Bangkok Skytrain | Sky train in Thailand

Skytrain Bangkok

The Bangkok Skytrain or BTS as it is better known was completed in 1999 and has proved to be a God send. It isn't the first attempt at a BTS system. The original project was called Hopewell but the economic crash at that time meant that it was called off even though hundreds of pillars had been erected. Many of the original pillars can still be seen and it's anyone's guess as to whether they will remain as relics or eventually be pulled down.

The Bangkok skytrain system is split into two lines with the lines connecting only once at Siam. This means that all changes occur at the same place and it gets very busy and chaotic. In fact, it's extremely messy in rush hour with the locals all attempting to be the first to get on and off.

Queues are formed but people ignore them and push to the front and when a train arrives it's a free for all.

The BTS covers most business amd shopping areas but doesn't cover the temples and other tourist places and has been designed so that almost every major shopping mall has been given direct assess to a BTS station. This means you can get off the train and walk almost directly into a store without the need to completely exit the station.

Each train have about 4 carriages and can carry a total of 1,000 people although at rush hour this feels like much more.

Of the main shopping centers, only Central World Plaza does not have direct access but a Skywalk has also been built which connects stations and department stores together allowing you to walk from one store to the other without having to walk at street level. This is very convenient.


The trains are clean and efficient	The trains run to a fairly tight schedule

How Much Does The Bangkok Skytrain Cost?

The cost of a ticket depends on your location and destination, but it is a cheap system to use and attracts many people which has helped enormously to reduce the traffic congestion.

Expect to pay between 15 and 50 Baht for a ticket. Tickets for single journeys can be purchased from a ticket vending machine. The machine takes 5 and 10 Baht coins which can be obtained from the change counter which can be found at each station, or, if available, you can feed notes into a ticket vending machine which uses a touch screen monitor to select your destination. The screen will probably be in Thai, but you can select English. For more information on how to use the ticket machines or to get change, please visit the Official Skytrain Website

Travel Cards and Travel Passes

There are a number of travel cards or travel passes available. You can get day travel cards for adults and students, or, if you are staying in Bangkok longer and will use the skytrain often, you might want to get a 30 day SmartPass. For more information on the types of travel cards available, please visit the Official Website

Is It Safe & Reliable ?

The Sky train in Bangkok is both safe and reliable. In rush hour, starting around 7 am until about 9 am trains run very frequently at roughly 3 minute intervals. No department stores are open at those times and trains can get very busy with people heading off to work. At the terminal stations, where large numbers of people join the trains in the mornings, the stations get so packed, it's almost impossible to get any more on the station platform and just when you think people will spill over onto the tracks, a train arrives and it clears again. Trains run approximately every 5 minutes when not rush hour.

There are station guards at each end of the platforms to ensure the safety of the passengers. A yellow line is on the platform to indicate a safe distance to stand before a train arrives. Stand behind the line and all is well, step one foot over and you'll quickly be deafened by a screeching whistle as a guard tells you to step back.

Wheelchair Access

Each station has a lift for those using a wheel chair or for those with disabilities although there are escalators at every station going up and down. This is made all the more useful with the introduction of the Skywalk which will easily allow wheel chair users to smoothly get from a station to most shopping malls in the central shopping areas of Bangkok.

Where Can I Go ?

The Skytrain covers Bangkok's business and shopping areas down Sukhumvit Road, part of Silom and Sathorn and along Pholyothin Road but not the sight seeing tourist areas such as temples. It can take you to most major shopping malls and department stores, or at least to a station that allows for easy walking to one. The one exception is probably Pantip Plaza which is a 10 minute walk from the nearest station.
One of the major tourist attractions, Chatuchak weekend market is also served by the BTS system as well as the underground / MRT system


Ticket barriers	Inside one of the trains

Station Extensions

Two new stations have recently been added to the system. These two stations have opened past Saphan Taksin station. This takes the skytrain over the river but does not go to any shopping malls or tourist areas

Map Of BTS Stations

**On Nut - Mo Chit Line**
Station Name	Places In That Area
On-Nut	Not much
Phra Khanong	Not much
Ekkamai	Ekkamai Eastern Bus terminal. Buses leave from here for Pattaya and other places. Ekkamai has up market bars.
Thong Lor	Soi Thonglor has a number of good bars, restaurants and apartments.
Phrom Phong	The Emporium, Villa Supermarket, Sukhumvit 24
Asoke Subway	The Grande Sheraton Sukhumvit Hotel, Soi Cowboy,
Nana	Nana Plaza, Marriott Hotel, Landmark Hotel, Ambassador Hotel, Bumrungrad Hospital
Ploenchit	Marriott Hotel, Ploenchit Shopping Centre, Bumrungrad Hospital
Chitlom	Central Chidlom, Soi Langsuan, Sogo, Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, Erawan Shrine.
Siam	Siam Paragon, Siam Centre, Siam Discovery, Siam Square & Central World Plaza
Ratchathewi	Asia Hotel and a 10 minute walk to Pantip Plaza.
Phaya Thai	Not Much
Victory Monument	Victory Monument, Pullman Hotel and King Power Duty Free
Sanam Pao	Not much
Ari	Not much
Saphan Khwai	Not much
Mo Chit Subway	Chatuchak weekend market and Mo Chit bus station for various destinations around Thailand.

**Saphan Taksin - National Stadium**
Station Name	Places In That Area
Saphan Taksin	River ferries, boat cruises. Close to Center Point Serviced Apartment, Robinson Department Store. Nearest hotels are: Holiday Inn, Shangri La and The Oriental
Surasak	St. Louis Hospital
Chong Nonsri	Bangkok City Tower, The Ascott Serviced Apartments, Singapore Embassy.
Sala Daeng Subway	Silom Road, Patpong, Central Silom Complex, Robinson Department Store O'Reilly's Pub, close to Serviced apartments on Saladaeng, HSBC bank, Canadian Embassy.
Ratchadamri	Race Course and Golf Course, Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel,
Siam	Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Siam Square
National Stadium	National Stadium, MBK, Siam Discovery, Chulalonkorn University.