public transport

  • Bangkok TravelHow to ride a bus in Bangkok

    How to ride a bus in Bangkok

    Beyond Bangkok’s reliable BTS Skytrain and MRT subway systems, the city also offers an extensive bus network that continues to serve as a vital transportation option for residents and visitors. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Thai Smile Bus (TSB) operate a comprehensive fleet of buses that will help you get around Bangkok. Plus, it is a nice and cheaper…

  • Thailand NewsGridlock crisis: Phuket’s billion-baht boom sparks urgent action

    Gridlock crisis: Phuket’s billion-baht boom sparks urgent action

    Provincial officials have vowed to tackle Phuket’s surging traffic chaos as the island’s tourism industry hits record-breaking highs. Governor Sophon Suwannarat chaired a high-stakes Zoom meeting with key stakeholders on Thursday, December 26, to address infrastructure challenges threatening the paradise’s reputation. With over 10 million visitors in 2023 generating a staggering 388 billion baht in revenue—an astounding 100.38% increase from…

  • Thailand NewsPattaya’s traffic turmoil: No more rogue bus stops

    Pattaya’s traffic turmoil: No more rogue bus stops

    Pattaya’s reputation as a bustling tourist paradise is under threat—not from a lack of attractions, but from a gridlock of its own making. At a Pattaya City Council meeting yesterday, November 20, council member Surin Yimyai sounded the alarm about the city’s chaotic public transport practices, particularly buses flouting the rules by picking up and dropping off passengers wherever they…

  • Phuket NewsBus-ting with green energy: Phuket’s smart bus takes fresh direction

    Bus-ting with green energy: Phuket’s smart bus takes fresh direction

    All aboard the eco-friendly Phuket Smart Bus express. Phuket’s transport scene is getting a high-voltage makeover with the launch of the spanking new Phuket Smart Bus service, and it’s already steering the island’s travel scene in a new direction. Connecting Phuket Town and Patong with ease and style, this service is run by Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) and…

  • Thailand NewsBuriram gears up for MotoGP 2024 with travel incentives

    Buriram gears up for MotoGP 2024 with travel incentives

    Buriram is set to host the prestigious MotoGP event, PT Grand Prix of Thailand 2024, from today, October 25 to 27, at Chang International Circuit. Atthawit Rakjamroon, acting managing director of Transport Company Limited (BorKorSor), announced initiatives to boost travel and attendance for the event. In conjunction with the MotoGP event, BorKorSor introduced a campaign titled Register for Souvenirs… Get…

  • Thailand NewsMRT 20-baht bonanza: MRT hits the jackpot for commuters

    MRT 20-baht bonanza: MRT hits the jackpot for commuters

    The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has hit the jackpot with its new 20-baht maximum fare policy, hailed as a major triumph in public transport. Launched as part of the Ministry of Transport’s Quick Win programme, Transportation for Public Prosperity, the initiative aims to lighten the commuting costs for everyone. Starting with the MRT Purple Line last week,…

  • Thailand NewsThailand backs 20-baht cap on mass transit fares

    Thailand backs 20-baht cap on mass transit fares

    Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) backs the Transport Ministry‘s initiative to cap mass transit electric train fares at 20 baht per trip, according to Secretary-General Saree Ongsomwang, who also advocates for a fair budget allocation for public bus services across all provinces. Saree stated that the 20-baht fare cap was one of Pheu Thai’s campaign promises ahead of last year’s election.…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya City approves 11km monorail project for 2027

    Pattaya City approves 11km monorail project for 2027

    Pattaya City has given the green light to an 11-kilometre monorail project, set to connect the Thap Phraya intersection on the western side to Nong Mai Kaen in the east. During the final public hearing for the proposed Purple Line monorail system on Wednesday, attendees approved the format, blueprint, and environmental impact study for the project’s second phase. Phutthaset Charoenphat,…

  • Thailand NewsPublic transport complaints in Thailand exceed 100,000 in 9 months

    Public transport complaints in Thailand exceed 100,000 in 9 months

    The Department of Land Transport has revealed that complaints about public transport in the past nine months have exceeded 100,000 cases, with the most common issue being rude behaviour. Over 40,000 public transport drivers have had points deducted, and 404 drivers have had their licenses suspended. Today, July 24, Seksom Akkharaphan, Deputy Director-General and spokesperson of the Department of Land…

  • GuidesTravellers guide to all transportation in Thailand

    Travellers guide to all transportation in Thailand

    Discovering the lively streets and serene landscapes of Thailand is sure to be on your bucket list but, like any journey, it has its challenges. Choosing among the abundant transportation options in Thailand can become quite a daunting task. In this guide, we will simplify the different options available to you. Popular urban transportation options in Thailand BTS Skytrain When…

  • Business NewsPink Line monorail to boost traffic to Mueang Thong Thani

    Pink Line monorail to boost traffic to Mueang Thong Thani

    Bangkok Land, a publicly traded company, anticipates that the Pink Line monorail will boost traffic and increase the occupancy rate of its exhibitions to 70% within five years. Chief Executive of Bangkok Land and operator of Impact Exhibition Management, Paul Kanjanapas reported that in the first half of the year, the company’s food, retail, and exhibition sectors met their growth…

  • Thailand NewsThai passengers seek help from drug-addicted minibus driver

    Thai passengers seek help from drug-addicted minibus driver

    Minibus passengers today sought help from Nakhon Pathom Highway Police after the drug-addicted driver drove dangerously on a trip from the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan to Bangkok. Officers from Nakhon Pathom Highway Police Station today, July 3, were alerted that the Bangkok-Prachuap Khiri Khan minibus driver was driving at a very high speed, and the vehicle was swerving…

  • Thailand NewsBYD electric bus charges Thong Lo roads in Bangkok

    BYD electric bus charges Thong Lo roads in Bangkok

    In a move towards eco-friendly commuting, BYD, the leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer from China, has unleashed its electric bus onto the bustling streets of Bangkok. Offering complimentary rides to commuters in the vibrant Thong Lo area until April 30, this trial run marks a pivotal moment in Thailand’s transportation landscape. Under the auspices of Rever Commercial Vehicles Ltd, the…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok’s Airport Rail Link faces major maintenance

    Bangkok’s Airport Rail Link faces major maintenance

    Bangkok’s bustling Airport Rail Link, a lifeline for commuters to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport, is gearing up for a major overhaul after 14 years in operation. After a recent inspection flagged critical issues, the Department of Rail Transport issued a stark warning: Neglecting maintenance could spell disaster for passengers, Director-General Pichet Kunadhamraks revealed yesterday. “Skipping this important step could jeopardise…

  • AutomotiveHow Thailand Transformed its transportation

    How Thailand Transformed its transportation

    Thailand’s journey with transportation, especially its railways, tells a fascinating tale of progress, pauses, and policy shifts. Since the Paknam Railway’s inception on 11 April 1893, the country has witnessed the evolution of its transport systems, albeit with a slow expansion post-1960s. Only about 360km of railway lines were added from 1960 to 1990, highlighting a period of slowed growth.…

  • Thailand NewsCalls for government subsidy on all Bangkok public transport

    Calls for government subsidy on all Bangkok public transport

    A call for government subsidisation of all public transportation in Bangkok was made at a forum aiming to alleviate the city’s commuting issues. The event, attended by approximately 100 individuals including locals, was a collaboration between the House Committee on Consumer Protection, the Thailand Consumers Council and the Foundation for Consumers. The agenda was to gather consumer perspectives on the…

  • Thailand NewsMinibus manager fined 5,000 baht for leaving Thai YouTuber stranded (video)

    Minibus manager fined 5,000 baht for leaving Thai YouTuber stranded (video)

    The Department of Land Transport (DLT) imposed a 5,000 baht fine on a minibus station manager after he refused to serve a Thai YouTuber, leading to the victim being stranded at a station in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. Thai travel YouTuber, Worrachat “Chiang” Thamrongwarangkun, shared his bad experience with his followers on Facebook and YouTube (Chiang Paiyoonaima). Chiang…

  • Thailand NewsGas protest: Public transport fleets roll up to Government House against rising NGV prices

    Gas protest: Public transport fleets roll up to Government House against rising NGV prices

    Hundreds of public transport vehicles, led by several operators’ associations, converged outside Thailand’s Government House yesterday in a demonstration against soaring natural gas for vehicles NGV prices. The protestors, who included representatives of provincial and city public van operators, as well as bus, mini-bus, and songthaew associations, demanded a reduction in the NGV price from nearly 20 baht per kilogramme…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok bus bust-up: Dismissed driver’s fare share of woes

    Bangkok bus bust-up: Dismissed driver’s fare share of woes

    A bus driver has been dismissed following an incident in which a young man claimed he was verbally abused and forced off the bus. The driver, who said he was afraid of dismissal, confirmed he had been let go by the company. The incident occurred on Route 1013, between Hua Takhe and Seacon Square, and was posted on the popular…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket to introduce ‘baht bus’ style transport service in tourist hotspot

    Phuket to introduce ‘baht bus’ style transport service in tourist hotspot

    Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) is currently accepting applications from operators to establish a circular ‘baht bus’ style public transportation system in Phuket’s busiest tourist area. The announcement was made on the PLTO’s official Facebook page yesterday, with three separate notices for potential operators to provide bus transport services within Patong. Two of these notices outlined two circular routes, while…

  • Thailand NewsMini bus driver caught on viral video threatening to hit foreigner with iron bar in Phuket

    Mini bus driver caught on viral video threatening to hit foreigner with iron bar in Phuket

    A video has gone viral of a Thai minibus driver threatening to strike a foreigner with an iron bar in Phuket. The case is under investigation by the police. In the video shared yesterday, July 2, a white minivan is seen parked on a roadside in front of a coffee shop on Ratsada Road in Phuket. The driver, dressed in…

  • Thailand NewsThailand bans standing up on songthaews, drivers aren’t happy

    Thailand bans standing up on songthaews, drivers aren’t happy

    Thailand introduced a law on Friday which requires passengers to sit down when travelling on a songthaew, a popular form of public transport. However, songthaew drivers say the law is detrimental to their livelihoods and are worried it could lead to extortion. A songthaew is a passenger vehicle converted from a pickup truck with two rows of seats. Songthaews have…

  • Transport NewsFree trial of Pink and Yellow monorail lines in December

    Free trial of Pink and Yellow monorail lines in December

    Though not fully finished and operational, the Thai government declared that the Pink Line and Yellow Line of the monorail system in Bangkok will be opened for a free trial in December. More progress on the construction has been made on the new lines of the rapid transit system and the government hopes to show the public the lines in…

  • Covid-19 NewsFace masks still required on public transport, in cinemas

    Face masks still required on public transport, in cinemas

    Thailand recently celebrated lifting all remaining Covid-19 restrictions and fully reopening its borders to international travellers. But, while tourists can enter without proof of vaccination or negative tests, face masks are still mandatory on public transportation throughout the country. A deputy director of the Department of Health has explained that some Covid safety and prevention measures remain in place. In…

  • World NewsUS mask mandate on public transport lifted following court ruling

    US mask mandate on public transport lifted following court ruling

    A federal judge in Florida has ruled that a mask mandate on public transport in the US is unlawful, eliminating the disease prevention measure. According to a Reuters report, the mandate was extended last week until May 3, requiring passengers on trains, planes, in taxis, and at transit hubs to wear face masks. The lifting of the mandate comes as…

  • World NewsVietnam’s Hanoi Metro faces boycott, lacks of passengers

    Vietnam’s Hanoi Metro faces boycott, lacks of passengers

    The Cát Linh-Ha Dong line of the Hanoi Metro, Vietnam’s first mass transit train service, which was launched on November 6 this year, is reportedly facing a public boycott for cooperating with China despite its initial excellent service and high expectations. It came to attention as local media reported last month that the service is lacking passengers, at around 12,000…

  • Transport NewsPublic transport drivers subject to safety points system from December

    Public transport drivers subject to safety points system from December

    The Department of Land Transport is implementing a points-based system to punish public transport drivers for bad behaviours starting December 1. The system will give drivers 100 points to begin with and demerit points for every violation of traffic laws or safety, resulting in a temporary suspension of their license. The Director-General of the department explained the system that will…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Vaccine schedule for Thailand and new train hub | February 4

    Thailand News Today | Vaccine schedule for Thailand and new train hub | February 4

    While there’s no exact date on the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines, Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is assuring the public that the first order of the AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive this month, despite the E’s restrictions on Covid-19 vaccine exports at the moment. The National Vaccine Institute is working on getting the first shipment by the end pf February, according to…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Survey shows a third of tourism businesses are broke or shut down | January 25

    Thailand News Today | Survey shows a third of tourism businesses are broke or shut down | January 25

    For those who need to extend their tourist visa, the Thai Immigration Bureau is asking that applicants make an appointment online to reserve their spot. The bureau says the online appointments will help with preventing the spread of Covid-19 by reducing overcrowding and making sure people abide by social distancing practices. And you thought it was about increasing efficiency. Applicants…

  • Transport NewsConstruction of new Bangkok rail links set for completion this year

    Construction of new Bangkok rail links set for completion this year

    Bangkok residents will see construction of a number of rail projects finally completed this year, with hopes this will do something to alleviate traffic problems in the capital, as well as improving air quality. The Bangkok Post reports on 4 electric rail routes it’s hoped will be up and running later this year. The Pink Line This 34.5 kilometre track…