Transportation

Getting around – Trains in Bangkok

Published by on January 24, 2024

Trains are a major mode of extensive public transportation in Bangkok, allowing you to get past the perpetual rush hour. It’s convenient if your destination is easily accessible by train, but the system may be daunting and confusing to a tourist or a beginner!

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the train system in Bangkok, and make sense of how it works. We’ll take a look at how to ride each train line, fares, and routes!

For a guide on how to get to Thaitails 2024 at the Grand Richmond Hotel, take a look at this guide!

Train Lines in Bangkok

Bangkok has four major metropolitan train lines:

  1. The Bangkok Mass Transit System, or more commonly known as the BTS Skytrain.
    • This system serves the Sukhumvit line and Silom line along their respective roads.
  2. The Metropolitan Rapit Transit, or more commonly known as the MRT.
    • This system serves four lines: Blue, Purple, Pink, and Yellow.
  3. The Airport Rail Link, also known as the ARL.
    • This system serves as a transit from central Bangkok to the eastern suburbs, ending at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
  4. The Red Line Mass Transit System Project, or more commonly known as the SRT Red Lines.
    • This system serves two lines: Dark Red which serves the Rangsit area to Bang Sue, including Don Muang Airport (DMK), and Light Red, which serves the Taling Chan area.

Getting familiar with train systems and which areas they serve will give you a good idea of what kind of journey to expect!

Map in English
Map in Thai

Let’s take a look at each system in detail.

Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS Skytrain)

The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS Skytrain) is an elevated rapid transit consisting of 62 stations over a combined route length of 70 km. It serves two lines: the Sukhumvit line and Silom line. At the heart of the system is [CEN] Siam station, which serves as an interchange point between the two lines right in the center of Bangkok.

Facts

  • Operation hours: 06:00 – 24:00 daily; trains arrive every 5-10 minutes, depending on the station.
  • Fares: 15 – 62 baht, calculated by distance and range. Use this route searcher to calculate your fares in advance!
  • Tickets: Every station will have single-route ticketing machines that dispense cards, or you can purchase a one-day ticket for 150 baht. You can also purchase a Rabbit card, which is the system’s prepaid card.
    • Check this official guide for detailed instructions on how to purchase a single ticket.
    • Most machines will only accept coins. Some stations have QR pay. All stations have a ticketing window if you need to pay with banknotes.
    • You can only use BTS tickets on the BTS! They are not transferable to the other lines. If you get on the BTS, you need BTS tickets.
    • Your tickets are not checked during your journey, only when you enter and exit the turnstile.
  • Accessibility: All stations except [S6] Saphan Taksin have elevator access. Some major stations have escalators, but most of them just have stairs.

Sukhumvit and Silom are two of Bangkok’s most major roads, and there is a permanent traffic jam at all times of the day.

Sukhumvit Line

The Sukhumvit Line begins at [E23] Kheha and terminates at [N24] Khu Khot. The stations between [E7] Ekkamai and [N2] Ratchatewi serve the busiest and most central parts of Sukhumvit road. There is interchange between the MRT Blue Line at:

  • [E4] Asok / [BL22] Sukhumvit
  • [N8] Mo Chit / [BL13] Chatuchak Park
  • [N9] Ha Yaek Lat Phrao / [BL14] Phahon Yothin

There is also an interchange with the Airport Rail Link at [N2] Phaya Thai. You can also interchange with the Saen Saep canal boat service at [N1] Ratchatewi.

Silom Line

The Silom Line begins at [W1] National Stadium and ends at [S12] Bang Wa, with a total of 14 stations. This line follows the Silom road, which crosses over the Chao Phraya River into the Thon Buri city district. There is interchange between the MRT Blue Line at:

  • [S2] Sala Daeng / [BL26] Silom
  • [S12] Bang Wa / [BL34] Bang Wa

You can get on the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) at [S3] Chong Nonsi ending at [S10] Talat Phlu. [S6] Saphan Taksin serves as a transit hub for the Chao Phraya Express boat service.

Summary

Take the BTS if you need to travel along Sukhumvit or Silom! There are plenty of urban tourist attractions in the center of Bangkok, and this is a convenient way to travel.

Bangkok Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT)

The Bangkok Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) is an underground rapid transit system that serves a variety of areas, consisting of four lines currently in operation: Blue, Purple, Pink, and Yellow. The Blue and Purple lines are the busiest lines, with the Blue line servicing the central ring, and Purple servicing the residential Nonthaburi province. Pink and Yellow are new lines that were opened in 2021 and 2023 respectively, so they are not as busy.

  • Operation hours: 06:00 – 24:00 daily; trains arrive every 5-10 minutes, depending on the station.
  • Fares: 15 – 50 baht, calculated by distance and range.
  • Tickets: Every station will have single-route ticketing machines that dispense RFID tokens, or you can purchase a MRT prepaid card at the ticketing office.
    • Check this official guide for detailed instructions on how to purchase a single ticket.
    • Most machines will only accept small denominations of Thai baht. All stations have a ticketing window. The machines will give you back change in coins only!
    • MRT tickets are transferable if traveling between MRT lines! They are not transferable to the BTS or ARL.
    • Your tickets are not checked during your journey, only when you enter and exit the turnstile.
  • Accessibility: All stations have elevator access. Some major stations have escalators, but most of them just have stairs.

Blue Line

The Blue Line runs the western central ring of Bangkok, cut in half by the Chao Phraya River. You can transfer to the BTS at:

  • [E4] Asok / [BL22] Sukhumvit
  • [N8] Mo Chit / [BL13] Chatuchak Park
  • [N9] Ha Yaek Lat Phrao / [BL14] Phahon Yothin
  • [S2] Sala Daeng / [BL26] Silom
  • [S12] Bang Wa / [BL34] Bang Wa

Transfer to the Purple line at [BL10/PP16] Tao Poon!

[BL28] Hua Lamphong was previously the central station of Thailand for accessing the national rail. Instead, [BL11] Bang Sue is the new grand central station of Thailand. [BL19] Thailand Cultural Centre will connect a new Orange line in the future.

Purple Line

The Purple line runs the Nonthaburi province area (and for Thaitails 2024, the Grand Richmond Hotel is at [PP10] Bang Krasor). Transfer to the Blue line at [BL10/PP16] Tao Poon!

[PP08] Phra Nang Klao Bridge is an interchange station with the boat Chao Phraya Express Green Line.

Pink Line

The Pink Line runs the central-Northern areas of Bangkok, from Min Buri to Lak Si to Nonthaburi. You can connect to the Purple line at [PP11] Nonthaburi Civic Center.

Yellow Line

The Yellow Line services the eastern suburban areas of Bangkok, beginning from [BL15] Lat Phrao to [E15] Samrong. It passes through Hua Mak, which is a major residential area.

Airport Rail Link (ARL)

The Airport Rail Link is exactly what it says on the tin – it connects central Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

  • Operation hours: 06:00 – 24:00 daily; trains arrive every 10 minutes, depending on the station and time.
    • Be prepared to wait a long time for trains, as the stations can get very busy during rush hour.
  • Fares: 15 – 45 baht, calculated by distance and range.
  • Tickets: Every station will have single-route ticketing machines that dispense RFID tokens, or you can purchase one at the ticketing office.
    • Most machines will only accept small denominations of Thai baht. All stations have a ticketing window. The machines will give you back change in coins only!
    • Your tickets are not checked during your journey, only when you enter and exit the turnstile.

Major interchanges include:

  • [A8] Phaya Thai / [N2] Phaya Thai with the BTS Sukhumvit line
  • [A6] Makkasan / [BL21] Petchaburi interchange with MRT Blue line

Use this line to get to BKK Airport in under 30 minutes!

SRT Red Lines

The SRT Red Lines are electric trains which serve two lines, with the primary purpose being direct connection to the train system from Don Muang Airport (DMK), as well as Rangsit. Krung Thep Aphiwat connects directly to the MRT Blue line at [BL11] Bang Sue. Trains go every 10-15 minutes, from 05:00 to 24:00. Fares range from 12 – 35 baht on the Light Red line, and 12 – 42 baht on the Dark Red line, depending on distance.

Use this line to get into the city center easily from DMK!

Overall, I hope this guide helps serve as a good reference for public train transportation in Bangkok!