In October 2022 I had to be in Bangkok again and did fly to Don Muang Airport (DMK). Normally I would take a taxi to where every I have to go in Bangkok but as I was this time traveling without luggage I took the new
Red Line commuter from Don Muang to Bang Sue Grand Station. Since 5 October 2022 Bang Sue Grand Station is officially called Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal, but never mind everywhere the name Bang Sue Grand Station is still used and I assume that everybody will keep on using the original name. Like I also do.
Actually the red line has 2 lines, the Light Red Line that goes from Bang Sue Grand Station to Taling Chang (but extension is already planned). And there is the Dark Red Line from Bang Sue Grand Station to Rangsit (also here is extension already plannend). And there is also extension planned from Bang Sue Grand Station more into Bangkok to what is now still Hua Lumphong train station. The Bang Sue Grand Station is slated to become some day in the future the new Central Train Station of Bangkok. But for now Bang Sue Grand Station is only used for the Red Line. And the normal trains are still leaving from Hua Lumphong Train Station and passing Bang Sue Grand Station. Actually right next to Bang Sue Grand Station is Bang Sue Train Station.
The Dark Red Line (everywhere just called Red Line) from Rangsit to Bang Sue Grand Station is passing Don Muang. And besides connecting at Bang Sue Grand Station to the Light Red Line you can also connect to the MRT Blue Line from where you can get into downtown Bangkok as I did. So taking the Red Line from Don Muang Airport is a great way to get to downtown Bangkok.
The Red Line from Don Muang to Bang Sue Grand Station costs 33 baht and the ride takes about 20 min. But that is without waiting for the train, without walking from the airport to the station, without buying your ticket. And then you have to walk to the MRT Blue Line and take a ride to your destination. I walked into the Arrival Hall at 12:20 and I arrived at Asoke intersection at 13:43. So all together it took me 1 hour and 23 minutes at a total costs of 73 baht.
But follow me with photos to show you how to take the SRT Red Line & MRT Blue Line from Don Muang Airport to Asoke intersection. Photo at top is arrival at a very quiet luggage belts of Don Muang Airport. Then when you walk out you will see a big sign for SRT Red Line to the left and you walk into the arrival hall. Just keep on walking until you see the next sign. Click on the following photos to enlarge.
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| Arrival hall of Don Muang Airport. |
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| Take the escalators up to the second floor |
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| Once at the 2th floor walk straight ahead |
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| Keep on following the signs for the SRT Red Line |
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| Here at you right hand is a 7-11 |
Photo above is a long walking path where you are passing Magic Restaurant where you can eat Thai food and it is good, clean and cheap.
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| Don Muang Airport connecting to SkyWalk to the SRT Red Line |
On photo above you see a nice ramp to walk up with luggage or go up with a wheelchair. But that is not always the case!
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| This SkyWalk is only open from 5:30am to mid-night |
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| The real SkyWalk with escalators |
At the photo you can see at the end of the SkyWalk are stairs (7 steps I think) and bad luck if you are in a wheelchair or have big rolling luggage because there is no ramp. Well there is an electric elevator along the stairs but only operational by staff that was not there when I passed it.
More or less under this SRT Red Line station Don Muang is the SRT train line to North Thailand with also SRT Train Station Don Muang. Just to keep it simple. In the longterm (but This Is Thailand) the SRT train line will become obsolete.
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| View from the SkyWalk over the highway. |
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| Vending machine at SRT Red Line station Don Muang |
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| Bonus tip : Connections of the Red Line |
At the vending machine on the photo above you can buy a coin as ticket, you can use coins or bank notes to pay. If you not understand how it works the just walk to the ticket office at the entrance where a friendly English speaking Thai lady will help you. Coin did cost me 33 baht.
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| Ticket office at entrance SRT Red Line station Don Muang |
At the entrance you use the coin to open the gate. You just hold the coin at a scanner and you keep the coin to exit later at Bang Sue Grand Station.
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| Just follow the signs at SRT Red Line station Don Muang |
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| Platform 3 + 4 of SRT Red Line Station Don Muang |
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| Platform 3 + 4 of Red Line Station Don Muang |
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| View over Dong Muang Airport from SRT Red Line station Don Muang |
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| Platform 3 + 4 of Red Line Station Don Muang |
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| Train Arriving at 12:46 at SRT Red Line station Don Muang |
At photo above the train is arriving at 12:46. As I arrived at 12:20 at the arrival hall (I had no luggage with me) you can see it took me 26 minutes before I was in the Red Line train and 1 minute later we really left.
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| Interior of the train at the Red Line train |
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| Arriving at Bang Sue Grand Station at 13:04 |
At the photo above I arrived at the platform of Bang Sue Grand Station at 13:04, so the real trip with the Red Line took me 17 min. But now I still had to walk to the MRT Blue line and take the MRT to Asoke.
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
Just follow the signs MRT Blue Line, but the signs are not always clear. At the photo above you see you can go to the left to take the SRT Light Red Line to Taling Chan or go to the right around this small office and keep following the signs for MRT Blue Line.
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
At the exit gates you drop the coin in the machine to open the gates.
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
Photo above is a bit tricky direction sign. No, you not have to go to the right but take the escalators down.
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| Sign in Thai at the end of the escalators |
Again a bit tricky direction sign because in Thai language. But is does not mater what direction you go, you will end up at MRT Station Bang Sue (BL11).
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
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| Follow the signs MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue Grand Station |
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| Coin Vending machine at MRT station Bang Sue |
The coin to travel to MRT station Sukhumvit did cost me 40 baht.
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| Ticket office and entrance gate at MRT station Bang Sue |
After the entrance gate it is a bit unclear what direction you have to go for the MRT in direction of Asoke. But you will have to take the first left direction down.
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| Arrived at Asoke at 13:43 |
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| Map of Mass Transport in Bangkok |
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