TAKING THE UNDERGROUND MRT IN BANGKOK

Okay, I have amassed all the information I currently know about the MRT underground train system in Bangkok.

For starters, it is in operation from 6am to midnight. I will be writing to the Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs to extend it to 24/7/365. Wait for my good news. 

The Petchaburi MRT Station is about 300m from the Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Interchange Station. You can go to and fro Suvarnabhumi International Airport this way. No more traffic jam with a bladder about to burst inside a taxi. 

The MRT underground line connects to the BTS Skytrain at Sukhumvit and Silom stations.

You can reach the following destinations via the MRT:

• Hua Lamphong Nearby: Chinatown, Central Railway Station
• Sam Yan Nearby: Jim Thompson Shop, Chamchuri Square, Snake Farm
• Silom Nearby: Patpong Night Market, Saladaeng BTS Skytrain, Dusit Thani Hotel, Lumpini Park
• Lumpini Nearby: Lumpini Park, Lumpini Boxing Stadium, Vertigo and Moon Bar (at Banyan Tree Bangkok), The Sukhothai Bangkok
• Klong Toei Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre Nearby: Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Stock Exchange of Thailand
• Sukhumvit Nearby: Asok BTS Skytrain, The Long Table Bangkok, Terminal 21, Soi Cowboy, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit
• Phetchaburi Nearby: Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station,
• Rama 9 Nearby: Central Plaza Rama 9, Fortune Town, Grand Mercure Fortune Bangkok
• Thailand Cultural Centre Nearby: The Esplanade, Siam Niramit
• Huay Kwang Nearby: Swissotel le Concorde, Mansion 7
  Sutthisarn
• Ratchadapisek
• Lad Phrao
• Phaholyothin Nearby: Central Plaza Lad Phrao, Union Mall
• Chatuchak Nearby: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Chatuchak Park, Rod Fai Park
• Kampaengphet Nearby: Or Tor Kor Market, Rod Fai Market, Chatuchak Weekend Market
• Bang Sue

Please, I beg you, take note of the following:

• If you want to go to Lumpin Park, do not get off at Lumpini Station. Exit at Silom Station.
• If you want to go to Central Lad Phrao, do not get off at Lad Phrao Station. Exit at Phaholyothin Station.
• If you want to go to Chatuchak Market, do not get off at Chatuchak Park Station. Exit at Kamphaeng Phet Station.
• If you want to go to Thailand Cultural Center, you will need to get a taxi from the station. The Thailand Cultural Centre is a fair distance from Thailand Cultural Centre Station.
• The MRT underground’s Stored Value Cards are not useable for the BTS Skytrain or Airport Rail Link.  

You can purchase store value cards if you don't want the hassle of looking for coins before each trip to feed the ticket vending machines. For unlimited trips, there are one, three and 30 day passes. They cost 120, 230 and 1,400 baht respectively. 

Or you can buy an adult 230 baht card that automatically deducts what is used per trip (150 baht travel value, 50 baht deposit and 30 baht issuing fee; the 50 baht deposit will be returned to you after use)

As a tourist, do try to avoid peak hours as it can get pretty cramped. And PLEASE QUEUE, like all Thais do :)