Bangkok’s 2 main train stations linked by free bus

Tomorrow, a complimentary shuttle bus service between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue Grand Station) and Hua Lamphong Station will make commuting in Bangkok more convenient. The bus service is a joint venture being operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

The free bus service was created in response to the decision to make the new Krung Thep Aphiwat Station the termination point for 52 long-distance trains. The revitalised new train station opened in November 2021 and serves passengers on SRT’s two urban Red Lines.

The shuttle service will consist of six low-slung NGV buses that will run between the two stations daily. Nation Thailand reports that the first bus will depart Krung Thep Aphiwat Station at 4.30am, and the last bus will depart at 11pm each day. For its opening day run, the first bus will leave at noon, and then will run every 30 minutes after that.

The BMTA will also be sending out extra personnel at both stations to help introduce the service to riders. They hope to raise awareness of the new helpful bus by letting commuters know about it onsite. Public buses will also have the details and schedule of the new free train-connecting bus published by the BMTA to increase exposure to train and bus commuters.

The Bang Sue Grand Station was granted the new name, Krung Thep Aphiwat, by King Rama X in November last year. Initially, SRT had planned to move all of the 66 long-haul trains, except for the eastbound ones, from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue, but the plan was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, 52 of the 66 routes are operational – 20 to the South, 18 to the Northeast, and 14 to the North.