2 replies to this topic

[Snowy]

Airport express link train to be unveiled Nov 9

The airport express link will be unveiled on November 9, according to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

Acting SRT governor Bancha Kongnakorn said trains to be used in providing transportation services have arrived at Lam Chabang port in Chonburi province.

Train services will be divided into two categories. The first line spans a distance of 28 kilometres and will run between Makkasan railway station and Suvarnabhumi airport in fifteen minutes.

The second train service, the City line, stops at all stations between Makkasan train station and Suvarnabhumi airport. The total running time between these two points will take 30 minutes.

According to authorities, the airport link is now 70 percent complete and it could take at least 370 more days before the entire route is finally completed.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=122745

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It's not clear to me if this means the service will start running on 9 Nov.
The last paragraph seems to indicate otherwise ?

[Trongpai]

It's not clear how and if Makkasan railway station is going to connect with BTS or MRT. I see a huge roof being build at Makkasan but noting going on between it and Asoke. That's one of the most congested traffic area in Bangkok, if they then expect you to then take a taxi to your hotel, many will pass on the train and opt for a taxi all the way. No word yet on what the fare will be.

A taxi now from the airport to say the Pinnacle is 200 B plus 60 tolls, 260 total, and takes about 30 min. A taxi from Makkasan to the Pinnacle is about 60 to 100, in rush hour, no tolls. So if the train is 200B one-way you break even. The big question will be how much under the 200B will people be willing to pay for the train and will there really be a time saving?

[Birch]

It's not clear how and if Makkasan railway station is going to connect with BTS or MRT

If the big money interests that control the cab business have any say, there will be no connection. They were oppposed to any rail connection to begin with.