Thai airports, trains, buses, public transport

Airport Link opens

By david, Created on: 16/08/2010, Last updated on: 12/01/2016

» The new airport rail link opens August 23 and Only three problems impede its linkup with the skytrain and the underground? Once these issues are sorted out, however, the benefits for Bangkok's tourism industry will be phenomenal? The airport link will be good for single travelers, but for 2 or more...

• modsquad commented : From a Post reader: I recently had the misfortune to take the new Airport Express from Suvarnabhumi to my home near Sukhumvit Soi Thonglor. Although the train is indeed fast and modern, the connections on both ends made the trip extremely unpleasant in terms of comfort and convenience, especially when travelling with luggage. First, at Suvarnabhumi one cannot take the luggage trolley up to the train platform, which is very inconvenient if travelling with heavy bags. On the city line the seats are narrow and uncomfortable and there is nowhere to stow luggage except in the first and last carriages. On arrival at Makkasan station, again there are no luggage trolleys available and negotiating the escalators with multiple pieces of luggage is challenging, to say the least. There were no taxis available at the station and even if there were, they could only exit onto Ratchadapisek Road in the direction of Huay Khwang. Instead, I had to walk on the road (of course there are no sidewalks) and over a railway line dodging cars and motorbikes for about 300 metres to reach the MRT station. Again, descending the escalators with luggage was impractical and then I had to open my bags at the MRT security control, causing a backup in the line behind me. It was rush hour and the MRT was crowded, with no place to stow luggage. I exited at the Sukhumvit station and again negotiated multiple escalators for another difficult connection to the Asoke BTS station. I missed 3 BTS trains before I could find one that had enough room to enter with my luggage. When I finally descended at Thonglor BTS station to take a taxi, I was completely exhausted and vowed never again to repeat the experience. Compared to the highly efficient and well-planned Hong Kong Airport Express, Bangkok's version is an inefficient and impractical nightmare. The only thing I had to be thankful for is that at least it was not raining at the time I negotiated the long walk from Makkasan station to the MRT. My advice to travellers is: don't bother with the train, and take a taxi from the airport. MICHAEL SPENCER Note: Mr SPENCER says in the first paragraph that he took the ‘Airport Express’. In the second paragraph he mentions using the ‘city line’ and says the seats are narrow and uncomfortable and there is nowhere to stow luggage except in the first and last carriages. My understanding is that the two lines are separate, with the ‘Airport Express’ designated for travellers to and from the airport, while the ‘city line’ is designated for local travel with station stops along the way. Perhaps he can clarify which one he used? I imagine the ‘Airport Express’ would be more accommodating for people with luggage, however it is apparent that this is just one of many things on his list of inconveniences.

• ricardofel commented : You have to take a taxi to Makkasan to ride the express train to the airport....incompetence from the start. Should have been a connection from the BTS or MRT. The ride was fast and comfortable...BUT I had no luggage and if the train is crowded you will have a big problem. Taxi driver had no idea where to drop me off and if you arrive at Makkasan from the airport there were NO taxis to take you home. All in all a rather incompetent creation, but typical.

• drake commented : AS of today. Both Express and City Line runs 0600 till midnight only. You can catch the MRT (subway) at Makkasan and SkyTrain at PhayaThai. There is a walkway connecting SkyTrain (BTS) to City Line platform at Phaya Thai. There is no connecting walkway of any sort from Makkasan to MRT (subway), you have to get out to the road and walk across the tracks to get to the MRT station. There's a taxi stand on the third floor of the Makkasan station (follow the paper sign) but I've seen only one Taxi there the few times I've gone through that station. With the ongoing 15 baht promo the City Line can be completely packed at times. Yes, it's the fastest/cheapest way to get across town right now. I can take BTS from OnNut to PhayaThai then the City Line back down to HuaMak in under 40 minutes during rush hour for all of 55 bht. http://airportraillink.railway.co.th/en/index.html Time Table. http://airportraillink.railway.co.th/th ... o_pth.html http://airportraillink.railway.co.th/th ... _line.html

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