Bangkok to southern Thailand train services resume
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has released its latest updates for travel to the flood-hit southern region of the country. The bulletin noted that damaged train tracks in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province have been fixed and mainline train services are now operating again.
The State Railway of Thailand was forced to suspend all services south of Hua Hin on Tuesday as the line was impassable and flooded beyond Bang Saphan Yai. Trains from Bangkok bound for Hua Hin, Chumphon, Suratthani and Nakhon Si Thammarat are again operational although travellers report slightly delayed departure and arrival times.
The SRT is also operating trains on the route from Bangkok Thonburi Station to Lang Suan. The 12GO ASIA travel team says passengers heading south on trains from Bangkok will probably experience minor delays. The team also says ferries to the Gulf of Thailand islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are running to schedule.
Floodwaters have subsided and temporary bridges erected on the southern Phetkasem Highway. This means road and bus travel from Bangkok to the south is again possible although the Tourism Authority update did warn there might be some hold-ups at bottlenecks.
Municipal authorities in Cambodia’s Kompong Thom Province say the recent UNESCO designation of a temple complex has led to a surge in visitor numbers. UNESCO added the province’s temples of Sambor Prei Kuk to the World Heritage Site list on 8 July.
Thailand’s one and only drum making village is preparing to stage an annual festival dedicated to showcasing the percussion instrument. The Ang Thong International Drum Festival will take place between the 26 and 30 July at locations in the province’s Ekkarat Sub-district.
Transport authorities in Hanoi say numerous tourists have taken advantage of the city’s new transportation option for sightseeing. The bright red double-decker bus looks as though it could have been plucked from the streets of London and even has the same open upper deck as the sightseeing buses there.
