Why is the Airport link stations so badly done ?

[NoshowJones]

Wouldn't it be common sense to look at some other already built stations to see how to design them?

Common sense and Thailand somehow don't go together.

Why ? I see great development in the country. They have the best shopping malls, restaurants and cinemas. Why is the Airport link so badly designed ?

Why is the Airport link so badly designed ? Read my post again.

[only1]

I think it is because the planners were never going to be the users. The users were seen to be falang on their way out of the country, so who cares. Just build the thing and cash the checks.

Not fair to blame it on the falangs. I am sure the Thai government approved it, not foreigners.

[Searat7]

Interesting to note that the BTS and MRT are operated by private companies whereas the Airport Link is part of the debt ridden government owned SRT. That in itself explains allot. The service had to be scaled back considerably because scheduled maintenance was not planned for the trains so many could not be operated. The Express Line was shut down for a long time...I think they were stealing parts from those trains to use on others. Not sure if they have started up this service again. Originally Express trains just went to Makasan which was a joke because most people exited in Phaya Thai. Earlier this year the head of the SRT agreed with a recommendation that this service should be taken over by BTS or MRT which would be a good idea.

[BKKBrit]

Unreal that 'contributors' - I use the term lightly - even manage to blame Thaksin for the design of the <deleted> airport link stations. You guys must be hard all the time thinking of him. Jeesh.

[only1]

Unreal that 'contributors' - I use the term lightly - even manage to blame Thaksin for the design of the <deleted> airport link stations. You guys must be hard all the time thinking of him. Jeesh.

You mean Taksin approved this design ?

Then he should be blamed.

[ripstanley]

I'll tell you why because foreigners are NOT allowed to work in Thailand otherwise the bloody Poms would have designed this thing to bloody work or even the Singaporeans lllaaa

Who are the POMs.

Poms are English.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pom

[Jeffkp]

The fact, my friend, is that the Thais don't see anything wrong with corruption. They accept it as part of Thailand. As they love to say: Can't change Thailand.

Not true! Every Thai I know is angry and deeply ashamed of the daily corruption. They just don't feel they can do anything about it!

[CLW]

Wouldn't it be common sense to look at some other already built stations to see how to design them?

Common sense and Thailand somehow don't go together.

Why ? I see great development in the country. They have the best shopping malls, restaurants and cinemas. Why is the Airport link so badly designed ?

One is done by private companies, other is owned by government. See the difference?

[movieplay]

i have found the bangkok suv. airport to be excellent compared to other airports not perfect but when you arrive on a flight, you can easily simply take the elevator to the basement and noard a nice train to the center of bangkok quickly, not perfect but not done 'badley' imo

the only thing i dont like about the airport is that often the 'tent' type design in the departure sections can get too hot, especially because the departure part is upstairs..

[steven100]

Wouldn't it be common sense to look at some other already built stations to see how to design them?

Common sense and Thailand somehow don't go together.

Why ? I see great development in the country. They have the best shopping malls, restaurants and cinemas. Why is the Airport link so badly designed ?

One is done by private companies, other is owned by government. See the difference?

Of coarse it was Thaksin who approved and signed the cheques that were paid by the taxpayers. But it should not be his demise as the design and construction I would think should fall under the ministry of public transport or similar. The head of the department should be held accountable for the shit/crap/stupid design ..

Anyway ... doesn't matter it's nothing to do with the politics !! It's a bad design and it cost a packet !!!!

go figure .. !! cor_up_ion ?????

Edited August 31, 2015 by steven100

[Estrada]

The original scheme, was of course, the Hopewell Scheme (BERTS) which was started under General Chatchai Choonhaven of Chart Thai Party, then Ananda Panyarachun stopped it in 1992. It was recommenced under PM Chuan Leekpai and then when PM Banharn took over Gordon Woo was not prepared to grease any more palms so the project was finally stopped. The revised scheme without a road was commenced under Thaksin with Pacific Consultants (PCBK) as the designers. PCBK has worked on the design of most of the MRTA and BTS projects. Team consultants are involved in a number of the newer MRTA designs. The Airport link was built by a Consortium of STEC, B. Grimm and Siemens. With regard to toilets in stations, these are not deemed necessary as the journey time is only 15 minutes. Contrary to what some have said in this blog, there are coffee shops even at Hua Mark Station. Taxis are available at each station, and you can always use Grab Taxi or Uber app. to get a taxi waiting for you at your destination.

[SunsetT]

It's a mess because there is no unified transit plan in Bangkok, or Thailand for that matter

When everything is done by concessions then there is no way to integrate the various parts into one functioning unit since the concessionaire is only interested in making money, not providing a service

this is the correct explanation - nothing to do with brains!

.......So where does the intelligence required to plan and create a 'unified transit plan' come from?

[SOTIRIOS]

...because it was thrown in as a afterthought by a bunch of incompetents that wanted to maximize their 'take'.....of course.....

...isn't it obvious.....

[SunsetT]

Im sorry to keep saying this but it all goes back to the appalling Thai education system plus an apparent cultural lack of consideration for others.

........They, of course, have brains but are, sadly, not taught to use them,,,,,,and they just dont give a shit!

..........But hey! If they were educated and could think like us the Thai atmosphere would be buzzing with stressed-out Thai thoughts with them rushing around thinking, planning, and scheming just like back home in the West........Instead we have the relaxed laid back Thai atmosphere that we feel as soon as we get off that plane and leave the airport.............Just chill out and enjoy it while it lasts.

I think it is not right or fair to just generally blame the whole country or the Whole system. It must have been related to corruption and corruption is man made, so the PM who approved and did it is one to be blamed, no one else. The people can only be blamed for ignorance having elected the wrong party.

So the PM who approved it said make sure you design the station roofs this way?

Im not blaming the whole country or the whole system. Just the 'Thai education system' and some mysterious aspect of Thai culture which means they show little or no consideration for others outside of their family, socia,l and working circles. You know....the same mysterious cultural aspect that stops Thai drivers from pulling over to allow emergency vehicles through. They dont do this because they havent been taught to do it, or taught to show consideration for others. Showing consideration for others is not innate. It has to be taught in the past or the present....Something lacking in their religion perhaps? Thais only do what they have been taught to do because at school they are not taught or encouraged to think for themselves. so it all goes back to education, or lack of it.

[thaibeachlovers]

Same reason the airport itself is badly designed and the Pattaya beach walkway is a disaster.

If you can't work out the reason, you haven't been in LOS very long.

[thaibeachlovers]

The stations could have been made smaller & cheaper but more passenger friendly such as sit down areas with coffee shops and decent bathroom facilities, wider access with escalators.

Makassan is like a ghost town as are many of the other stations. The trains are looking like they have been to Dubai and back with an old worn out look about them ... when it's not really old for a rail line.

Japan is the king when it comes to high speed rail, the Thais in charge should have spent a few months in Tokyo to evaluate what would be best suited.

Also, at what ever cost it was ... the big mistake was not having the route unified with connecting services .. the rail should have come into Asoke as the main hub station whether some had to be under ground or whatever , Asoke should have been there chosen route and not Makassan.

?????? There is no main line rail to Asoke and the airport link had to be built on the railway property. Besides, Asoke skytrain station is also badly designed and doesn't have the capacity to take even more than it already does.

[SoiBiker]

The original scheme, was of course, the Hopewell Scheme (BERTS) which was started under General Chatchai Choonhaven of Chart Thai Party, then Ananda Panyarachun stopped it in 1992. It was recommenced under PM Chuan Leekpai and then when PM Banharn took over Gordon Woo was not prepared to grease any more palms so the project was finally stopped. The revised scheme without a road was commenced under Thaksin with Pacific Consultants (PCBK) as the designers. PCBK has worked on the design of most of the MRTA and BTS projects. Team consultants are involved in a number of the newer MRTA designs. The Airport link was built by a Consortium of STEC, B. Grimm and Siemens. With regard to toilets in stations, these are not deemed necessary as the journey time is only 15 minutes. Contrary to what some have said in this blog, there are coffee shops even at Hua Mark Station. Taxis are available at each station, and you can always use Grab Taxi or Uber app. to get a taxi waiting for you at your destination.

You know the BERTS scheme went to a different airport, right?

[coulson]

Wouldn't it be common sense to look at some other already built stations to see how to design them?

Originally, the BERTS system was taken on by a consortium who did not even do a feasibility study!

As if that isn't a bad enough start, the financial crisis soon put a stop to it and then followed a series of legal disputes, leaving the project shelved with just a number of semi installed pillars.

During the time elapsed, the requirements & landscape would change - DMK becoming the Low cost carrier hub and all other services moved to swampy. When work recommenced (new consortium) it was assumed they could same track alignment. This wasn't possible. There were also a number of land-acquisition issues which would have dictated the station arrangements at Ground level.

It was a botched contractual mess without due diligence from the start. Second time around they again tried to cut corners, only ending up spending more getting the Engineering component to work. By the time the stations would be built, the budget is gone and even more design cuts would follow, in the end the minimum amount necessary to open the project would be the maximum amount required.

With another phase set for Tender this year, there may be some more thought given to the end user experience off the back of a system that is rarely used for its purpose. (I have never used it once). The current economical climate doesn't suggest that will be soon.

Trying to step into another Designers/ Contractors shoes and complete a job somebody else started is fraught with risk and contractual disputes, whatever the situation. Inheriting somebody else's design is like trying to raise another man's child for want of better analogy.

The bottom line is any major infrastructural development requires due diligence......as the saying goes, sometimes it's just easier to go back to the drawing board.

Edited August 31, 2015 by coulson

[coulson]

The original scheme, was of course, the Hopewell Scheme (BERTS) which was started under General Chatchai Choonhaven of Chart Thai Party, then Ananda Panyarachun stopped it in 1992. It was recommenced under PM Chuan Leekpai and then when PM Banharn took over Gordon Woo was not prepared to grease any more palms so the project was finally stopped. The revised scheme without a road was commenced under Thaksin with Pacific Consultants (PCBK) as the designers. PCBK has worked on the design of most of the MRTA and BTS projects. Team consultants are involved in a number of the newer MRTA designs. The Airport link was built by a Consortium of STEC, B. Grimm and Siemens. With regard to toilets in stations, these are not deemed necessary as the journey time is only 15 minutes. Contrary to what some have said in this blog, there are coffee shops even at Hua Mark Station. Taxis are available at each station, and you can always use Grab Taxi or Uber app. to get a taxi waiting for you at your destination.

You know the BERTS scheme went to a different airport, right?

It shared a common downtown route.

[toenail]

- I know western architectures & experts help to design the stations including the airport but because of pocketing the budgeted money for these projects a more frugal version is completed with eliminating escalators or restrooms at Skytrain stations, making bathroom smaller than what was on the blueprint for swampy airport. ? Sad how Thai society accepts their tax money to be poorly used

Edited August 31, 2015 by toenail

[only1]

So it was Thaksin who did it, so no surprise if heavy corruption is related. Don't blame it on which company or whoever. There is a Chinese saying, if the top beam isn't in good position, those below will not be straight.

I just observed the Rachaprarop station today, at the lower level both sides are full of steel columns added, looks like they are done not in the original design. Unnecessary, don't know for what other than to spend more money and make the air circulation poorer.

Edited August 31, 2015 by only1

[thaibeachlovers]

Thaksin was long gone when the rail link was built, so nothing to do with him.

I always regretted that he got dumped before having to open the pile of crud that is Swampy, given he was responsible for that piece of badly designed/ built garbage.

[coulson]

Thaksin was long gone when the rail link was built, so nothing to do with him.

I always regretted that he got dumped before having to open the pile of crud that is Swampy, given he was responsible for that piece of badly designed/ built garbage.

He was around for the planning stages, and that's where all the fun is!

[HerbalEd]

You have to be very poor to justify taking the airport link train. Unless you live very near by you have to take a taxi to the station ... then struggle with baggage up to the train ... then struggle with baggage upon arriving at the airport.

For me, I'm very happy to pay about 350 baht to take a taxi from my condo building's front door on Suk. Soi 10 to curbside at the airport ... and do the opposite when arriving at the airport and going to my condo.

Why would I want to spend so much more time and trouble to save two hundred baht?

[only1]

You have to be very poor to justify taking the airport link train. Unless you live very near by you have to take a taxi to the station ... then struggle with baggage up to the train ... then struggle with baggage upon arriving at the airport.

For me, I'm very happy to pay about 350 baht to take a taxi from my condo building's front door on Suk. Soi 10 to curbside at the airport ... and do the opposite when arriving at the airport and going to my condo.

Why would I want to spend so much more time and trouble to save two hundred baht?

Yes, you are right. I am very poor but so time rich.

Does that mean they should not build the stations better or do you think the Thai government should not build the whole system at all?

Edited September 1, 2015 by only1

[thaibeachlovers]

You have to be very poor to justify taking the airport link train. Unless you live very near by you have to take a taxi to the station ... then struggle with baggage up to the train ... then struggle with baggage upon arriving at the airport.

For me, I'm very happy to pay about 350 baht to take a taxi from my condo building's front door on Suk. Soi 10 to curbside at the airport ... and do the opposite when arriving at the airport and going to my condo.

Why would I want to spend so much more time and trouble to save two hundred baht?

Hmmmmm.

Using the ARL is easy peasy.

If living near an MRT station, ( or take a taxi to Makassan ) just go to Petchaburi station, escalators up from station level to the overhead walkway and a short walk to Makassan. Yes, if carrying a heavy bag it would be a struggle, but who would be so mug these days as to carry a bag when they come with wheels now.

Escalator to the platform and half hour to Swampy.

Escalators at Swampy of course.

Two hundred baht is half my hotel bill and more than enough for a big breakfast. Lucky the man that can throw money away.

[only1]

Talking about the Skywalker from Petchburi to Makasan, wonder why they don't make it a shorter straight direction instead ? Again to spend more ?

[Sviss Geez]

I'll tell you why because foreigners are NOT allowed to work in Thailand otherwise the bloody Poms would have designed this thing to bloody work or even the Singaporeans lllaaa

Siemens will disagree with your nonsense.

[Sviss Geez]

So the PM who approved it said make sure you design the station roofs this way?

Im not blaming the whole country or the whole system. Just the 'Thai education system' and some mysterious aspect of Thai culture which means they show little or no consideration for others outside of their family, socia,l and working circles. You know....the same mysterious cultural aspect that stops Thai drivers from pulling over to allow emergency vehicles through. They dont do this because they havent been taught to do it, or taught to show consideration for others. Showing consideration for others is not innate. It has to be taught in the past or the present....Something lacking in their religion perhaps? Thais only do what they have been taught to do because at school they are not taught or encouraged to think for themselves. so it all goes back to education, or lack of it.

"They dont do this because they havent been taught to do it, or taught to show consideration for others. Showing consideration for others is not innate. It has to be taught in the past or the present....Something lacking in their religion perhaps?"

It would be interesting to see what religion you misguidedly think shows consideration for others.

[Sviss Geez]

- I know western architectures & experts help to design the stations including the airport but because of pocketing the budgeted money for these projects a more frugal version is completed with eliminating escalators or restrooms at Skytrain stations, making bathroom smaller than what was on the blueprint for swampy airport. ? Sad how Thai society accepts their tax money to be poorly used

The escalators at the BTS stations are imaginary then, are they?