Transportation in Thailand
The transportation infrastructure in Thailand is pretty impressive. The State Railway of Thailand is there to operate 4,070 km of 1.000-m gauge railway line. Bangkok is well connected with metro systems like Bangkok Metro or MRT or Bangkok Skytrain or BTS. Thailand is connected with the adjacent countries like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia through rail lines. Railway of Thailand also serves the capital city, Bangkok and towns like Nakhon Ratchasima, Yala, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai etc.
The road transport infrastructure is equally impressive in Thailand. The excellent Thai highway network connects every part of Thailand. The four lane highways are separated by median for U- turns and ramp style U- turns for Bangkok. To ensure safety and speed quite a number of undivided two lane highways have been recently converted to divided 4 lane highways.
Presently expressway covers almost all the major parts of Bangkok and the adjacent sub areas. Expressways are highly useful in avoiding heavy traffic jams of Bangkok in rush hour.
Thai people often avail the bus services which are meant for long distance travel. The long distance buses are quite luxurious. Other buses are also pretty colorful. Bangkok buses come up with various attractive shapes, sizes, types with fan, open window or air condition.
Thai motor network is not that extensive although it is supported by expressway network. Motor networks are there to offer a relief from the heavy traffic of Bangkok. Thai government is planning for an investment in “megaprojects” related to motorway expansion.
Alternative transports in Thailand include boats which connect the canals and rivers, taxi, tuk- tuk, van etc.
Thailand is the land of some of the major international airports in the world like Chiang Mai International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport, Phuket International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Hat Yai International Airport. Apart from all these major ones, Thailand is also served by several other airports. Thai Airways International is the national carrier.
River and canal transport provides a strong support to Thailand transportation. Lots of ferries, water taxis and long- tailed boats operate in the Chao Phraya River. The Khlong Saen Saeb boat service is also popular in central Bangkok and pretty cheap mode of transportation. Thailand is also served by numerous ports and harbors like Bangkok, Pattani, Phuket, Laem Chabang etc.
