Bangkok Floods: 93 Roads to Avoid, Trains Cancelled, Airport Delays

Bangkok has declared all 50 of its districts disaster-affected areas after days of heavy rain, and Governor Chadchart Sittipunt says at least 93 roads should be avoided, including sections of Vibhavadi Rangsit, Ramkhamhaeng, Srinakarin and Lat Phrao, Khaosod English reports. Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports remain open, but flights are running late and roads to both are flooded in places.

Speaking at 13:00 on Saturday 26 September, Chadchart said the situation had stabilised and could start improving by the evening if no more heavy rain arrives, with drainage expected to take two to three days. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) schools will close on Monday 28 September to keep cars off the roads. Travellers arriving for early October, including the Chinese Golden Week crowds covered in our Thailand Golden Week report, should watch for further rain.

Bangkok Roads to Avoid

The roads Chadchart named include the Phong Phet intersection and Ngam Wong Wan Road, plus sections of Ekkamai, Vibhavadi Rangsit, Ramkhamhaeng, Lat Krabang, Sena Nikhom, Chaeng Watthana, Srinakarin, Din Daeng, Phahon Yothin, Suwinthawong, Ratchadaphisek and Lat Phrao roads. The deepest flooding is in smaller streets and homes near the Don Mueang, Lat Phrao, Saen Saep, Prawet Burirom and Thawi Watthana canals. Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi, the provinces around the capital, are among the worst hit.

The city is pumping about 1,200 cubic metres of water a second, and Chadchart said the Chao Phraya River has enough capacity to take it, although some canals, including Saen Saep, remain at critical levels. The Transport Ministry has set up an emergency flood operations centre and says Rangsit, the Don Mueang to Vibhavadi Rangsit corridor and Srinakarin Road need particularly close attention, with lane or full road closures where water is unsafe, The Nation reports.

Drivers worried about their cars can park at BMA park and ride sites, the Government Complex in Lak Si and participating shopping centres including Central, The Mall, Fashion Island and Lotus’s, the governor said. The BMA hotline for help is 1555.

Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Delays

Both Bangkok airports are operating, with some flights delayed but no significant build up of stranded passengers, the Transport Ministry said. Water flowed onto part of the southern taxiway at Don Mueang on Saturday; Airports of Thailand told airlines to avoid that section and crews are pumping it out, but aircraft are taking off and landing normally, the airport’s deputy director said. He urged passengers to allow extra time because roads around the airport are flooded.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand advises checking flight status with your airline before leaving, avoiding flooded routes and using rail where possible. Airlines must still assist passengers on weather-delayed or cancelled flights under Civil Aviation Board Regulation No. 101, which can include meals, rebooking or refunds depending on the circumstances. Thai Airways also asks passengers to allow extra time to reach Suvarnabhumi.

Airline Change and Credit Options

Four airlines have announced waivers for travel between 26 and 28 September, The Nation reports:

• Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X: one free change on the same route to a flight within seven days, or keep the fare as AirAsia credit usable for two years.
• Nok Air: for Don Mueang departures on 26 September, one change within 30 days with fees and fare difference waived, or a voucher for the full ticket value valid 30 days.
• Thai Lion Air: one free change within 30 days, or ticket credit held for 30 days; fare differences may apply on holiday dates.
• Thai Vietjet: for Suvarnabhumi flights, one free change on the same route within seven days, or keep the ticket value as credit.

SRT Trains, Red Line and MRT

The State Railway of Thailand closed three Eastern Line sections on Saturday after floodwater reached the tracks: Ban Kaeng to Sa Kaeo, Aranyaprathet to Watthana Nakhon, and the branch between the PTT yard and the Bangchak refinery, The Nation reports.

Cancelled services include ordinary trains 283/284 Bangkok to Chuk Samet, 281/282 Bangkok to Kabin Buri and 279/280 Bangkok to Ban Khlong Luek, commuter trains 367/368 and 389/390 Bangkok to Chachoengsao Junction, and excursion train 997/998 to Chuk Samet. Trains 275/276 run shortened routes. SRT’s 24 hour line is 1690.

Separately, both Red Line routes from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, to Rangsit and to Taling Chan, were suspended on Saturday for safety checks after a fault. The MRT Blue, Purple, Yellow and Pink lines are running normally, and SRT’s Southern and Northeastern lines are unaffected, though some Northern Line sections have been hit by flooding.