Introduction
Transport in Thailand is varied and chaotic, with no one dominant means of transport. Bus
transport dominates in long distances and Bangkok, with motorbikes dominating in rural areas for short trips,
supplanting bicycles. In Bangkok, Pattaya, and other large cities,public motorbike taxis take people door to
door. Slow rail travel has long been a rural long distance transport mechanism. An overwhelming number of taxis
can be found in Bangkok. Recently there has been a surge in air travel, urban rail, and private automobiles,
especially among tourists, expats, upper class and growing middle class. Areas with navigable waterways often
have boats or boat service, and many innovative means of transport exist such as tuk-tuk, vanpool, songthaew, or
even elephants in rural areas.
Airports:
105 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 56
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 6 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 27 (2009)
Heliports:
4 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,348 km; refined products 323 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,071 km
country comparison to the world: 41
standard gauge: 29 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 4,042 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006)
country comparison to the world: 28
Waterways:
4,000 km
country comparison to the world: 27
note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 398
country comparison to the world: 25
by type: bulk carrier 53, cargo 135, chemical tanker 15, container 22, liquefied gas 28,
passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 100, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 16 (China 1, Japan 4, Malaysia 3, Singapore 2, Taiwan 1, UK 5)
registered in other countries: 40 (Bahamas 5, Mongolia 1, Panama 10, Singapore 23, Tuvalu 1)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha