Bangkok Subway or MRT

The Bangkok Subway became a reality in July 2004. It had taken seven years to build, comprising 21 kilometres of bored tunnels, with 18 simultaneously-built stations, using top-down techniques up to 30 meters deep under the city's major roads. But, that is not the important stuff, you just want to know how to use it as part of the Bangkok transportation system.

Officially called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) the line operates from 5am to midnight, and extends in a wide loop from the main railway station of Hualampong, then tracks back via the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to the smaller rail station of Bang Sue to the north.

The Bangkok subway is very convenient if you plan to use the Thailand railway system. Taxi and bus service to the main train station in Bangkok can be very slow due to traffic congestion. The subway line ends at Hualampong and it is only a short walk underground from the subway to the train station.

It has interchanges with the Bangkok Skytrain at Silom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations. The connecting skytrain stations are Saladaeng, Asoke and Mo Chit, respectively. To protect against periodic flooding, station entrances are elevated above ground, and equipped with built-in floodgates. To prevent accidents and suicides, a glassed-in Automatic Platform Screen Door separates the platform and track, and opens only when the trains pull in and stop. All stations feature lifts and ramps for disabled people. The Bangkok Subway stations are all air-conditioned (unlike the open-air Skytrain) and they even have cell phone service 5 stories underground.

As with the Bangkok skytrain, there are a number of ticket types, which only need to be held close to the ticket barriers to operate them. Tokens are used for single journeys. An unlimited 1 day go-as-you please travel ticket currently costs 120 baht. A joint ticketing system for the Bangkok subway and Bangkok skytrain is planned. Single ticket fares for the subway begin at 17 baht.

My children love to use the Subway when we visit Bangkok. The Subway is not as heavily used as the Skytrain, and it does take time to walk to the stations, purchase a token for each member of your family, ride the escalators down to the trains, wait for the train, and then go back up to street level at your destination. Use of the Bangkok Subway may save time during peak traffic periods, but at other times a taxi is probably quicker. But if you have a chance, take a ride on the Bangkok Subway. It is truly an engineering marvel.

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