Dear ICCE 2011 participants,

    The latest situation, flood crisis in Thailand continues to affect a number of central provinces with Ayutthaya and Nakhon Sawan particularly impacted by flooding. With the notable exception of Ayutthaya, most of Thailand’s key tourist destinations (including Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Krabi, Pattaya and Phuket) are not affected by flooding. Flooding in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai has gone and roads have been cleared and it is not related to the present flooding situation (as you see in the NEWS). If you’re flying into Bangkok and then flying straight to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Ko Samui etc. then you should have no problems with Bangkok’s international airport believed to be free from flood risk. There are differing points of view about what will or will not happen in Bangkok in the coming days with experts disagreeing about the level of flooding that the Thai capital can expect to see.

Current Transport in Thailand

Flights

    All airports in Thailand are open and operating normally including the main international airport at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. With ongoing cancellations to train services and disruption on some highways, internal flights within Thailand are likely to be busier than usual for this time of year. I would suggest booking internal flights as far in advance as you can.

Trains

    There is currently no northern line service (e.g. to Chiang Mai) out of Bangkok. Even after the floods clear in the central provinces there will need to be repairs carried out to the tracks. At this stage nobody really knows when services can or will resume, but if planning train travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai any time between now and mid-November I would personally advise looking at alternatives (i.e. flying).

    Services from Bangkok to the north-east of Thailand (e.g. Ubon, Udon Thani, Nong Khai) are running, but are currently departing from Bangkok’s Makkasan station.

    Southern line train services (e.g. Hua Hin, Surat Thani) are operating normal service out of Bangkok Hualamphong.

Tel. 1690 – State Railway of Thailand hotline (call within Thailand)

Buses/Roads

    With a number of roads flooded in the central provinces of Thailand, buses between Bangkok and the north and north-east of Thailand are subject to detours and extended journey times. Buses to the eastern seaboard (e.g. Pattaya, Ko Chang) and the south (e.g. Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani) are all operating near normal services. Routes to Kanchanaburi out of Bangkok are clear, but to Sukhothai expect delays and diversions en route.

Tel. 1586 – Highways Department
Tel. 1490 – Transport Co. (inter-provincial buses)

    During the rainy season it is common for certain areas of Bangkok to experience flash floods. This happens when heavy rain temporarily backs up the storm drains, but usually clears quite quickly. Transport within Bangkok is currently operating normally, but that could be subject to change depending on weather conditions and localized flooding. Currently, all the main tourist sites within Bangkok are open as normal.

    ICCE 2011 will be held during Nov 28 to Dec 2, which is the next two months. We ensure that all situation of transportation from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train or buses/road will be in the normal situation.

ICCE 2011 Local Organizers and Local Organizing Chair

Thepchai SUPNITHI