Thailand, Bangkok - Rapid Transit Systems - BTS, MRT & Airport Rail Link

Photo with courtesy from BTS website

【The contents were info from 3 years ago when article was published on June 14, 2016.  The train fares and details were amended on October 9, 2019.】

We had been travelling to Bangkok since the early 1990s.  Back then, travelling by car from airport to city would take at least 2 hours, and had to rely on Tuk-Tuk to move within short distances.  Traffic congestion and pollution issues were very bad then.  These days, its transport system had improved tremenously and pollution wasn't as bad.  This article gives a brief introduction of its various rapid transit systems.

BTS (also known as Skytrain)
This mode is commonly used by many travellers commuting within the heart of Bangkok.  Currently all trains are above ground thus the name "Skytrain".

Basic Facts
Official Website: BTS Skytrain
Start Date: December 5, 1999
Operator: Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC)
Lines: (1) Sukhumvit Line (light green) & (2) Silom Line (dark green)
Stations: Total 44 - (1) 32 & (2) 13

We usually chose accommodations near city's central, which allowed us to access many venues quite easily by foot or at most, one or two stations away.  So I had never made inquiry about its stored value card.  If you wish to know more about its stored value card, please see its official link, Rabbit Card was launched around May 2012.

Type of Tickets (excerpt from BTS Website)
Single Journey Ticket

• This ticket is valid for a single journey, with fare according to chosen destination (starting at 15 baht, up to 59 Baht per journey)
• Valid for travel on date of purchase only
• Ticket will be retained at an Automatic Gate upon exit
• Single Journey Tickets can be purchased at any Ticket Issuing Machine (TIM), Integrated Ticketing Machine (ITM) and Ticket Vending Machine (TVM)

One-Day Pass

• This ticket is valid for unlimited rides for a day, starting on the date of issue or registration (costs 140 baht)
• Non-refundable
• Available at all BTS Ticket Offices

Buying Single Journey Tickets
Ticket Issuing Machine (TIM) - see above photo

• These machines do not accept dollar notes, if need to exchange for coins, go to Ticket Office
• Ticket Office does not sell Single Journey Tickets
• Look at Fare Information panel to know fare amount to get to your desired station
• Select fare > Insert coins > Take ticket > Take change (if any)

Integrated Ticketing Machine (ITM) and Ticket Vending Machine (TVM)

• These two machines accept both coins and dollar notes.  I can't comment as I had never come across one of these machines.

User’s Guide for Single Journey Tickets and One-Day Pass (excerpt from BTS Website)

• Insert the ticket with the arrow facing up and pointing into the front slot of the Automatic Entry Gate where a green arrow is displayed
• Collect the ticket from the top slot of the Automatic Entry Gate while walking through the gate
• Upon arrival at your desired station, insert the ticket arrow side up and pointing to the green arrow at the front slot of the Automatic Exit Gate.  Collect One-Day Pass from the top of the Automatic Exit Gate.  Single Journey Ticket will be automatically retained at the Automatic Exit Gate

Mass Rapid Transport (MRT)
The MRT line is officially known in Thai as rotfaifa mahanakhon (รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร) or "metropolitan electric train", but it is more commonly called rotfai taidin (รถไฟใต้ดิน), literally, "underground train". (excerpt from wikipedia)
Basic Facts
Official Website: Bangkok Metro
Start Date: July 3, 2004
Operator: Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM)
Lines: (1) Blue Line & (2) Purple Line
Stations: Total 45 - (1) 30 & (2) 16

Airport Rail Link (ARL)
Basic Facts
Official Website: Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (SARL)
Start Date: August 23, 2010
Operator: State Railway of Thailand (SRT)
Lines: SA City Line (red)
Stations: 8

Interchange Stations
Makkasan ARL, walk to Phetchaburi MRT
Phaya Thai ARL, linked walkway to Phaya Thai BTS

Our Journey
Trip: 4D Relax Trip - Thailand, Bangkok
Date: 2016-06/14, Tuesday
Time: 5pm Bangkok Time
Start: Suvarnabhumi Airport ARL
End: Phloen Chit BTS
Journey Time (approx): 60 minutes
Fare/person/trip: 73 baht (S$2.84)

For this 2016 trip, the hotel website's suggested route was:

• Suvarnabhumi Airport ARL to Makkasan ARL (5 stations)
• walk to Phetchaburi MRT, take MRT (1 station) to Sukhumvit MRT
• walk to Asok BTS, take BTS (2 stations) to Phloen Chit BTS
• walk to hotel

We dropped this option since there would be too many stops to change.

This was the route we had used.

• Suvarnabhumi Airport ARL to Phaya Thai ARL
• 7 stations, 45 baht/person, about 50 minutes ride
• 5 minutes walk on linked walkway
• Phaya Thai BTS to Phloen Chit BTS
• 4 stations, 25 baht/person, about 10 minutes ride (20 minutes during peak hours)