Op 23 augustus is het dan eindelijk zover dat de Airportlink tussen Suvarnabhumi airport en het centrum van Bangkok geopend wordt. Sinds juni wordt er wel al proefgereden maar nu gaat er echt volgens schema gereden worden, elke dag van 6.00 tot 24.00 uur. De Expressline doet er 15 minuten over om van de luchthaven naar station Makkasan te rijden en de Cityline, die onderweg bij een aantal stations stopt, 30 minuten. Tot eind december is er een speciale introductieprijs: de Express kost 100 en de Cityline 15 baht.
By [thaizer](http://www.thaizer.com/author/admin/) • August 19, 2010
The train link between [Suvarnabhumi international airport](http://www.thaizer.com/arrival/bangkok-airport-guide/) and the centre of Bangkok will officially be open for business on Monday (August 23, 2010). Although the much-delayed airport train link has been running a test service in recent weeks, the official opening day is Monday. However, for many overseas tourists the new train service connecting Suvarnabhumi airport may not prove to be the most convenient way to get to or from central Bangkok.
Bangkok Airport Express Train (Non-Stop)
The elevated track runs for 28kms (17 miles) and the express train service will take just 15 minutes to travel non-stop between the train terminal at Suvarnabhumi (located on the basement level at the airport) and the City Air Terminal (C.A.T) at Makkasan. The station at Makkasan is located in the vicinity of the Baiyoke Sky Tower which is itself located to the north of the central commercial districts of Siam and Silom.
Trains are scheduled to run every 40 minutes (daily 06.00 to midnight) between Suvarnabhumi airport and Makkasan. There is no direct access from Makkasan to the Skytrain or Metro network which means that if you are staying in popular tourist areas of Bangkok such as Sukhumvit, Silom or Banglamphu there will still be the need to catch a taxi (or bus) from Makkasan to your hotel or guest-house.
The promotional express train fare during the launch period will be 100 Baht but this is expected to rise to 150 Baht once the service is established. There will be a baggage check-in service at Makkasan C.A.T. but this isn’t scheduled to be fully operational until the end of 2010. Bangkok Airport City Line Train (Stopping Service)
In addition to the express link, there will also be another train running between Phaya Thai station and Bangkok airport. Unlike the express service, the City Line trains are primarily aimed at local commuters and will stop at the following stations:
Ratchaprop
Makkasan
Asoke
Ramkhamhaeng
Hua Mak
Ban Thap Chang
Lat Krabang
Journey time between Phaya Thai and Suvarnabhumi will be approximately 30 minutes with initial promotional fares on this route at 15 to 45 Baht. Phaya Thai is convenient for the Skytrain, but tourists who want to use the City Line airport train should note that it is/will be a local commuter service and depending on the time you travel, space for bags may be limited. Should I Take the Train, Bus or Taxi to or from Bangkok Airport?
The answer to this question will depend on a number of factors. Solo Travellers:
If you are solo traveller the airport link could provide a useful and cost-effective option especially if you are familiar with Bangkok and comfortable getting around by yourself. However, depending on where you are staying in Bangkok, taking the airport train link (plus a bus/taxi/Skytrain) to get to your accommodation could prove to be a false economy and the airport bus (currently 150 Baht) into central Bangkok may be a better and more convenient option. Getting a taxi from Bangkok airportdoesn’t cost much more at approximately 300 to 400 Baht into central Bangkok (including express toll-way fees). Couples, Small Groups and Families:
If you aren’t a solo traveller or if you aren’t staying at a hotel very close to Makkasan C.A.T station or Phaya Thai, I would advise taking a taxi-meter directly to or from Bangkok airport. In terms of cost and convenience (especially with luggage) a taxi directly to or from your accommodation in Bangkok will usually be the best option.
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[li]Published: 23/08/2010 at 12:00 AM[/li][li]Newspaper section: News[/li][/ul]
The 28km Airport Rail Link begins full commercial operations today to reduce travel time between the inner city and Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan.
The rail link will charge promotional fares until the end of the year on its city and express lines. It expects to serve up to 50,000 passengers a day.
The service has been operating on a trial basis since June 1, attracting about 17,000 people a day travelling for free.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor Yutthana Thapcharoen yesterday led an inspection of the rail link and its facilities to ensure it was ready for commercial services.
Mr Yutthana insisted the link “is definitely good to go”.
“It is the fastest rail system in the country,” he said.
“It is convenient and provides [a quality] service.”
Mr Yutthana said the SRT would ask the cabinet to raise the registered capital of a subsidiary firm to run the rail link from 500 million baht to 2 billion baht.
Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum is scheduled to inspect the rail link today to see if there were problems that needed to be fixed.
“I heard the train had a glitch and had to go back to Phaya Thai station,” the minister said.
“That kind of thing can make passengers miss their flights.”
Passengers using the City Line, the all-stops line, will pay a flat rate of 15 baht for a trip during the promotion period. The line, which operates from 6am to midnight, takes 30 minutes to travel from Phaya Thai station to Suvarnabhumi airport.
Those using the Express Line will pay 100 baht for a trip. It takes 15 minutes to travel from Makkasan station to the airport non-stop. It also operates from 6am to midnight.
Fares for the City Line will range from 15 baht to 45 baht, depending on the distance travelled, after Jan 1, 2011, while the fares on the Express Line would rise to 150 baht.
Passengers would be able to check in their baggage at Makkasan station for transfer to their airline once the service was fully operational.bangkokpost
**Express rail makes life easier for commuters between Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport **
Published: 2/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Horizons
These days you can get to Suvarnabhumi Airport from downtown Bangkok in quick time thanks to the Airport Rail Link (ARL), a rapid train ride on elevated tracks 28 kilometres long inaugurated last week.
The recently-launched Airport Rail Link, your ticket to Suvarnabhumi Airport from Bangkok.
It can deliver you there in 30 minutes, or even half that time. For commuters, here are some vital tips.
The ART comprises of a City Line and Express Line.
The City Line spans Phaya Thai district in the heart of Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi. With stops on the route, it connects the two points in 30 minutes, while the Express Line operates non-stop between neighbouring Makkasan to the airport, covering the distance in only 15 minutes. Both the lines operate 6am to midnight.
Makkasan is the ARL terminus on Asok-Din Daeng Road. Those arriving there by taxi or private car should proceed to the third floor from where it is convenient to haul luggage to the ticket counter and move on to the platform.
But if you are taking the MRT subway, Exit 3 of its Phetchaburi stop is the nearest access point to Makkasan. But then you need to cross a road and railway line, after which walk some 200 metres to get to the Express Line’s platform.
The Makkasan station will soon have an airline check-in facility where passengers can leave their baggage, which will be delivered to them at the airport.
The Express Line, operating at 30-minute intervals, is offering a promotional fare of 100 baht for a round-trip between the city and airport, but it is only good for the same day.
As for the City Line, trains depart every 15 minutes. The net result: the City Line, with stops along the route, seems busier than Express Line.
To facilitate passenger inter-change between the BTS Skytain and the ARL a bridge has been built at Phaya Thai station connecting the two services.
The ARL station at Phaya Thai has public toilets and a place for changing diapers for babies. Another station in the network equipped with such a facility is the one at Makkasan.
The station at Ratchaprarop is handy for commuters in the shopping hubs of Ratchaprasong and Pratunam. It has stairways on both sides connecting passengers to the road below, and an elevator and escalator to its west facing Indra Regent and Baiyoke hotels.
On the western side of Ramkamhaeng Road, a stone’s throw from Khlong Tan intersection, is the next ARL station, close to the road, hence very convenient for commuters, as opposed to Hua Mak station, where they need to walk around 200 metres from Srinakarintara Road to access the station.
Parking space is available at all ARL stations but inadequate, except for the Makkasan station where there is a parking facility which can accommodate 300 cars once it is completed. Until then, you can park there at random. However, over-night parking is not allowed.
All stations are well-equipped with escalators and elevators, handy for passengers with luggage in tow.
Riding the City Line, passengers high on luggage should go for the head or tail car where there is plenty of space. Also available is a lost-and-found service, which I found handy.
As it turned out, I was able to retrieve my bag just an hour and quarter after having informed the authorities that I had lost it at Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was found and delivered to Phaya Thai station for me.
During the ride, the announcement system keeps passengers informed of stops on the route with connections to trains run by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), but the whole exercise seems futile given the distance separating ARL stations and those the SRT connects.
But if you do need to connect to SRT’s eastern line, best is get off at Ban Thap Chang station where the ARL and SRT stations sit next to each other.
Ik ben nog niet zo heel enthousiast… Neem nu gewoon altijd de taxi van Suvarnabhumi naar centrum Bangkok en terug, en vind dit prima zo. Reistijd vaak om en nabij de 30 minuten en ik zit lekker comfortabel en koel. En ik word van deur naar deur gebracht. Als ik nu de Airport Link zou nemen moet ik bij een van de stations op de route uitstappen (en weer met de koffers slepen) en daar alsnog een taxi nemen voor het laatste stuk naar het hotel.
Moet nog zien of de Airport Link echt een succes gaat worden…
Misschien kunnen reizigers die gebruik hebben gemaakt van de Airport Link in dit topic hun ervaringen delen…
Ik ben al een paar keer met de airport link geweest en vindt het toch wel een prima vervoersmiddel. Ik woon wel dichtbij een BTS station, dus dan is het helemaal makkelijk. Nu kun je op dit moment voor 15 baht naar het centrum en ik moet dan nog 3 stations met de BTS. Als ik dus alleen reis is het dan 40 baht totaal en ben er in 30 minuten. Hangt natuurlijk ook van het moment van de dag af. In de spits zal het helemaal aantrekkelijk zijn, want dan zit ik normaal wel een uur in de taxi.
Als je naar Sukhumvit moet kun je in Makkasan overstappen op de MRT lijn station Petchaburi. Je moet dan wel met je koffer over een spoorlijn sleuren, dus dat is minder. Maar je hebt zo wel een mooie connectie met Silom en Hua Lampong.