Ekkamai Bus Terminal
{{Short description|Bus station in Bangkok, Thailand}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Bangkok Bus Terminal (Ekkamai)
| name_lang = th
| native_name = สถานีขนส่งผู้โดยสารกรุงเทพ (เอกมัย)
| image = Ekkamai Bus Station 20240824.jpg
| address = Sukhumvit road, Khlong Tan subdistrict, Khlong Toei district, Bangkok
| country = Thailand
| coordinates = {{coord|13.719142|N|100.583985|E}}
| owned =
| bus_routes = Eastern Thailand
| bus_stands = 26 platforms
| bus_operators = The Transport Company, Ltd.
| connections = {{rail-interchange|bangkok|bts}}
| parking =
| accessible =
| opened = {{start date and age|1960|01|01|df=y}}
| former =
| services =
| mapframe = yes
}}
Bangkok Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) , commonly known as Ekkamai Bus Terminal, is one of the three main long-distance bus stations serving Greater Bangkok. Managed by The Transport Company, it is the main spot for those who are traveling by bus along the coast to and from Eastern Thailand. The station is located on the intersection between Sukhumvit and Ekkamai roads. The station was opened on 1 January 1960. Unlike the other two main long-distance bus terminals serving Greater Bangkok (Mo Chit 2 bus terminal and New Southern Bus Terminal), Ekkamai Bus Terminal has never been relocated. The station is located close to the Ekkamai BTS station of the Sukhumvit Line.
In 2025, The Ministry of Transport is considering moving all three main long-distance bus terminals to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2964453/city-mulls-integrated-bus-terminal
History
Prior to 1959, there was barely any regulations on long-distance buses. Any operators with enough capital may provide bus services either under the name of an individual or a company, and there was no concession from the government to control the operation of the buses. At that time, bus stations in the eastern region along the coast had a parking area at 22 July Circle. Passengers had to sit on the bus or rest in a nearby coffee shop prior to bus departure.{{Cite book|last=ผลานุรักษา|first=เมธี|url=http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/objects/thesis/fulltext/bachelor/d12523006/fulltext.pdf|title=การออกแบบเลขนศิลป์สิ่งแวดแล้อม สำหรับสถานีเดินรถปรับอากาศสายเหนือ วิทยานิพนธ์ ภาคเอกสาร|publisher=คณะมัณฑนศิลป์ มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร|year= }}
In 1959, the government announced regulations for the long-distance bus routes connecting Bangkok to other regions by announcing long-distance routes in 30 provinces, divided into 5 lines: Southern Line, Northern Line, Northeastern Line, Eastern Line, and Eastern coastal Line. As well as regulating more stop to cover more land. However, it was not comprehensive. Thus, in the following year, 1960, only the Eastern Line and Eastern coastal Line along the coast went all the way to Prachin Buri and Trat Provinces.{{Cite web|title=จุดกำเนิดเครือข่ายการเดินทางด้วยรถโดยสารประจำทาง และสถานีขนส่งในกรุงเทพฯ|url=https://www.silpa-mag.com/history/article_76036|website=www.silpa-mag.com}}
In the same year, three stations for long-distance passenger transport were opened on January 1, 1960, of which Ekkamai Bus Terminal was one of the three bus stations for the Eastern coastal bus route, located in what was Phra Khanong Subdistrict, Phra Khanong District at that time.{{Cite web|title=สถานีขนส่งผู้โดยสารกรุงเทพ (เอกมัย) Bus Terminal Eastern (Ekkamai) {{!}} บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด|url=https://busticket.in.th/eastern-bus-terminal-ekkamai-bangkok.php|website=busticket.in.th}}
Future plans
In 2022, The Transport Company announced a plan to relocate the station to the somewhere in Bang Na such as Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre.{{Cite web|last=ก้อง|date=2022-08-24|title=บขส. วางเป้าย้ายสถานีเอกมัย|url=https://www.thaipost.net/economy-news/206675/|language=th}}
References
External links
{{commons category|Ekkamai Bus Terminal}}
{{Public transport in Bangkok}}