BusTalk

[thaitransit]

After Visiting Phra Pradaeng I travelled on to Paknam City to photograph and document the Buses and Truck – Buses of Paknam. Paknam City is the heart of the greater city of Paknam also known as the city of Samut Prakan.

The history of Paknam dates back 300 years when it was nothing more than a small fishing village. Around 230 years ago when Bangkok was formed it became the deep water port and ship building area for all of central Thailand. Today its role is more of heavy industry such as chemical, general manufacturing, vehicle manufacturing and ship building.

The deep water port is now located near Chonburi and a river port is located at Klong Toei 20 km closer to Bangkok. Today the City of Paknam which is really a large suburban centre is becoming a city in it own right with the construction of a large condo tower on the site of the old prison.

The older densely populated inner city of Paknam is a centre of administration and market trade. The river banks in Paknam are home to a large semi open air wet market. Paknam was the site of Thailand 1st railway and its 1st electric railway. But for reasons unknown in the 1960s this railway was closed and ripped up and the route converted to a road.

In the 1890s it took around 45 to 60 mins to travel the 30 km from inner Bangkok by train. Today it takes over 2 hours to travel the same 30 km route by bus due to extremely heavy traffic on the main road to Paknam city.

Paknam’s lack of a railway does not mean it is devoid of mass transport its inner city is home to a large number of bus routes serving areas to the east and north of Paknam city. Areas to the west are linked by high frequency boat services. In the next 10 years or so the BTS elevated rail system will reach Paknam city and thus restoring its long lost rail link to Bangkok. Currently the BTS ends at Onnut terminal 20 km to the north on Sukhumvit road.

2. This is a shot of a Route 1196: Paknam – Samut Niwet Truck – Bus. Taken at the local bus terminal at Paknam city. Truck – bus number 1196 – 24. Truck type Isuzu. Note: this truck operates an alternative route to the full size buses.



6. This is a shot of a Route 508 Paknam – Ratchaworadit Pier bus. Taken as it approached one of the main BMTA bus stops in central Paknam. Bus number BMTA 3 – 66355. Bus type Merc O405.



10. This is an image of a Route 1140 bus. Turning out of the local bus area as it departs Paknam. Bus number 1140 – 15. Bus type old Hino high floor.



14. This is a short movie showing how frequent the buses are in Paknam. Note the wide range of different bus types from Merc O305 to small Truck – Buses. Most of the routes also share a single bus stop and not a separate stop for each route as common in Australia. Some routes run every 2 mins as shown in the video two departures at once of route 1141.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTDeVjOs-Lg

18. This is a short Movie of a ride on a crowded Route 142 bus. Filmed as it approached Kilometer 9 in Thonburi. Also note how short the stop is despite the large load on board. Remember this is a Sunday afternoon. Not peak hour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeSA6cn3s1M

22. This is a shot of a well loaded Truck – bus as it departs from Paknam. Note: when the seats fill up people stand and sit on the steps at the back as it running.



26. This is a shot a Route 145 Paknam – Mochit 2 bus. Bus number BMTA 3 – 9036. Bus Type Merc O405 Articulated. Taken from in front of Talat Paknam. Note: This service operates 24 hours. Route 145 and Route 511 are the only routes in Thailand that operate articulated buses. These buses carry up to 180 people and are worked very hard.



If you would like to see many more interesting images from Paknam city please visit:

http://thaitransit.blogspot.com/2008/07/buses-and-trucks-of-paknam-city.html

I hope you find the pictures and vehicles shown to be of interest if you view this please post some comments and feelings about the pictures.