Airport Rail Link Likely Faces Further Delay

[bubba]

From TR Weekly:

http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2010/01/airp...ces-more-delay/

Airport Link faces more delay

January 11, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat

It is very unlikely that Airport Link can start commercial operations this April as earlier announced. The service now faces delays, possibly until August. State Railway of Thailand governor, Yuthana Thapchareon, talked to the Thai press after visiting the project, last week, noting there are still three main areas that have not been completed. They are: communications system between stations especially those that link the system to the police in case of security or safety related incident; installation of CCTV and gate systems at some stations. They will need to be certified by an Independent Safety and System Certification Engineer before the Airport Link can be opened for services.

After inspection, SRT did not approved the rail system and electronic and mechanic system contracted by B Grimm International. No reason for this decision was given. More importantly, SRT has missed the deadline to set up a subsidiary company to manage the Airport Link. It has also failed to hire more than 30% of a required 400 staff who will be needed to run the service. They also require training.

Accoding to the original contract, the rail link was supposed to be operational in 2008, but disagreements between the SRT and its union as well as delays in the handover of land for stations were the main culprits.

[theoldgit]

The words "p*ss up" and "brewery" spring to mind

[londonthai]

luckily nobody knew about those security and safety problems a month ago, when the link was officially opened and runned for a week

[cinbkk]

Typical shambles...no surprises here...move on.

[Nowhereman60]

Did you really expect it to open on time.

[Meridian007]

After inspection, SRT did not approve the rail system and electronic and mechanic system contracted by B Grimm International. No reason for this decision was given.

Are these "real" issues? The test run went well by everyone's estimation, so why are they complaining now? Is this so that they can delay and open on a more "auspicious" date? It seems that any big project can only open on two days of the year, one in August, and one in December. While that is very nice, it makes for a very inefficient system!

Or is this a delay from the opposition, who can't stand to have things work properly while the current government is in power?

Crossy, have you heard about any of this? Aside from the split in the SRT, this seemed ready to go!

[londonthai]

"there are still three main areas that have not been completed. They are: communications system between stations especially those that link the system to the police in case of security or safety related incident; installation of CCTV and gate systems at some stations. After inspection, SRT did not approved the rail system and electronic and mechanic system contracted by B Grimm International... It has also failed to hire more than 30% of a required 400 staff who will be needed to run the service. They also require training."

it's at leat 4 problems, and of course "tests" had to be succesfull, the whole thailand and the coutry pride was on stake. Would anybody dare to say on the first day of opening: because there is no ticket fare, you are riding on your own risk of being injured or killed.

ps the airport has opened in september, as I remember

[cdnvic]

This is really going to upset the guys the taxi drivers pay to beat up the first engineer.

[hhgz]

"at leat 4 problem..."

You seemed to have adopted the Thai government's perspective on any situation: everything is a "crisis". There are several things that need to be completed before the airport link is opened. I'm not sure why you think it's a "problem".

"ps the airport has opened in september, as I remember"

"Opened in September"? What does that mean? It opened several years ago, and I guess that means you think there's a problem...

[arkom]

Did anyone really expect it to open on time? I wouldn't be surprised if for some unknown reason it would ever open.

[Crossy]

Crossy, have you heard about any of this? Aside from the split in the SRT, this seemed ready to go!

I've certainly heard April possibly August (Queens Birthday), but it's unclear exactly what the main issues are. Most likely lack of evacuation paths at Makasan (from the City Line platform) and issues with the signaling. The ICE (Independent Certification Engineer) hasn't signed off on anything yet.

The revenue collection system is working but has no link with the proposed clearing house which would allow a common ticket.

No trial running with a full timetable has been performed as yet, so expect at least 2 months of that.

[Meridian007]

Darn, I was really hoping that they'd get it together for this.

"ps the airport has opened in september, as I remember"

"Opened in September"? What does that mean? It opened several years ago, and I guess that means you think there's a problem...

He was responding to my post about August and December. I wonder if this one deviated from the usual pattern because it was Thaksin's little project, and when he was in power, he didn't seem to honour the respect that those months are traditionally given...

I'm all for respect in those cases, but it would be nice if this opened in April!

[infernalman7]

It's not signaling or anything. The main problem here is certification. No one is going to certify the safety of the new system until everything is 100% and that includes the insurance of the system.

And BTW, it is not delayed. The "insider's" information of the opening of the ARL has always been August 2010. That April 2010 was just a P/R ploy.

[LuckyLew]

On a related issue, the other extension to the BKK mass transit

has also been delayed. Now expected to open on August 15th 2045

[infernalman7]

^^ It would be nice if you can stop trolling with complete lie.

[hansnl]

This is really going to upset the guys the taxi drivers pay to beat up the first engineer.

Hmmmmm

Now, some naughty idea comes burbling up.

Taxi??????

[smokie36]

Did anyone really expect it to open on time? I wouldn't be surprised if for some unknown reason it would ever open.

A mysterious redshirt conspiracy?

[bdenner]

2 questions on this:-

What are the latest estimates on opening?

Where, within the airport complex, is the Station?

[theoldgit]

2 questions on this:-

What are the latest estimates on opening? The latest estimate seems to be August, but it's only an estimate and there have been a few false starts.

Where, within the airport complex, is the Station? I understand it's on or just under the ground floor, I did see a sign on the ground floor, but I didn't check it out. There were some photos in the early days.

[KhunDave]

The station is in the basement. If you go down to the ground floor level you can see the blocked-off travelators which will eventually take passengers down there...

[Crossy]

The station is actually under the parking complex, access from the terminal one level down from the current taxi floor.

[powderpuff]

I had a dream that certification would be slow so as to squeeze maximum kick-back from the contractor. Then I woke up.

Politicians & Ministers change from time to time & each one needs to "wet his beak".

[Kees5]

When I came into BKK last week, driving past the airport, I saw a train running on the new line. Are they testing, or is it open now?

[theoldgit]

They have been running every day for months but it is not in service yet, they are either testing or training drivers, I don't know which.

[Pooklook]

Does anyone know the expected hours of operation?? Thanks

A 24 hour BTS from the airport would be so sweet.

[joy16]

Does anyone know the expected hours of operation?? Thanks

A 24 hour BTS from the airport would be so sweet.

Operating time is 05:00 a.m.- 01:00 am (next day)

[Crossy]

A small birdie tells me that a free service from Phaya Thai to Suranabhumi (no intermediate stations) will commence some time towards the end of April

No idea of operating times or frequency

[bangon04]

A small birdie tells me that a free service from Phaya Thai to Suranabhumi (no intermediate stations) will commence some time towards the end of April

No idea of operating times or frequency

That seems to be rushing things. Surely it would be much more auspicious to wait for the King's Birthday on December 5th as usual....