Get to know the Chao Phraya River boat routes connecting to rail transport

Get to know the Chao Phraya River boat routes connecting to the MRT and BTS trains

       It is undeniable that, at present, people in Bangkok are increasingly turning to public transportation services, such as electric trains, subways, and river boats, to escape the problem of traffic jams on the road, and the most recent addition is the MINE Smart Ferry, an electric passenger ferry developed by Thai engineers. This is the first environmentally friendly ferry, and it responds to modern, cashless, and contactless trends, with which passengers can pay for fares with debit cards, credit cards, cards with the Contactless logo, or HOP cards. This article explains two river transportation systems and the places they connect with the Metro and Skytrain, to make traveling around the city much faster.

       The first is MINE Smart Ferry, which provides three service lines: Urban Line (Purple), Metro Line (Blue), and City Line (Green). The Urban and City lines have the same departure station, Sathorn Pier, and the Metro Line begins before Sathorn at Wat Worachanyawas, also written as Wat Chanyawat.  The piers they stop at differ in some cases, and they have connections to the following train routes: 

• The Urban Line (Purple Line) serves passengers from Sathorn Pier to Phra Nang Klao Pier (a total of 15 piers).

Train connections

       Connect to BTS Silom Line, Saphan Taksin Station, at Sathorn Pier; 

       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Sanam Chai Station, at Rachini Pier;
       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Bang Pho Station, at Bang Pho Pier.

       Connect to the MRT Purple Line, Phra Nang Klao Station, at Phra Nang Klao Pier.

• The Metro Line (Blue Line) serves passengers from Wat Chanyawat (or Wat Worachanyawas) Pier to Rama 7 Pier (a total of 14 piers). The journey time is only 55 minutes along the line (distance of 14 km). 

Train connections
       Connect to the BTS Silom Line, Saphan Taksin Station, at Sathorn Pier;

       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Sanam Chai Station, at Rachini Pier;

       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Bang Pho Station, at Bang Pho Pier.

• The City Line (Green Line) serves passengers from Sathorn Pier to Phra Pinklao Pier (a total of 9 piers). The journey time is only 30 minutes along the line (distance of 7 km).

Train connections
       Connect to BTS Silom Line, Saphan Taksin Station, at Sathorn Pier;
       Connect to the BTS Gold Line, Charoen Nakhon Station, at ICONSIAM Pier;
       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Sanam Chai Station, at Pak Klong Talad Pier.

        The fare for MINE Smart Ferry is 20 baht, at a flat rate, and they do not accept cash payments. The payments methods are as follows:

• Pay by the bank's app and scan the QR Code to transfer money;
• Pay by a debit card, a credit card, or a card with a contactless logo;
• Pay by a HOP card, a prepaid electronic card for MINE Smart Ferry passengers only. It can be purchased with the staff on board and every pier (can pay by cash). After getting the card, top up the card and tap it to pay the fare.

       The second river transportation system is the Chao Phraya Express Boat linking Sathorn and Nonthaburi, which connects to the train stations at several piers, as follows:

       Connect to the BTS Silom Line, Saphan Taksin Station, at Sathorn Pier;
       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Sanam Chai Station, at Pak Klong Talad Pier;
       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Bang Pho Station, at Bang Pho Pier;
       Connect to the MRT Blue Line, Sanam Chai Station, at Rachini Pier;
       Connect to MRT Purple Line, Phra Nang Klao Station, at Phra Nang Klao Pier.