Mini-bus smash to BKK

[MrPlum]

I decided to try the 08.05 express; the train didn't actually leave until 08.45, getting into Hua Hin about 12.30. The journey was good, despite the delay, and I was served with drinks, a snack and a light lunch, I thought the experience was fine and would certainly use the train again.

My g/f took a train from BKK to Sara Buri and had a poor experience. I haven't tried myself.

Was there a particular class you sat in? The lack of upholstery I have in the buttock department, means I don't care to sit on wooden seats for 4 hours.

[Governor]

The Diesal Railcar Express is all 2nd Class and goes from Bangkok to Surat Thani, stopping off at Hua Hin, but only makes one return trip per day. It has two air conditioned carriages with soft reclining seats, it's fine for the trip, on the day I travelled anyway, but I am not saying it is luxury, but at 382 Baht from Bangkok to Hua Hin not bad at all.

There are other services, including the 3rd Class wooden seats to which you refer, but I have not used them.

This link gives a few details of the rail services.

http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Southern%20Thailand

[lomuamart]

Another link here. I'm fairly confident that the timetable is up-to-date:
http://www.tourismhuahin.com/trains-huahin.php

[Spitfire]

The mini-van drivers are all lunies and should be sectioned straight away. Most drive mini-vans that don't belong to them, so therefore don't care. The big buses are disturbing for many reasons, but the one I'll mention is when I'm driving along at 90-100km and one shoots past leaving me in its dust and smoke, whilst swaying from left to right and back wheels almost coming off the ground. Gave up bus travel a while back, want to live, everytime I drive someplace that's over 30km from my house I see something big totalled on the side of the road.

[Guess]

The mini-van drivers are all lunies and should be sectioned straight away. ..........................

Although I have seen one or two exceptions. The speed in itself is not the only fear for me. It is the incompetence and the total lack of road sense and sensitivity to danger.

Everybody should report their concern to the company that runs the bus. maybe after a couple of decades the message might get through especially when alternatives are pointed out.

I still rate the train the best. Accidents happen but in 99% of cases its is the driver in the truck or the lady checking her make up and making a cell phone call that gets hurt (well dead actually) on the crossings. It does delay the train which can be annoying.

This problem could easily be solved by using US style bull catchers at the front. If they make them strong enough to withstand a side on impact with a 1 ton truck carry 3.5 tons of sugar cane then the train could just plough on and not cause unnecessary delay to the passengers.

What has be remembered regarding the SRT is that is was implemented by the British for Rama V. Frequent accidents and trains departing late for no apparent reason is built in to the British system and has been transferred here.

PS A taxi driver who crossed over the railway track at the unmanned ungated crossing just south of Kao Takieb without even a glance told me that no trains used the line.

[dtaai-maai]

What has be remembered regarding the SRT is that is was implemented by the British for Rama V. Frequent accidents and trains departing late for no apparent reason is built in to the British system and has been transferred here.

Apparently the 1967 think tank set up to provide the wrong kind of snow for the Thai railway system is expected to produce a report soon.

[phillostar]

I decided to try the 08.05 express; the train didn't actually leave until 08.45, getting into Hua Hin about 12.30. The journey was good, despite the delay, and I was served with drinks, a snack and a light lunch, I thought the experience was fine and would certainly use the train again.

I returned to Bangkok late on Wednesday afternoon, and the train times were not so good so I got a taxi back. I got a returning Bangkok taxi for 1,500 Baht, door to door, which I thought was pretty good value especially as there were two of us.

I took this train(43) also to Hua Hin, and the trip and service during the trip was plesant. Also had a new thrilling experience by smoking a cig between the 2 train carriages. You were lucky leaving 40 minutes later, my train came in 2,5 hours late But still i think travelling by train is most relaxing, i can´t take the busy traffic with its crazy drivers, especialy because im used to drive myself.

On my way back to Bangkok i had a early train(38) at 6:25am, the sit had more comfort because of a bigger seat pitch so you could stretch your legs more.

[Spitfire]

Think you're about right there Guess when you say the trains are the safest way to go. Just a pity that there aren't a few more track routes other than the main four. Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen would be a good example of what's needed. Though that's another topic, so will leave it there.