Airlines Hope Suvarnabhumi Rail Link Ready On Time

[george]

Airlines hope rail link ready on time

BANGKOK: -- International airlines urged the government to ensure that the long-delayed airport link project is up and running at its latest promised date in order to complement efforts to make Suvarnabhumi Airport an air hub.

"The sooner the system is opened, the better,'' said Jaiyavat Navaraj, chairman of the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), which represents more than 80 international airlines operating through Suvarnabhumi.

The 26-billion-baht rapid transit system that stretches 28 km from Bangkok's international airport to Makkasan has suffered multiple delays.

Current opposition by the State Railway of Thailand's union to setting up a subsidiary company to operate the line has created doubts about whether it can start operations by the second quarter of next year, the latest promised date.

The system will provide an efficient transport option between Suvarnabhumi and the city centre for some 50,000 passengers and 15,000 airline staff and airport workers who need to commute every day and endure the frustrations of long bus waits and unscrupulous taxi drivers, said Mr Jaiyavat.

But Walter Gintschel, the operation specialist for the airport link system, expressed confidence on Tuesday that the system would be ready for a trial run in early December this year, a process that takes about three months, before the line opens for public service in April.

System contractors B.Grimm, Siemens and Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction are putting the final touches on the system and the train is actually running back and forth to test the line, the German train expert said.

Many of the nearly 180 international airline staff who were given the chance to try the rail system from the airport to Makkasan on Tuesday morning said they were pleased with the train's performance and are looking forward to using it soon.

The government has tentatively fixed the airport rail link fare at 150 baht per person per trip on the express line, which does not make stops between the airport and Makkasan city terminal, a journey that takes 15 minutes.

The planned fare for the city line, which stops at the six stations along the way with a total running time of 30 minutes, is 45 baht for a single ride.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-07-14

[Thailand]

Let's hope they have sufficient travelers to fill it and make it viable.

No doubt airport staff,associates, friends ,family etc will have special concessions so little profit in that area.

[jamesjdaly]

Airlines hope rail link ready on time

[cdnvic]

I can just see it being disrupted by protesting taxi drivers. Has there been any sounds of protest from them?

[apetley]

First it was going to be ready with the airport, then we had several dates over the last couple of years, then this summer then on the Kings Birthday, now maybe next April. Bit of a farce imo.

I guess that there will be a bit of a show made for a trial run come December 5th, much in the same way Taksin ordered show flights in Swampy nearly a year before it opened, followed by the real public opening next year.

[londoedan]

I'm really looking forward to this line opening, even if I do have to walk a bit from the MRT to my final destination. I've been staring at this line from taxi windows for, what seems like, ages.

Is there a map on-line available that highlights the links between the new airport line and the existing MRT ?

Londo

[webfact]

I'm really looking forward to this line opening, even if I do have to walk a bit from the MRT to my final destination. I've been staring at this line from taxi windows for, what seems like, ages.

Is there a map on-line available that highlights the links between the new airport line and the existing MRT ?

Londo

some information: Airport Link

[Sel]

http://www.urbanrail.net/as/bang/bangkok-map.png

[QED]

It seems a bit pricey for Thais, can't see many airport workers using it if it costs them 300bt a day (or even at 90 bt on the slow train).

Also if you were travelling as a couple, would the 300 bt fare not be roughly equal to a taxi ride which would take you to your door/ hotel rather than the station?

I think they need to rethink the pricing if they are going to make it work, can't see many taxis getting too upset they will just relocate to Makkasan station (if they lose any significant trade at all).

Extend the line down to Pattaya and they would have some customers, but I can't see that happening this century.

[trogers]

Let's hope they have sufficient travelers to fill it and make it viable.

No doubt airport staff,associates, friends ,family etc will have special concessions so little profit in that area.

Paying passengers are subsidising the people you mentioned, thus, fare has to be set high.

[Maejo Man]

Also if you were travelling as a couple, would the 300 bt fare not be roughly equal to a taxi ride which would take you to your door/ hotel rather than the station?

I think they need to rethink the pricing if they are going to make it work, can't see many taxis getting too upset they will just relocate to Makkasan station (if they lose any significant trade at all).

Precisely...it's not going to worry the taxis at that price. Luggage is the other consideration, people are still going to use taxis purely for the door to door convenience.

[ding]

It seems a bit pricey for Thais, can't see many airport workers using it if it costs them 300bt a day (or even at 90 bt on the slow train).

Also if you were travelling as a couple, would the 300 bt fare not be roughly equal to a taxi ride which would take you to your door/ hotel rather than the station?

I think they need to rethink the pricing if they are going to make it work, can't see many taxis getting too upset they will just relocate to Makkasan station (if they lose any significant trade at all).

Extend the line down to Pattaya and they would have some customers, but I can't see that happening this century.

Yep, nobody will do it. Who wants to lug their bags off a 300B train and to a taxi waiting area, get a taxi, load the bags again... and THEN get to the destination after another 80B fare ? Ibet the taxi drivers are rubbing their hands together. Get ready to pay more. LOS is getting less competitive compared to other destinations, and they want to kick you out as soon as possible too.

I dunno, maybe prices will drop through the floor soon enough.

[SoftWater]

Yep, nobody will do it. Who wants to lug their bags off a 300B train and to a taxi waiting area, get a taxi, load the bags again... and THEN get to the destination after another 80B fare ?

If I read it correctly, it's only 150B (300B return). So you land at Suvarnabhumi airport and your hotel is in Sukhumvit say. All you have to do is get on the train, change at Phaya Thai and get off at Nana/Asok for 150B + 30B Skytrain. I'd certainly rather do that than get in a taxi, pay at least the same amount + the 50B airport surcharge, get stuck in traffic, get touted round gem shops or some other such scam, get a drunk/sleepy/don't know the way taxi driver. I've had enough dodgy taxi rides in my time living here, from guys falling asleep at the wheel to ones who have to look down at the gear stick when they change gear or take their hands of the wheel to wai a passing buddha shrine at 100kph - the list goes on. I'd be more than happy to never get in a taxi again!

Edited July 16, 2009 by SoftWater

[zink]

Yep, nobody will do it. Who wants to lug their bags off a 300B train and to a taxi waiting area, get a taxi, load the bags again... and THEN get to the destination after another 80B fare ?

If I read it correctly, it's only 150B (300B return). So you land at Suvarnabhumi airport and your hotel is in Sukhumvit say. All you have to do is get on the train, change at Phaya Thai and get off at Nana/Asok for 150B + 30B Skytrain. I'd certainly rather do that than get in a taxi, pay at least the same amount + the 50B airport surcharge, get stuck in traffic, get touted round gem shops or some other such scam, get a drunk/sleepy/don't know the way taxi driver. I've had enough dodgy taxi rides in my time living here, from guys falling asleep at the wheel to ones who have to look down at the gear stick when they change gear or take their hands of the wheel to wai a passing buddha shrine at 100kph - the list goes on. I'd be more than happy to never get in a taxi again!

Taking this airport link to Nana/Asok would take more than one hour:

- about 15 minutes to wait a slow train

- 30 minutes trip on a slow train to Phaya Thai

- about 5-10 minutes to transfer to BTS and waiting for a train

- about 20 minutes to reach Nana/Asok from Phaya Thai

[hansnl]

Also if you were travelling as a couple, would the 300 bt fare not be roughly equal to a taxi ride which would take you to your door/ hotel rather than the station?

I think they need to rethink the pricing if they are going to make it work, can't see many taxis getting too upset they will just relocate to Makkasan station (if they lose any significant trade at all).

Precisely...it's not going to worry the taxis at that price. Luggage is the other consideration, people are still going to use taxis purely for the door to door convenience.

Surprising fact is that in all cities/airports where a train link has been established, the number of passengers using the rail has taken away a lot, if not most, taxi rides.

Most communities try to lessen the taxi rides anyway because of other considerations.

The same is, albeit slowly, happening in Bangkok.

Most negative comments are about pricing of tickets.

And the enormous ease of door to door traffic.

Anybody also considering the time element?

What amount of time/money for a taxi?

What amount of time/money for the rail transport?

Hmmmmmm

My feelings are that maybe the taxi bosses in Bangkok are a reason for the delays.

They know what will happen, stupidity is not common around there.

Just maybe?

[pedro01]

I travel a fair amount and I certainly won't use it.

I usually travel with a laptop bag and a 1 piece of luggage. My luggage usually weighs in at 15-20kg depending on what documents I have in there.

I live close to Ekkamai, so I'd need to change stations at Phaya Thai. I'd probably have to open my bags for the BTS security check (you certainly would if you had to get the MRT). I'd need to walk down the stairs both between platforms and off the station as there is not a single down escalator on my route back (only Siam/Asok has them). After all this, I'd still need a taxi from Ekkamai BTS.

Of course the fact that I have to be at the airport at 5am sometimes is another reason I won't use it and my flights back are often landing at midnight. After a 16 hour flight, I sure don't want to endure Thai public transport.

Sure - I'd save a few hundred baht but I'd save no time and would experience plenty of extra aggravation.

Personally, I think they should have built it from the airport to Walking Street. The cheap charlies would have filled every train. Even their tilac could afford to come and meet them, so the train company would make out double. They could even give the tilacs frequent traveller points...