Transport in Thailand

Rail transport in Thailand

The State Railway of Thailand operates 4,070 km of 1.000-m gauge railway line (294.63 km double track and 106.01 km triple track).

Metro systems

Bangkok is the only city in Thailand with a metro system:
* Bangkok Metro or MRT
* Bangkok Skytrain or BTS
* BRT (Bangkok)
* Suvarnabhumi Airport Link

Rail links to adjacent countries

* Malaysia - yes; same 1000mm gauge
* Laos - under development (see Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge)
* Cambodia - disused (being rebuilt)
* Myanmar - defunct - (see Death Railway).

Maps

* [http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/thailand.pdf UN Map]
* [http://www.btrma.org.au/images/map1.gifDeath Railway Map]

Towns served by rail

* Bangkok - the capital
* Nakhon Ratchasima - Hub of the Northeast

* Ratchaburi - (S)
* Phetchaburi - (S)
* Prachuap Khiri Khan - (S)
* Chumphon - (S)
* Surat Thani - (S) - junction
* Ban Takhun - (S) - branch terminus
* Thung Song - (S)
* Nakhon Si Thammarat - (S) - branch terminus and port
* Hat Yai - (S) - junction
* Songkhla - branch terminus and port ? (line defunct)
* Yala - (S)
* Sungai Kolok - (S) - near border with Malaysia

* Uttaradit - (N)
* Lampang -(N)
* Chiang Mai - (N)

Time line

2006

* 16 December 2006 - The rail link with Cambodia is to be restored with a loan from the Asian Development Bank and a donation of rails from Malaysia.

Road transport in Thailand

*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.

Elevated toll "sky" highways are prominent leading out of Bangkok, such as Bang Na-Trat Highway and Viphawadi Rangsit Highway . 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's 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.

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

Airports

*Total: 106 (1999 est.)

Major international airports
*Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) (Old Bangkok Int'l)
*Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) (New Bangkok Int'l)
*Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
*Hat Yai International Airport (HDY)
*Phuket International Airport (HKT)

With paved runways
*Total: 56 (1999 est.)
**Over 3,047 m: 6
**2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
**1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
**914 to 1,523 m: 18
**Under 914 m: 4

With unpaved runways
*Total: 50 (1999 est.)
**1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
**914 to 1,523 m: 16
**Under 914 m: 33

Heliports
*Total: 17 (2007 est.)

Airlines of Thailand

*The national carrier of Thailand is Thai Airways International.

Waterways

*Principal waterways: 3,999 km
**3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year.
**Numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft, such as long-tailed boats.

River and canal transport

In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River is a major transportation artery, with ferries, water taxis (the Chao Phraya Express) and long-tailed boats. There are local, semi express, and express lines for commuters, though the river winds a lot, which can make the trip much farther than by bus. There is also the Khlong Saen Saeb boat service, which provides fast, inexpensive transport in central Bangkok.

Ferry service between hundreds of islands and the mainland is available, as well as across navigable rivers, such as Chao Phraya and Mae Khong (Mekong). There are a number of international ferries.

Ports and harbors

*Bangkok
* Laem Ngop
*Laem Chabang near Si Racha
*Pattani
*Phuket (Patong)
*Sattahip
*Songkhla
*Ranong
*Satun

Merchant marine

*Total: 299 ships (GRT|1,000|metric or over) totaling GRT|1,834,809|metric/DWT|2,949,558|metric|first=yes
**Ships by type: bulk carrier 39, cargo ship 135, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk carrier 1, container ship 13, liquified gas 19, multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger ship 1, petroleum tanker 63, refrigerated cargo ship 13, roll-on/roll-off 2, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.)

Pipelines

*Petroleum products: 67 km
*Natural gas: 350 km

See also

* Thailand
* Bangkok Metro
* Bangkok Skytrain
* Songthaew
* Tuk-tuk

External links

* [http://www.2bangkok.com/ 2bangkok.com] - Transportation developments and events.
* [http://www.escapethailand.com/transportation_in_thailand.html Thailand Transportation Modes] - Transportation modes.
* [http://www.worldbank.org/transport/rail/sys_maps/rail39.gifRailway map]
* [http://www.tarc.or.th Thailand Accident Research Center (TARC)] - Road & Transportation Safety.
* [http://driving.information.in.th/ Driving in Thailand] - Driving a car in Thailand and how to get a drivers license.
* [http://www.thaitransport-photo.net/modules.php?name=coppermine Transport photo in Thailand]