Posted: 04/06/2014 9:41 pm Post subject: Railfans from Singapore & Malaysia coming to Thailand
I got this message from KTM railwayfan from SIngapore as shown here:
STN wrote:
Dear Khun Wiz
This is Singapore-based Hong Kong railfan Yuen Shek Ngai here (user id STN).
After some time of observing the situation and also (especially) the cheap air ticket availability, my Father have decided to start visiting Bangkok, tentatively from 2 July 2014 onwards.
The following are the things I intend to do during my stay in Bangkok :
1. Hualamphong morning spotting (i.e. 0630 till 0925h, local time, same as below)
2. Hualamphong afternoon spotting (1445 to 1810h)
3. Hualamphong night spotting (1825 to 2130h)
4. Bangsue 1 morning spotting (0700 to 0850h)
5. Bangsue 1 afternoon spotting (2-something pm till 1958h)
6. Bangsue 2 morning spotting (0737 to 0852h)
7. Bangsue 2 afternoon spotting (2-something pm till 1958h)
The above 7 items, I may need a few days (like say 5 days) to complete.
8. Visit and/or trainspotting at Thonburi
9. Red Line joyride in the afternoon (Taling Chan - Bang Son - Taling Chan)
10. Suvarnabhumi airport visit and also the ride on both the Airport express (red) and airport city shuttle (blue) - during afternoon
11. BTS Joyride - all lines, preferably daytime
12. BTS Saphan Taksin spotting (see it before it's gone for good)
13. Mahachai AND Maeklong Line visit (to schedule it on a Sunday morning, half day, so bundle with item 12. as mentioned above)
14. Visit to Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom (1 full day - intend to schedule it on Saturday so as to take the train 909/910 direct from Hualamphong.)
15. Ayutthaya (and possibly up to Lopburi if I still have the time after visiting the Ayutthaya i.e. [Bangkok - Ayutthaya - Lopburi - Bangkok]) (1 full day)
16. Eastern Line joyride (Bangkok - Makkasan), bundle with the visit to Airport (item 10 above).
19. Lastly, go around and explore inside Bangkok downtown (the Rattakonsin and Yaowarat area, I allow for a full day to explore), and shopping malls (Rama I road, Sukhumvit Road, Silom Road, Victory Monument) area (another 1 full day allocated).
Given such a long list, may I know if 7 days is sufficient to cover it all ? Or do I need 8, 9 or even 10 days stay in Bangkok ?
I do not intend to go into any train depots though - unless railway staffs "invite" me in etc. This trip is, as with previous Jakarta visit, can say to be a trainspotting and train joyride trip to Bangkok.
Lastly, how does the SRT HQ near Hualamphong look like ?
Thank you for your kind advice and help in the planning.
Best Regards
Yuen Shek Ngai (STN)
Khun Bomb, Ajarn Ek, Papa Nut, what is your suggestion to STN so he can make a trainspotting without trouble.
Last edited by Wisarut on 26/06/2014 5:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
Here is some more from KTM railwayfan from SIngapore as shown heree:
STN wrote:
1. Is it theoretically and technically possible for me to joyride and sightseeing in this way - [Bangkok Hualamphong - Ayutthaya (sightseeing around 2 to 4 hours) - Lopburi (sightseeing around 1.5 to 2 hours) - Bangkok] within one day ?
2. Any way where I can get quite (or at best, very) near to the Rama VI Bridge to do trainspotting especially in the mornings (incoming wave) or afternoons (outgoing wave) ?
3. Aside from Hualamphong, are platform tickets (2 baht each) sold at other maybe major stations such as Bang Sue, Thonburi, Bang Bamru, Taling Chan Junction, Salaya as well ?
4. the combination of Mahachai and Maeklong Line trains I intend to take as follows :
Wong Wien Yai 0835am - Mahachai 0928am - Ban Laem 1010am - Mae Khlong 1110am/1130am - Ban Laem 1230am - Mahachai 1315pm - Wong Wien Yai 1413pm
OR
Wong Wien Yai 1215pm - Mahachai 1310pm - Ban Laem 1330pm - Mae Khlong 1430pm/1530pm - Ban Laem 1630pm - Mahachai 1735pm - Wong Wien Yai 1825pm
5. original item 17. in the first PM sent to you should now read as : "Bangkok / Bangsue 2 - Via Rama VI Bridge - Bang Bamru (added on), Taling Chan or Salaya joyride." this is a totally separate set of planned joyride from the trial section of the Red Line.
6. Lastly, please advise if you are able to meet up and show my family around Bangkok for trains during the period of visit (dates slightly amended so I will inform the exact dates around next week when my Father booked the air tickets).
Some more input from KTM railwayfan from Singapore:
STN wrote:
After compiling from many very useful inputs and advices be it through discussing with my Father (who will go with me to Bangkok), the PMs to/from you, from NickL as well as one other local friend (via Facebook), and gathering up my mind from these inputs, I have made big adjustments to my itineary, so as to make it suitable for all parties involved (i.e. easier to meet up, buy tickets, do trainspotting etc).
Air tickets have also been booked, coming in on Thursday 3 July 2014 morning on a Jetstar and leaving Bangkok on Saturday 12 July 2014 evening also on a Jetstar. Hotel will be booked shortly after and is a hotel right next (2 minutes walk) to Hualamphong Station.
Basically the changes and highlights of my itineary (draft) would be this :
1. Visit to Thonburi area (bundled up with visit to Rattakonsin before Thonburi, midday joyride Thonburi-Salaya-Thonburi, and Khao San Road right after finishing the most important parts of Thonburi) would avoid Tuesday (because the old station building don't open on Tuesday).
2. I would schedule my BTS and MRT spottings/joyrides on weekdays mostly.
3. Kanchanaburi I have decided to stick to weekends and use the 909/910 on either Saturday OR Sunday depending on availability. Likesay if I use it on Saturday (the most preferred), then Sunday you will be able to meet up with me and show me other spotting sites in and around Bangkok (this is plan A). Or vice versa like say if there are no tickets on Saturday, then meet and bring around on Saturday while I and my Father would go Kanchanaburi on Sunday instead (this is Plan B). If both dates no ticket, then saturday take the normal train from Thonburi instead (plan C).
4. As for Lopburi, I have decided (with regret) to drop it from my plans due to the distance and frequency of trains to/from Bangkok, as well as my Father's opinion that there is not much to see in Lopburi. Likewise, Eastern Line frequency is not that good either...so chances are I may not be able to include Hua Takhe in the itineary.
5. Ayutthaya, this one I would prefer to try the rapid trains and above, and not ordinary trains or anything below that, because intercity type trains are faster as well as have meal service/buffet coach. of course I would want to try its in train food !
However I am not sure if ordinary train still have the third class buffet coach (BBT), or not ? If have I may also consider these trains too.
6. Wong Wien Yai - Mahachai - Ban Laem - Mae Khlong, this one, would schedule it on Monday morning.
7. Regarding the (Light) Red Line, well, suspending that trial run I believe is correct move as its 3 trial run stops ( "worst" part being Bang Son on Bangkok side is not connected to any other forms of rail transport) and very limited service schedule does not do much help to relieve the traffic conditions (or jam) in Bangkok, until everything is properly done up in 2017 then it would be of great importance. No sour grapes, no raisins, and no offence, just my 2-cent humble opinion. (Please take it easy for this part.) Stations though I will still visit them, one by one.
Here is Khun STN's revised schedule
PLANS AND ITINEARY FOR BANGKOK AREA RAIL VISIT 2014
DRAFTED ON 08062014 AND REVIEWED 11062014
BY TRIP ORGANISER (YUEN SHEK NGAI)
------
STN wrote:
TO DO LIST for the ITINEARY (ARRIVE BANGKOK 03 July 2014, DEPART BANGKOK 12 July 2014, 10 DAYS)
1. Hualamphong morning spotting (i.e. 0630 till 0925h, local time, same as below) - DAY 2, DAY 7 (POSSIBLE DAY 10)
2. Hualamphong afternoon spotting (1445 to 1810h) - DAY 1, DAY 3/4 (EITHER), DAY 10
3. Hualamphong night spotting (1825 to 2130h) - DAY 6, DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
4. SAM SEN SPOTTING - DAY 1, 7/8 (EITHER)
5. Bangsue morning spotting (0700 to 0850h) - DAY 2, DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
6. Bangsue afternoon spotting (2-something pm till 1958h) - DAY 1, DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
7. Visit and/or trainspotting at Thonburi - DAY 9
8. Suvarnabhumi airport visit and also the ride on both the Airport express (red) and airport city shuttle (blue) - DAY 2
9. BTS Joyride - all lines, preferably daytime - DAY 2, DAY 7/8 (EITHER)
10. BTS Saphan Taksin spotting (see it before it's gone for good) - DAY 2, DAY 5
11. Mahachai AND Maeklong Line visit - ALLOCATE ONE FULL DAY (DAY 5)
12. Visit to Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom (1 full day - intend to schedule it on Saturday so as to take the train 909/910 direct from Hualamphong.) - DAY 3/4 (EITHER - DEPENDING ON TICKET AVAILABILITY)
13. Ayutthaya (1 full day) - DAY 7
14. Eastern Line joyride (Bangkok - Makkasan), bundle with the visit to Airport - DAY 2
15. Bangkok / Bangsue 2 <VIA RAMA 6 BRIDGE> BANG BAMRU joyride - DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
16. Trainspotting near Rama VI Bridge - DAY 3/4 (EITHER), DAY 6/8 (EITHER), DAY 9
17. Visit to 3 SRT RED LINE stations :
17A TALING CHAN JUNCTION - DAY 9
17B BANG BAMRU - DAY 7/8 (EITHER)
17C BANG SON - DAY 7/8 (EITHER)
18. explore inside Bangkok downtown :
18A - YAOWARAT (DAY AND NIGHT) AND PHAHURAT - DAY 7/8 (EITHER), ANY NIGHTTIME DUE TO HOTEL LOCATION
18B - RATTAKONSIN (DAY ONLY) - DAY 9 MORNING
18C - KHAO SAN ROAD (BANGLAMPHU) (OPEN TIMING) - DAY 9 LATE AFTERNOON
18D - PRATUNAM (VICTORY MONUMENT) (DAY ONLY) - DAY 2
18E - SIAM SQUARE (DAY AND NIGHT) - DAY 1 (NIGHT), DAY 2 (DAYTIME)
18F - SILOM (DAY AND NIGHT) - DAY 2 (DAYTIME), DAY 5 (NIGHT)
19. SRI AYUTTHAYA LEVEL CROSSING SPOTTING - DAY 3/4 (EITHER), DAY 10
20. PHETCHABURI ROAD LEVEL CROSSING SPOTTING - DAY 2
Details:
STN wrote:
DAY 1 THU 03 July 2014
0910AM (S) DEPART SINGAPORE
1040AM (T, SAME BELOW) ARRIVE BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI
1117AM LEAVE SUVARNABHUMI FOR MAKKASAN (REACH 1138AM)
(GET MAP AT TOURIST AUTHORITY OF THAILAND HEAD OFFICE FIRST)
TRANSFER TO MRT AT MAKKASAN AND ESTIMATE TO REACH HUALAMPHONG 1200PM
HOTEL CHECK IN
AROUND 1300PM HEAD TO HUALAMPHONG TO BOOK TICKETS FOR TRAIN 909/910 (KANCHANABURI)
THEREAFTER BUY ANY TRAIN TICKET TO GO TO BANGSUE AND SAM SEN FOR RECCE SPOTTING THEN RETURN TO BANGKOK
CONCLUDE DAY 1 BY DINNER AT SIAM SQUARE AREA
DAY 2 FRI 04 July 2014
MORNING PHETCHABURI ROAD LEVEL CROSSING (CHITLADDA TRIANGLE) SPOTTING
HEAD TO MAKKASAN AROUND 1030AM
VISIT TO AIRPORT RAIL LINK AND SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT (OPEN TIMING)
EXPLORE VICTORY MONUMENT, SIAM SQUARE AND SILOM AREA (OPEN TIMING)
SAPHAN TAKSIN BTS SPOTTING (OPEN TIMING)
TO FIGURE OUT THE TIME NEEDED TO TRAVEL BY BTS, MRT AND BOAT ETC
Note: IN THE EVENT OF RAINY WEATHER, TRAINSPOTTING TO BE CONDUCTED INSIDE HUALAMPHONG STATION PLATFORMS
PLAN A (FIRST PREFERRED CHOICE)
DEPART BANGKOK 0630AM
ARRIVE RIVER KWAI BRIDGE 0935AM
EXPLORE KANCHANABURI
DEPART KANCHANABURI 1653PM
ARRIVE BANGKOK 1925PM
DINNER AT YAOWARAT
PLAN B (SECOND CHOICE)
VISIT TO KANCHANABURI (VARIATION)
DEPART THONBURI 0750AM
ARRIVE RIVER KWAI BRIDGE 1042AM
EXPLORE KANCHANABURI
DEPART KANCHANABURI 1448PM
ARRIVE NAKHON PATHOM 1635PM
BRIEF EXPLORE NAKHON PATHOM
DEPART NAKHON PATHOM 1826PM
ARRIVE BANGKOK 1945PM
DINNER AT YAOWARAT
PLAN C
LET KHUN WIZ AND FELLOW THAI RAILFANS TO BRING AROUND TO OTHER TRAINSPOTTING SPOTS
AND/OR MORNING SPOTTING AT RAMA VI BRIDGE
AFTERNOON SPOTTING IN HUALAMPHONG
EVENING SPOTTING AT PHETCHABURI ROAD LEVEL CROSSING
Note: SUBJECT TO TRAIN 909 AND 910'S TICKET AVAILABILITY
PLAN A (FIRST PREFERRED CHOICE)
LET KHUN WIZ AND FELLOW THAI RAILFANS TO BRING AROUND TO OTHER TRAINSPOTTING SPOTS AND/OR
MORNING SPOTTING AT RAMA VI BRIDGE
AFTERNOON SPOTTING IN HUALAMPHONG
EVENING SPOTTING AT PHETCHABURI ROAD LEVEL CROSSING
PLAN B (SECOND CHOICE)
VISIT TO KANCHANABURI
DEPART BANGKOK 0630AM
ARRIVE RIVER KWAI BRIDGE 0935AM
EXPLORE KANCHANABURI
DEPART KANCHANABURI 1653PM
ARRIVE BANGKOK 1925PM
DINNER AT YAOWARAT
PLAN C
VISIT TO KANCHANABURI (VARIATION)
DEPART THONBURI 0750AM
ARRIVE RIVER KWAI BRIDGE 1042AM
EXPLORE KANCHANABURI
DEPART KANCHANABURI 1448PM
ARRIVE NAKHON PATHOM 1635PM
BRIEF EXPLORE NAKHON PATHOM
DEPART NAKHON PATHOM 1826PM
ARRIVE BANGKOK 1945PM
DINNER AT YAOWARAT
Note: SUBJECT TO TRAIN 909 AND 910'S TICKET AVAILABILITY
DAY 5 MON 07 July 2014 VISIT TO MAHACHAI AND MAE KHLONG LINES
DEPART WONG WIEN YAI 0940AM OR 1040AM
ARRIVE MAHACHAI 1036AM OR 1139AM
DEPART BAN LAEM 1205PM
ARRIVE MAE KLONG 1345PM
DEPART MAE KLONG 1430PM
ARRIVE BAN LAEM 1612PM
DEPART MAHACHAI 1735PM
ARRIVE WONG WIEN YAI 1825PM
DINNER AT SILOM ROAD
DAY 6 TUE 08 July 2014 MORNING BANGSUE AND SAM SEN TRAINSPOTTING
PLAN A (FIRST PREFERRED CHOICE)
JOYRIDE BTS AND MRT
EXPLORE YAOWARAT
VISIT SRT HQ AREA
EVENING HUALAMPHONG SPOTTING MORNING BANGSUE AND SAM SEN TRAINSPOTTING
PLAN B (SECOND CHOICE)
JOYRIDE BTS AND MRT
EXPLORE YAOWARAT
VISIT SRT HQ AREA
EVENING HUALAMPHONG SPOTTING
PLAN C
AM CROSS CHAO PHRAYA JOYRIDE :
DEPART BANGKOK 0920AM
REACH BANG BAMRU 0956AM
DEPART BANG BAMRU 1050AM
REACH BANGSUE 1110AM
HEAD TO BANG SON STATION FOR VISIT
HEAD TO RAMA VI BRIDGE FOR TRAINSPOTTING
EXPLORE CHATUCHAK (OPEN TIMING)
EVENING SAM SEN / BANGSUE SPOTTING
Note: PLAN C MAY ALSO USE 10 July 2014 'S
PLAN A
I.E.
BKK 0805AM
BBR 0844/0950
BS2 1006AM
AND SO ON FOLLOWING EXACTLY TO PLAN A OF 10 July 2014
DAY 8 THU 10 July 2014 AM CROSS CHAO PHRAYA JOYRIDE :
PLAN A (FIRST PREFERRED CHOICE)
DEPART BANGKOK 0805AM
REACH BANG BAMRU AT 0844AM
DEPART BANG BAMRU 0929AM OR 0950AM
ARRIVE BANGSUE 0945AM OR 1006AM
HEAD TO BANG SON STATION FOR VISIT
HEAD TO RAMA VI BRIDGE FOR TRAINSPOTTING
EXPLORE CHATUCHAK (OPEN TIMING)
EVENING SAM SEN / BANGSUE SPOTTING AM CROSS CHAO PHRAYA JOYRIDE :
PLAN B (SECOND CHOICE)
DEPART BANGKOK 0920AM
REACH BANG BAMRU 0956AM
DEPART BANG BAMRU 1050AM
REACH BANGSUE 1110AM
HEAD TO BANG SON STATION FOR VISIT
HEAD TO RAMA VI BRIDGE FOR TRAINSPOTTING
EXPLORE CHATUCHAK (OPEN TIMING)
EVENING SAM SEN / BANGSUE SPOTTING
PLAN C
MORNING BANGSUE AND SAM SEN TRAINSPOTTING
JOYRIDE BTS AND MRT
EXPLORE YAOWARAT
VISIT SRT HQ AREA
EVENING HUALAMPHONG SPOTTING
Note: PLAN A EXECUTION DEPENDS ON TRAIN 43 SPECIAL EXPRESS DRC TICKET AVAILABILITY
After looking through the Eastern Line schedules, I have decided not to visit Hua Takhe as I find that the timings of trains to/from Hua Takhe could not be nicely fitted into my itineary design. Eastern Line I would joyride to as far as Khlong Tan which can still fit, with room to U-turn or end the joyride earlier at Makkasan in the event of outgoing portion delayed.
As such, for the final day (Saturday 12 July 2014), shall we spot trains at Bangsue / Sam Sen in the morning instead (no Hua Takhe) ? You may also proceed to Suvarnabhumi airport in that afternoon to see me and my Father flying back to Singapore as well.
In addition, may I start contacting some of my Thai railfan friends on my Facebook so that they can join (and maybe show) us around Bangkok's trainspotting sites on day 3, the Saturday 5 July 2014, and spot trains with them together ? Or best not to invite them ?
Lastly, do you think I should start sending in my personal particulars to SRT PR Department for applying trainspotting photography and videography permission now ?
PLANS AND ITINEARY FOR BANGKOK AREA RAIL VISIT 2014
DRAFTED ON 08062014
REVIEWED 11062014, 15062014 (in red), 18062014 (in Blue), 22062014 (in Brown)
FINALISED 22062014 2000PM (SINGAPORE TIME)
BY TRIP ORGANISER (YUEN SHEK NGAI)
------
TO DO LIST :
1. Hualamphong morning spotting (i.e. 0630 till 0925h, local time, same as below) - DAY 2, DAY 6, DAY 10
2. Hualamphong afternoon spotting (1445 to 1810h) - DAY 1, DAY 3, DAY 10
3. Hualamphong night spotting (1825 to 2130h) - DAY 7, DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
4. SAM SEN SPOTTING - DAY 1, DAY 6/8 (EITHER), DAY 10
5. Bangsue morning spotting (0700 to 0850h) - DAY 6/8 (EITHER), DAY 10
6. Bangsue afternoon spotting (2-something pm till 1958h) - DAY 1, DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
7. Visit and/or trainspotting at Thonburi - DAY 9
8. Suvarnabhumi airport visit and also the ride on both the Airport express (red, Makkasan <-> Airport) and airport city shuttle (blue, Makkasan <-> Phaya Thai) - DAY 2
9. BTS Joyride - all lines, preferably daytime - DAY 2, DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
10. BTS Saphan Taksin spotting (see it before it's gone for good) - DAY 2, DAY 5
11. Mahachai AND Maeklong Line visit - ALLOCATE ONE FULL DAY (DAY 5)
12. Visit to Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom (1 full day - intend to schedule it on Saturday so as to take the train 909/910 direct from Hualamphong.) - DAY 4 (Ticket for 909/910 secured for Day 4 the 06072014)
13. Ayutthaya (1 full day) - DAY 7
14. Bangkok / Bangsue 2 <VIA RAMA 6 BRIDGE> BANG BAMRU joyride - DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
15. Trainspotting near Rama VI Bridge - DAY 3 (MORNING), DAY 6/8 AFTERNOON (EITHER)
16. Visit to 3 SRT RED LINE stations :
16A TALING CHAN JUNCTION - DAY 9
16B BANG BAMRU - DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
16C BANG SON - DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
17. explore inside Bangkok downtown :
17A - YAOWARAT (DAY AND NIGHT) AND PHAHURAT - DAY 7/8 (EITHER), ANY NIGHTTIME DUE TO HOTEL LOCATION
17B - RATTAKONSIN (DAY ONLY) - DAY 9 MORNING
17C - KHAO SAN ROAD (BANGLAMPHU) (OPEN TIMING) - DAY 9 LATE AFTERNOON
17D - PRATUNAM (VICTORY MONUMENT) (DAY ONLY) - DAY 2
17E - SIAM SQUARE (DAY AND NIGHT) - DAY 1 (NIGHT), DAY 2 (DAYTIME)
17F - SILOM (DAY AND NIGHT) - DAY 2 (DAYTIME), DAY 5 (NIGHT)
18. SRI AYUTTHAYA LEVEL CROSSING SPOTTING - DAY 3/4 (EITHER), DAY 10
19. PHETCHABURI ROAD LEVEL CROSSING SPOTTING - DAY 2
20. (ADDED 15062014) VISIT TO SRT HQ - DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
21. (ADDED 18062014) KASATSUEK BRIDGE OVERPASS TRAINSPOTTING (KM 1 FROM BANGKOK HUALAMPHONG) - DAY 6/8 (EITHER)
22. (AMENDED) EASTERN LINE JOYRIDE BANGKOK <-> MAKKASAN <-> KHLONG TAN - DAY 1 EVENING, OR DAY 2, 6/8 (EITHER)
//-----------------------------
Here is the revised details:
STN wrote:
DAY 1 THU 03 July 2014
0910AM (S) DEPART SINGAPORE
1040AM (THAI TIME, SAME BELOW) ARRIVE BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI
1117AM LEAVE SUVARNABHUMI FOR MAKKASAN (REACH 1138AM)
(GET LATEST MAP AT TOURIST AUTHORITY OF THAILAND HEAD OFFICE FIRST)
TRANSFER TO MRT AT MAKKASAN AND ESTIMATE TO REACH HUALAMPHONG 1200PM
HOTEL CHECK IN
BUY ANY TRAIN TICKET TO GO TO BANGSUE AND SAM SEN FOR RECCE SPOTTING THEN RETURN TO BANGKOK
TAKE THE NEXT EASTERN LINE TRAIN INTO MAKKASAN THEN BTS/SUBWAY INTO SIAM SQUARE AREA
Sadly, the trip as to be cancelled as Khun STN's daddy got serious illness.
Hope that he will be able to go to Bangkok next time -
Now, I got a good news - at least Khun STN can come to Bangkok even though his daddy cannot. Just prepare something for home during weekdays at Hua Lamphong and Bangsue though,
Now, Khun Kelvin Kew of KTM Railway Fan is coming to Thailand on 11 August 2014 - to take a ride of Steam Loco on 12 April 2014 with a plan to go to Nam Tok line on 15 August 2014 as well.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum