Railroads: Main lines (4,000 kilometers of track) originating in Bangkok run to national borders with Malaysia in south, Cambodia in east, and Laos in northeast a northern line goes to Chiang Mai. Railroads remained important in 1987 for transport of bulk commodities and passengers despite heavy inroads by truck and bus transport.

Roads: Primary network of national highways (20,000 kilometers), more than 90 percent paved. Secondary system of provincial roads (more than 24,000 kilometers)--many impassable in rainy season--tie provincial towns and population centers to national highway system. Village roads, tracks, and footpaths totaled between 40,000 and 60,000 kilometers. Motor vehicles registered in 1984 included 688,000 automobiles (most in Bangkok metropolitan area), 600,000 commercial vehicles, and nearly 2 million motorcycles.

Inland Waterways: Extensive network of waterways formed by rivers and canals of central plain and Chao Phraya Delta carry passengers and extensive quantities of rice and other freight. Navigable by barge to Uttaradit in rainy season and to Nakhon Sawan in dry season.

Maritime Shipping: Bangkok, preeminent port, handled about 98 percent of imports, 65 percent of exports, and about 40 percent of coastal traffic in the mid-1980s. Some thirty small ports along Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea. Merchant fleet in international service in 1985 totaled about 100 freighters, tankers, and bulk carriers. Unknown number of small coastal craft supported trade with Malaysia and Singapore.

Civil Aviation: Domestic air service to about twenty cities and towns throughout country and also flights to Penang, Vientiane, and Hanoi in late 1980s. International service provided by Thai Airways International (THAI) from Bangkok and Chiang Mai to Asia, Middle East, Europe, North America, and Australia. About forty international airlines also served Thailand. Bangkok main air traffic center for Asia-Europe flights.

Telecommunications: By mid-1980s about 560,000 telephones (70 percent located in Bangkok), 275 radio stations, nearly 8 million radio receivers, 9 television stations (all color), and more than 3 million television sets.

Data as of September 1987