Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
book all buses will move out there. When that happens, the plan is to keep ticket offices at
the current bus stations and to have shuttle vans take people to the new station.
For now, buses and most minivans use the central and convenient
ordinary bus terminal
(
0 4333 3388; Th Prachasamoson)
and
air-conditioned bus terminal
( 0 4023 9910; Th Glang Meuang)
. The
names no longer accurately describe them. The former serves all variety of buses to al-
most everywhere, including all destinations within the province, while the latter is mostly
for 1st-class and VIP buses departing at night. Some minivans also depart from Central
Plaza.
The best service to Bangkok is with
Nakhonchai Air
( 0 2790 0009)
, departing frequently
throughout the day from the air-con terminal. Their 'First-Class' VIP service (560B) de-
parts at 11.15am, 11.15pm and 12.15am.
TRAIN
There's one morning and two evening express trains (seat 77B to 399B, 1st-class sleeper
upper/lower 968/1168B, 8½ to nine hours) between Bangkok and
Khon Kaen Railway Station
(
0 4322 1112)
. There's also a cheaper evening rapid train. Three trains go to Nakhon
Ratchasima (38B to 170B, 3½ hours) and six go to Udon Thani (25B to 267B, two hours)
with four continuing north to Nong Khai (35B to 290B, three hours).
Getting Around
Sŏrng·tăa·ou
(9B) ply regular routes across the city. Some of the handiest (all of which
pass the air-con terminal on Th Glang Meuang) are line 4, which passes immigration and
the Lao consulate; line 8, which goes to Wat Nong Wang and also northwest through the
university; line 10 (going north), which passes near and sometimes in front of the Viet-
namese consulate; and line 21, which goes out to the National Museum.
For individual rides, túk-túk are the most expensive way to get around (40B to 60B to
most places in the centre), but they're the method most people use because it's rare to find
metered taxis
( 0 4334 2800, 0 4346 5777; flagfall 30B, call fee 20B)
on the street, and when you call
for one you usually have to wait a long time. About the only place you're likely to find
taxis or motorcycle taxis (within town 20B to 30B) parked is at the bus stations and Cent-
ral Plaza, and the taxis here won't use their meters.
There are many car-hire outlets around TukCom;
Narujee
( 08 1729 6139; Soi Kosa)
, which
charges from 1200B for a car and 200B for a motorcycle, is a reliable choice.
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