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SKYTRAIN BANGKOK
a unique experience
Since 05/12/99 it is possible to tell...
Tell what? Tell time! Using the skytrain, you'll be able to tell
exactly your arrival time at any spot nearby the 25 stations. That
wasn't possible before. You were either early or late.
55 billion baht (approx. US$ 1.5 billion) were spent over a 4 year
building period to get this project going. The start was delayed
several times, but finally Dec. 5th 1999 (the king's 72nd birthday)
the train began services.
For sure habby.net had to check this out! - habby.net started
off by car from Lardprao Rd.
It took us about 20 minutes to get from Chockchai 4 to Chatuchak
(weekend market) and we had planned to enter the train at 'Mo Chit'.
Here the trouble began, cause it took us another 30 minutes to find
a place to park the car. Finally we entered the train at Saphan
Kwai Station (2nd. station inbound). |
The platforms are very clean, looks are modern/futuristic
and lots of security guys take care that nobody gets under the train
(or on top?). Computer equipped sales offices hand out plastic tickets.
Friendly girls help you to find your way, if you can't figure out
by yourself, and hand out little maps with time tables and all sorts
of information. All in all it's simple to get along and not much
difference to European mass transportation, except that it's really
super clean.
We paid 35 baht for a one way trip from Saphan Kwai to Nana (beginning
Sukhumvit). The ride takes 10 minutes only (by car that's 30-60
minutes). |
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| The trip is not only interesting and
thrilling from a historical or technical point of view - it's this
very different look you get. The highways throughout the city were
already a new experience, but the skytrain, most of the time on
top, offers an even more exciting vision. You can see places never
seen before - or see them from a very unusual angle. Single houses
with a huge garden around, right in the heart of the city, the Siam
Intercontinental - we consider best hotel in town or a temple, a
little hidden kind'a swamp between high-rises and much more. It's
real fun and we can only advise you to go for a ride, once staying
in Bangkok. |
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| Whether or not the project will be a
success, financially, has to be shown. The fares are not cheap,
and definitely not for poor folks. If you want to combine car and
train, you'll have a parking problem. The service is available from
6 am. till midnight - so it's not a real alternative for late nights.
However it's the first month in operation and for sure, as time
goes by, there will be adjustments and extensions (discussions are
on already). The skytrain will combine with the subway (under construction)
at Saladaeng, Mo Chit and Asoke stations. (habby.net suggests some
park+ride lots.) |
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