring myself up to speed.
First Words....... These are the first words I write for my blog in 2024 and there's no great fanfare as I try to put something together and make a new start. To repeat what I achieved in 2023 is a bid ask. The point is I'm in this for the long haul. Now in late January I will be in Thailand right through Songkran and into the second half of April. There are some domestic issues which I have to complete but after lunch on the third day here I'm going to try and reconnect with Thailand's Railways. Naturally my YouTube channel relating to this has been neglected and I'm eager to kick start it particularly as there has been a new development since I Left in November.
Within days of my return to the UK, one of Thailand's monorail lines has opened after trials including one month's free service for passengers. Well, I've managed to miss that but I'm still keen to try out.
Pink Line....... The Pink Line is one of the monorail lines and runs across the northern suburbs of Bangkok. I'm going to attempt to reach the main terminal at Krung Thep Apiwat via this line and the best connection seems to be at Lak Si. Here the SRT red line runs straight into the terminal. However the connection is not as easy as I thought requiring a walk of some 10 minutes including reaching the street level which I wasn't expecting. The rate from Kor Mor 6 is 34 baht while the rate from Lak Si is just 20 baht to Krung Thep Apiwat. My observations so far are that the pink line is not a smooth a ride as I expected while the new red line is more stable and comfortable. The next thing I note is that at least from Lak Si Station to the main terminal the line consists of 4 tracks. The two outer tracks are used for commuter line trains while the central tracks are used for long distance trains which don't stop at the commuter stations.
Krung Thep Apiwat....... At Krung Thep Apiwat Station I am curious to know the layout and see that there are multiple platforms for the long distance trains while the commuter trains occupy the two outer platforms. My concern is that I may not be able to get onto the mainline platforms from the commuter ones to see more trains. Then my worst fears are realised when I learn that to reach these platforms you actually have to buy a travel ticket. It doesn't look like I'll be able to see any mainland train departures today. Well, there is something else I can try. At least the original station at Bang Sue is open. This station only serves commuter and regional trains these days and I've spent many hours here in the past. But again I draw a blank. There's nothing due at the station for a good hour and I'd prefer to get back to the residence as there is something else on the menu for today and not something you normally put on a plate.
Return via the Green Line....... From the Central Station there are other options for the return leg and I'm happy to explore another one that involves two changes of commuter train. We first head across the road to the Bang Sue MRT station and head for Chatujak. Here there is another long walk through the underpass to reach Mochit which is a station on the Sukhumvit Line also know as the Green Line. This is another line that connects to the Pink Monorail Line but two stations closer to our departure point on this line from earlier. The connecting station on this occasion is Wat Si Mahathat and the news about this connection is that it's much more convenient than at Lak Si. So, as we complete the journey, there's hardly any difference in the price or time. The main feature of the Green Line though is it's always overcrowded.
Game On....... We return to the residence after collecting some provisions and settle down to watch an event I mentioned earlier. This is a round of 16 game In the Asian Championship Between Uzbekistan and Thailand. Thailand has done well to reach this stage for only the 3rd time in their history. However the result is disappointing for the nation having lost a game 2 : 1. Well, that just needs me to summarise the day and what has been achieved.
Conclusion....... In terms of viewing some mainline trains I hope drawn a complete blank I've managed to capture some videos of the operation on the pink line and on the state railway of Thailand red line. Returning via the MRT and Green Line has provided experience of traveling on four of Thailand's commuter lines. Using the Pink Line is a new experience and regarding the red line it's only my second trip. While, of course, I'd hoped for more, this excursion was is much more about fact-finding and how best to conduct further trips on Thailand's railways. The main take from today is the confirmation of the restrictions for trainspotting there are on Thailand's long-distance network using Krung Thep Apiwat Grand and other city stations. To overcome these I would actually need to travel or locate stations outside the capital which don't have restricted access. That means somewhere like Rangsit north of Bangkok. Well, as a result of today's trip I have some planning to do regarding Thailand railway experience. Regarding other business, There are some huge tours planned as I bring myself up to speed.
Bangkok Metropolis
Kor Mor 6 Pink Line Monorail, Bang Khen
Samut Sakhon Province
Lak Si (SRT) Red Line Station, Bang Khen
Krung Thep Apiwat (SRT) Central Terminal Station, Chatuchak
Bang Sue (SRT) Commuter Station, Chatuchak
Mochit (BTS) Sukhumvit or Green Line Station, Chatuchak