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[nickwils]

Anyone?

[nomad soul]

https://www.saptco.com.sa/Buses/Home.aspx?lang=en-US

[nickwils]

I have two different versions and i'm wondering which is the current one.

07:25 Vs 08:00?
09:55 Vs 11:00?
13:15 Vs 13:55?

I know the times on the left were correct 2014 until a year ago.

[2buckets]

I think any "timetables" in SA should be considered "suggestions".

[plumpy nut]

As should traffic lanes, speed limits, and proper regard for pedestrians.

[currentaffairs]

I have used Saptco quite a lot and the buses have always left on time and are quite cheap. The website is actually quite clear and in English, and it is easy to book and pay for tickets online. I would go on the website and just book your ticket going by the timetable shown.

[scot47]

There are two distinct companies

SAPTCO is Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (they vrun services between towns in KSA)

SABTCO is Saudi-Bahraini transport Company (or Corporation)

The latter runs the service from Dammam to Bahrain. I filched this from the Internet -



The Saudi-Bahraini Transport Company (SABTCO) [3], tel. +973-17252959, runs eight buses daily from the SAPTCO bus station in Dammam via Khobar in Saudi Arabia, across the King Fahd Causeway, to the bus terminal next to the Lulu Centre in central Manama.

The service uses aircon minibuses with a trailer for luggage. Tickets cost SR60 (SR50 when you buy two-way) and can be purchased in advance, although they'll squeeze you in without a reservation if there is space. As crossing the Causeway involves two passport checks and one customs checks, figure on 2 hours for the trip, plus any traffic delays at busy times like Thursday evenings. At congested times, buses may actually be slightly faster than private cars, as they can use separate lanes at immigration and customs.

Note that, as of 2011, Bahrain Saudi Transport & Tourism (BASATCO) offers what seems to be similar buses for a slightly lower fare of BD4, although four times a day only.

As of May 2014, the schedule for SABTCO is as follows:


From Dammam - first column below

From Khobar - second column below

From Manama (near Lulu Supermarket) - last column below







07:15 08:00 07:00
10:15 11:00 10:00
13:15 14:00 14:00
17:15 18:00 17:00
20:15 21:00 19:00

[nickwils]

Many thanks.

[MixtecaMike]

I'd splash out the extra money for a taxi, especially if you're going with someone else. The two times I took the bus (Bahrain to Saudi) the Saudi border authorities seemed to take a special delight in making everyone get of the bus and stand in the sun next to our bags for about an hour, while they all went back to checking cars.
Maybe they've improved since then, however. The ones at the airport certainly had, by the time I bid goodbye to the Sand Kingdom

[scot47]

Taxis are certainly quicker. Bahrain to Khobar was 500 SR (or was it 300 ? )

Affordable if there are 2 or 3 of you travelling.

[nickwils]