Guest GaySacGuy Posted August 22, 2010 Posted August 22, 2010 FINALLY!!! From the Nation/ThaiVisa.com Airport Link begins commercial operation Monday BANGKOK -- After long delays in construction and several test runs, Suvarnabhumi airport's Airport Link begins commercial services Monday with special discount fares offered until the end of 2010, shortening travel times for inbound and outbound air travellers as well as easing arrivals and departures compared to existing airport transport. From Monday onward, arriving and departing passengers as well as relatives or friends seeing them off from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, in Bangkok's adjacent province of Samut Prakan, will save significant time in travelling as the Airport Rail Link project, linking the airport and the Makkasan and Phaya Thai areas in downtown Bangkok, commences operations. To ensure smooth operations, State Railways of Thailand (SRT) Governor, Yutthana Thapcharoen, inspected trains and other facilities whose construction began in mid-2005, for he wanted to make sure that nothing goes wrong. The 28km rail link connects Suvarnabhumi Airport in the eastern flank of the capital and the City Air Terminal in Bangkok's Makkasan area, where passengers are able to check in their baggage. With the speed capacity of 160km per hour, the train will serve eight stations and can cater up to 50,000 passengers daily. City Line commuter trips, with set fares at Bt30, take 30 minutes to reach the airport and will operate 24 hours from Phaya Thai station. Trains pass through six stations. The Express Service operates 19 hours daily from 6am to 1am and provides a non-stop journey between the City Terminal and the airport with the promotional fare set at Bt100. SRT plans to establish a subsidiary firm to administer the Airport Link and will seek Cabinet approval through the Transport Ministry by raising registered capital to Bt2 billion from Bt500 million. (MCOT online news) Quote
Guest Posted August 22, 2010 Posted August 22, 2010 I'd love report when someone actually gets on this. Quote
Guest travelerjim Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 I'd love report when someone actually gets on this. GT, No Way Jose! I cannot believe they designed an airport to city train that does NOT have lifts/elevators from the elevated train level to street. Hauling luggage/bags up and down STAIRS... will be a great deterrent for many...me included. tj Quote
Guest beachlover Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 You should know by now the Thais are not always the most logical designers. Some of the designs and layouts for their public amenities and shopping malls are shocking. Who the f*ck designed the layout (especially the entrance) for Junceylon Shopping Centre in Patong Beach, Phuket? Signage in Suvarnabhumi Airport is terrible. Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted August 23, 2010 Posted August 23, 2010 Not to mention the design of the outside of The Avenue. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 You should know by now the Thais are not always the most logical designers Nor the most logical thinkers. How on earth do you spend 40 years planning an airport and not start to think about train access until just before it opens? I know, TIT - but it's also utter stupidity. Quote
Guest Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 Not to mention the design of the outside of The Avenue. What is wrong with this? I love shopping in the rain. Don't you? Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 Do you also like all those weird steps (if you can call them that) and the mud between them when it rains? LOL Quote
Guest travelerjim Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 Nor the most logical thinkers. How on earth do you spend 40 years planning an airport and not start to think about train access until just before it opens? I know, TIT - but it's also utter stupidity. The Bangkok Post and The Nation shows many thousands of customers now using the new airport train...mostly within the city. But have not seen one traveler with luggage in any pic yet... just Thais taking advantage of the 15 baht fee to ride the train between stops inside Bangkok...before it heads to the airport. TIT. tj Quote
Guest beachlover Posted August 24, 2010 Posted August 24, 2010 Nor the most logical thinkers. How on earth do you spend 40 years planning an airport and not start to think about train access until just before it opens? I know, TIT - but it's also utter stupidity. Too busy scheming about who to award contracts to and fix kick backs... Quote
