Travelling by train is fun and cheap...
Here's what's free or reduced at the moment. Pete 
Free water, power, travel to continue
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 7/07/2009 at 02:41 PM
The government would definitely extend the free power, water and travel subsidies for low income earners to help them cope with the economic downturn, Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit said on Tuesday.
"The scheme could be continued for another two months after the end of fiscal year 2009 in September, or even for another year," Mr Pradit said.
He said the cabinet meeting will look into this issue.
The government would use any means necessary to spur the economy, he said.
The economy had somewhat recovered because of the external factors, but investors still lacked confidence in the political situation, he said.
The five-pronged range of economic measures to help low income earners was inititally introduced by the Samak government lastyear when the global financial meltdown first hit and was continued by successive governments. The measures expire this month.
The measures were: free tap water for households nationwide using less than 30 units a month, free electricity for households throughout the country using less than 90 units monthly, free third class travel on some carriages on trains, free travel on 800 buses of the state-run Bangkok Mass Transit Authority on 73 routes in Bangkok, and a freeze on the price of cooking gas.
Free water, power, travel to continue
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 7/07/2009 at 02:41 PM
The government would definitely extend the free power, water and travel subsidies for low income earners to help them cope with the economic downturn, Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit said on Tuesday.
"The scheme could be continued for another two months after the end of fiscal year 2009 in September, or even for another year," Mr Pradit said.
He said the cabinet meeting will look into this issue.
The government would use any means necessary to spur the economy, he said.
The economy had somewhat recovered because of the external factors, but investors still lacked confidence in the political situation, he said.
The five-pronged range of economic measures to help low income earners was inititally introduced by the Samak government lastyear when the global financial meltdown first hit and was continued by successive governments. The measures expire this month.
The measures were: free tap water for households nationwide using less than 30 units a month, free electricity for households throughout the country using less than 90 units monthly, free third class travel on some carriages on trains, free travel on 800 buses of the state-run Bangkok Mass Transit Authority on 73 routes in Bangkok, and a freeze on the price of cooking gas.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Apparantly, there was an article in The BKK Post yesterday saying that the government intend to continue with measures to reduce certain costs for low income households.
The measures are free tap water for households using less than 30 units a mth, free electricity for h/holds using less than 90 units a mth, free third class travel on some carriages on some trains, free travel on 800 buses of the state-run BKK MTA on 73 routes in BKK and a freeze on the price of cooking gas.
Perhaps that's what charlesh was referring to? These measures were introduced by Samak last year and were continued by successive governments. They're mooted to continue until around Nov 2009, or maybe for another year.
I couldn't find the article in The BKK Post though.
The measures are free tap water for households using less than 30 units a mth, free electricity for h/holds using less than 90 units a mth, free third class travel on some carriages on some trains, free travel on 800 buses of the state-run BKK MTA on 73 routes in BKK and a freeze on the price of cooking gas.
Perhaps that's what charlesh was referring to? These measures were introduced by Samak last year and were continued by successive governments. They're mooted to continue until around Nov 2009, or maybe for another year.
I couldn't find the article in The BKK Post though.
Pete -
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We were a bunch of people taking the over-night train 1st class to Chiang Mai a few years back. Service and beds were excellent, but the aircon was indeed blasting very cold air all night...bring a sweater or blanket...
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margaretcarnes
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Travelling by train is fun and cheap
Don't monks automatically travel free on the trains? (Mind you they do seem to stick largely to 3rd class anyway.)
BTW sleepers to Chiang Mai have been mentioned by two folks already. Anyone know if they are available direct from HH to Chiang Mai? When I checked out HH to CM trains last year it looked like almost a 2 day journey, so a direct sleeper would be great.
BTW sleepers to Chiang Mai have been mentioned by two folks already. Anyone know if they are available direct from HH to Chiang Mai? When I checked out HH to CM trains last year it looked like almost a 2 day journey, so a direct sleeper would be great.
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
Re: Travelling by train is fun and cheap
margaret,margaretcarnes wrote:Don't monks automatically travel free on the trains? (Mind you they do seem to stick largely to 3rd class anyway.)
BTW sleepers to Chiang Mai have been mentioned by two folks already. Anyone know if they are available direct from HH to Chiang Mai? When I checked out HH to CM trains last year it looked like almost a 2 day journey, so a direct sleeper would be great.
all roads lead to bangkok but trains don't coordinate like they do in europe. i'd suggest the usual way to BKK (minivan for me), have a nice dinner then on to the train.
overnight to CM leaves 7:45pm or so, arrives about 8:45am to a nice open-air station. you could book it at HH station though.
Happiness can't buy money
No direct trains from Hua Hin to anywhere north of Bangkok as far as I know....have to do some juggling.
Here is another very good website: www.Seat61.com
Here is another very good website: www.Seat61.com
When Chuck Norris does a push up, he isn't pushing himself up, he is pushing the earth down.
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margaretcarnes
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Travelling by train is fun and cheap
Thanks guys - worth knowing about the Bkk/CM sleeper anyway. Last time we took the train to Bangers, stayed over, and flew next day. Which is fine as theres never a rush to get anywhere, but sleeper would be around half the price and save the check-in hassle!
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
Went to the Hua Hin train station about 2 weeks ago to buy (2) 1st class tickets for: Hua Hin - Bangkok, Bangkok - Nong Khai, Nong Khai – Bangkok, Bangkok – Hua Hin.
Train ticket man said I could only buy the Bangkok-Nong Khai, Nong Khai-Bangkok tickets, but that I had to wait until at least 7 days before departure to buy the Hua Hin-Bangkok, Bangkok-Hua Hin tickets.
6 days before departure went to the station to buy the tickets. Different train ticket man says, “No, have to wait until 1 day before”.
Me: Ahh come the f__k on, one person says 7 days, and another says 1 day….which one is it?
Train ticket man and my GF talk for a minute, then GF gives him five train numbers, in order in which I would like to take (Train# 36, 38, 84, 86 HH-BKK, and train# 35 BKK-HH).
Train ticket man said I could buy tickets for train# 84 or 86 (thought I had to wait until 1 day prior???).
Ok, what about the train coming back (# 35).
Train ticket man: “Too early”!
Me: WTF?!?!
So, does anyone know where I can find, in English or Thai, what the rule really is?
Would like to carry this to the train station each time I go to buy a ticket.
Thanks.
Train ticket man said I could only buy the Bangkok-Nong Khai, Nong Khai-Bangkok tickets, but that I had to wait until at least 7 days before departure to buy the Hua Hin-Bangkok, Bangkok-Hua Hin tickets.
6 days before departure went to the station to buy the tickets. Different train ticket man says, “No, have to wait until 1 day before”.
Me: Ahh come the f__k on, one person says 7 days, and another says 1 day….which one is it?
Train ticket man and my GF talk for a minute, then GF gives him five train numbers, in order in which I would like to take (Train# 36, 38, 84, 86 HH-BKK, and train# 35 BKK-HH).
Train ticket man said I could buy tickets for train# 84 or 86 (thought I had to wait until 1 day prior???).
Ok, what about the train coming back (# 35).
Train ticket man: “Too early”!
Me: WTF?!?!
So, does anyone know where I can find, in English or Thai, what the rule really is?
Would like to carry this to the train station each time I go to buy a ticket.
Thanks.
When Chuck Norris does a push up, he isn't pushing himself up, he is pushing the earth down.
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margaretcarnes
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Travelling by train is fun and cheap
Oh dear - sorry that puzzle is a bit too much! Buksi might be able to help on the definitve rules front. If there are any - which I doubt.
There are I think regulations - or maybe guidelines - on how far in advance tickets from HH to anywhere can be booked. I've got an idea it is 7 days max, down to 24 hours in advance of travel. I've usually just rocked up at HH station and always been able to get on the next train to Bangkok, but did book once for the sleeper going South. As I recall that booking had to be done more than 24 hours in advance.
I've never tried to book in HH for a journey from Bangkok, but suspect that, although technically of course it should be possible, (given the pretty good computer system they have,) there may be issues about taking payment in HH for journeys on other lines? Or maybe different advance booking rules from Bangkok onwards, as well as differences according to the class of train.
It's a shame really that these things which would be the norm in the West cause such a problem in LOS. But maybe we shouldn't expect such Western efficiency anyway. It would take all the fun out of it!
BTW I don't know if the HuaLamphong phone system has dragged itself into the 21st century yet. Last time I looked their enquiry office had a huge table full of nothing but phones. Much easier than teaching someone how to use a switchboard!
There are I think regulations - or maybe guidelines - on how far in advance tickets from HH to anywhere can be booked. I've got an idea it is 7 days max, down to 24 hours in advance of travel. I've usually just rocked up at HH station and always been able to get on the next train to Bangkok, but did book once for the sleeper going South. As I recall that booking had to be done more than 24 hours in advance.
I've never tried to book in HH for a journey from Bangkok, but suspect that, although technically of course it should be possible, (given the pretty good computer system they have,) there may be issues about taking payment in HH for journeys on other lines? Or maybe different advance booking rules from Bangkok onwards, as well as differences according to the class of train.
It's a shame really that these things which would be the norm in the West cause such a problem in LOS. But maybe we shouldn't expect such Western efficiency anyway. It would take all the fun out of it!
BTW I don't know if the HuaLamphong phone system has dragged itself into the 21st century yet. Last time I looked their enquiry office had a huge table full of nothing but phones. Much easier than teaching someone how to use a switchboard!
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
Re: Travelling by train is fun and cheap
I booked BKK>>>CM return once at the Pattaya station. Shouldn't be any trouble, its all SRT and they have computers. Pay and get the ticket.margaretcarnes wrote:Oh dear - sorry that puzzle is a bit too much! Buksi might be able to help on the definitve rules front. If there are any - which I doubt.
There are I think regulations - or maybe guidelines - on how far in advance tickets from HH to anywhere can be booked. I've got an idea it is 7 days max, down to 24 hours in advance of travel. I've usually just rocked up at HH station and always been able to get on the next train to Bangkok, but did book once for the sleeper going South. As I recall that booking had to be done more than 24 hours in advance.
I've never tried to book in HH for a journey from Bangkok, but suspect that, although technically of course it should be possible, (given the pretty good computer system they have,) there may be issues about taking payment in HH for journeys on other lines? Or maybe different advance booking rules from Bangkok onwards, as well as differences according to the class of train.
It's a shame really that these things which would be the norm in the West cause such a problem in LOS. But maybe we shouldn't expect such Western efficiency anyway. It would take all the fun out of it!
BTW I don't know if the HuaLamphong phone system has dragged itself into the 21st century yet. Last time I looked their enquiry office had a huge table full of nothing but phones. Much easier than teaching someone how to use a switchboard!
Advance booking for sleepers is best though last December we walked up in Hat Yai at 1pm and were on the sleeper to BKK departing about 4:30pm.
Happiness can't buy money