[gennnniiikk]

a

@khun don: i prefer 3rd class over these freezer cold 2nd class rides... it's loud, it's uncomfortable but you don't catch a cold which ruins the entire trip

Chances are you caught any cold on the flight on the way over to Thailand if you get one within a week of arriving-since smoking was banned on all air flights, airlines have been saving a packet on oxygen bills by re-circulating more used air than ever before

http://www.flyana.com/air.php

[Auzuigcx]

Do the tickets look different? I very rarely by my own train tickets. When traveling from Trang, we usually give money to whomever from the village will be up in Trang City running errands and they buy my ticket. (we usually by them a day or two ahead). Often I get the ªÒÂ ticket -- if that is who bought it, but no one seems to notice, and there is no difference. ...so unless the Farang tickets are obviously different, I bet we could still get by at Thai price.

as far as i remember, they looked the same, but farang had to pay 4 times what thais pay... thought that was normal


still cheap.

@khun don: i prefer 3rd class over these freezer cold 2nd class rides... it's loud, it's uncomfortable but you don't catch a cold which ruins the entire trip

[BluewayAllere]

Would be interested to know if foreign tourists are entitled to this or not. Though I doubt it. The State Railway of Thailand has started going down the road of two prices on the Kanchanaburi route from Thonburi Station.

[gennnniiikk]

AIL TRAVEL

Free rides in 3rd class, but not all trains

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK


The government's free train travel programme launches tomorrow _ but only on third-class services over a limited distance. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will offer the free rides as part of the government's six-month economic assistance package for the poor.

But the service will be available only on non-airconditioned, third-class, non-express trains.

SRT spokesman Pairat Rojcharoen-ngarm said free rides would be available on 380 carriages of 164 third-class trains and on ''combi'' trains, which have both freight and third-class passenger compartments.

The third-class compartments of combi trains which also have second-class or first-class carriages would not be part of the scheme, nor would the third-class carriages of express services.

Fare-free trains will run on most of the four SRT lines, Mr Pairat said. However, free northbound services would end their runs at the Den Chai station in Phrae province, despite the northernmost destination being Chiang Mai.

Heading south, the free rides would go only as far as Chumphon. Normal fares will apply if passengers from Bangkok wish to go beyond these destinations.

However, there will be 10 free services from Hat Yai to the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.

Northeastern journeys will end in Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen provinces, and the eastern trains will travel to Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo province.

Trains and platforms offering free rides will be marked with green signs.

Passengers will not need to obtain any tickets or passes before boarding the free trains, said Mr Pairat.

The SRT has already cut the fares of express trains on the three suburban routes, from 110 baht to between 20 and 50 baht depending on the distance.

Bangkok Post.


Pic and text from "The Nation"
An official shows a sign, which reads free train ride for people. The free train ticket, which is part of the government's economic stimulation campaign will start on August 1 and end on January 31, 2009.//By Nanthasit Nitmatha

[BluewayAllere]

We have only just received reports of the two price system on this route so it needs to be investigated and authenticated. As far as we know, it is only on this one tourist route. This is a worrying new trend that is going on. I think it is time for a kind of "consumer watch" to protect the rights of foreign tourists from unscrupulous business people.

[LesLattis]

normally, the price for the Chiang Mai - Lamphun section of the railway (about 30 kms) is 4 baht on 3rd class (last week). or 19 from Bangkok Hualamphong to Ayutthya (this was in 2003 - what is it now?). or 50-something from Ayutthya to Phitsanulok (also in 2003). this latter 5-hour trip is just about the longest that a 3rd class train trip stays an interesting experience (and by that time, it is far from comfortable). as a tourist, I would not bother asking for a free ticket, would be embarrassing for me to bargain about a few baht. just not worth it.

sorry to hear about two-tier pricing though. it is dangerous because cheap and accessible public transport puts Thailand ahead of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or Indonesia, where it is difficult or next to impossible to take buses or trains at the prices reserved for the locals only. it is a frustrating experience to be ripped off all the time. so far, in Thailand at least you didn't have to worry so much about transport.

[gennnniiikk]

I very much doubt it as well, Richard-I think any "rich" farang trying to get a free ride would probably not be welcome at all and classed as a "cheapskate charlie" !
Actually, I can't see any farang really wanting to take a slow, non air-conditioned and probably very overcrowded train-however free it is.

[olivelappers]

Would be interested to know if foreign tourists are entitled to this or not. Though I doubt it. The State Railway of Thailand has started going down the road of two prices on the Kanchanaburi route from Thonburi Station. Do the tickets look different? I very rarely by my own train tickets. When traveling from Trang, we usually give money to whomever from the village will be up in Trang City running errands and they buy my ticket. (we usually by them a day or two ahead). Often I get the ªÒÂ ticket -- if that is who bought it, but no one seems to notice, and there is no difference. ...so unless the Farang tickets are obviously different, I bet we could still get by at Thai price.