Connecting Airport Link To Phya Thai Bts

[scorecard]

You've probably noticed that the airport link platform had an open end near the BTS Phya Thai station.

Well work has started again, to build a frame on which it seems the walking surface will be installed so that passengers can walk along the airport link platform directly onto the Phya Thai BTS station platform.

My son tells me there has been mention in the Thai press of relocating the old Makkasan train station to the lower levels of the Airport link station so that passengers could transfer at same station from the airport link to upcountry trains.

Also says there has been discussion of revision of the fast train to Rayong concept, the new idea is to just extend the airport link to Pattaya and to Rayong. Seems worth some discussion.

If BKK passengers could travel by BTS to the Airport link station to catch a fast train to Pattaya, would that be a good central departure point? It would be very convenient for me and family but I wonder what others BKK dwellers think.

[dsprtliving]

I for one love the idea, and sincerely hope they run with it

[longball53098]

I'm retired and 65 years old. Will this ever happen in my life time? Not!!!

[ya5702]

I'm retired and 65 years old. Will this ever happen in my life time? Not!!!

I walked by the Ratchaprarop station two weeks ago and noticed the escalator was working and saw two people going up. I asked the Security Guard when the Airport BTS will start its service to Suvarnabhumi airport. He replied in English "19 July". I asked him in Thai to confirm 19 July and he said "krap"!

Can anyone confirm that the Airport BTS is indeed operating its regular service to Suvarnabhumi, please?

[scorecard]

I'm retired and 65 years old. Will this ever happen in my life time? Not!!!

I walked by the Ratchaprarop station two weeks ago and noticed the escalator was working and saw two people going up. I asked the Security Guard when the Airport BTS will start its service to Suvarnabhumi airport. He replied in English "19 July". I asked him in Thai to confirm 19 July and he said "krap"!

Can anyone confirm that the Airport BTS is indeed operating its regular service to Suvarnabhumi, please?

It's still in testing. Passengers can use it between certain hours, free, but my understanding is that you have to call somwhere first and register your name / get a number or something similar. Sorry can't help with the phone number but it has been published many times.

My son says there is a long delay in getting certain certifications and also a long delay in working out just who the line reports to: SRT, itself etc., therefore who provides the staff, although there are promo pictures of the staff in uniforms, but but maybe it's just fake promo stuff.

I'm hoping they don't report to SRT for obvious reasons, and I'm also hoping they might copy the service picture of the Maglev train to Shanghai airport, staff are well trained and everything is well focused on passenger and safety. Go to the info. window, the staff listen and politely give focused answers etc.

[hhgz]

"It's still in testing. Passengers can use it between certain hours, free, but my understanding is that you have to call somwhere first and register your name / get a number or something similar."

I'd be interested in knowing what your son does. The signaling, communications, and operational issues have been ironed out. Regardless, to use the train free, it is not necessary to call, register, or use a secret handshake. Posted several times, and once again, the service is available M-F, 7-10A and 1600-1900. You walk into the station, take a ticket,hop on the train. It could not be any easier.

I have used the Shanghai maglev train many times, and I'm not sure what you mean by "service picture". The maglev train is express only, and is more expensive than the SARL. Too, the ride on the SARL is considerably quieter and smoother than the Shanghai maglev train.

[thaihome]

I'm retired and 65 years old. Will this ever happen in my life time? Not!!!

I walked by the Ratchaprarop station two weeks ago and noticed the escalator was working and saw two people going up. I asked the Security Guard when the Airport BTS will start its service to Suvarnabhumi airport. He replied in English "19 July". I asked him in Thai to confirm 19 July and he said "krap"!

Can anyone confirm that the Airport BTS is indeed operating its regular service to Suvarnabhumi, please?

Its not the Airport BTS. The Airport linked is owned by the State Railroad of Thailand, completly different company then the publicly listed BTS Group which owns the BTS.

TH

[Lakegeneve]

I'm retired and 65 years old. Will this ever happen in my life time? Not!!!

I walked by the Ratchaprarop station two weeks ago and noticed the escalator was working and saw two people going up. I asked the Security Guard when the Airport BTS will start its service to Suvarnabhumi airport. He replied in English "19 July". I asked him in Thai to confirm 19 July and he said "krap"!

Can anyone confirm that the Airport BTS is indeed operating its regular service to Suvarnabhumi, please?

Its not the Airport BTS. The Airport linked is owned by the State Railroad of Thailand, completly different company then the publicly listed BTS Group which owns the BTS.

TH

Your correct on the SRT part but obviously the SRT in NOT a company, it is a state owned agency. (SRT workers would strike tomorrow if they read your post given the current fears of being the SRT being sold off to private enterprise).

It has however, established subsidiary (SRTET) for the Airport Line and appointed an operator to manage it. The SRT is soon to be reformed into three distinct bodies given how inefficient it is and the annual losses it incurs. It doesn't even know how much land it owns or how much money it losses from leases of its land. (As an example the Chatuchak markets and Central Latphrao are on leased SRT land)

Many see the Airport Line as th start of a new life for the SRT if other plans such as double tracking and High Speed Lines come ot fruitition.

[Lakegeneve]

I'm retired and 65 years old. Will this ever happen in my life time? Not!!!

I walked by the Ratchaprarop station two weeks ago and noticed the escalator was working and saw two people going up. I asked the Security Guard when the Airport BTS will start its service to Suvarnabhumi airport. He replied in English "19 July". I asked him in Thai to confirm 19 July and he said "krap"!

Can anyone confirm that the Airport BTS is indeed operating its regular service to Suvarnabhumi, please?

It's still in testing. Passengers can use it between certain hours, free, but my understanding is that you have to call somwhere first and register your name / get a number or something similar. Sorry can't help with the phone number but it has been published many times.

My son says there is a long delay in getting certain certifications and also a long delay in working out just who the line reports to: SRT, itself etc., therefore who provides the staff, although there are promo pictures of the staff in uniforms, but but maybe it's just fake promo stuff.

Your information is quite out of date with respect. The previous ad hoc trials, last year and early this year, required people to contact the SRT for tickets on what were ad hoc once a week runs.

However as hhgz has posted above, since the start of June the SRT has been operating a scheduled free trial service from M-F only between the hours of 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Trains depart every 20 mins. A timetable can be found here; http://storage.aceri...imetable_en.jpg

The service was intially Phaya Thai to the Airport express (all of 16 mins) but has progressively expanded to include all stations (except Makkasan/CAT which is yet to open). It is currently receiving a lot of pax.

(Note: there is a thread in the Airport Forum which contains more info http://www.thaivisa....ry/page__st__50) and you can also read updates at http://www.angkor.co...27616#post27616 (which includes a full history of news reporting on the line, and the many delays, going back to 2003)

On the operations and management side, there has been lots of problems primarily as the SRT Board took so, so long last year to work out an operational structure and appoint a manager to run the thing. Electrical reliability probs, the lack of radio comms in the airport station tunnel and operational certification led to further delays in the last 6 months. All of which is why the original opening date of Dec 08 slide to mid last year then to Aug 09 then Dec 09 then Feb 10 then.......well you get the picture!

However, nearly all of this has been resolved and full services will commence from 23 Aug operating from 5am to 1am.

Fares for the first year will be 50 baht for the Express (Airport to Makkasan) and 10-20 baht for the Cityline (all station service)